29/05/2026

FRIDAY | MAY 29, 2026

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Plan to build new public hospital in PJ welcomed

Call to expedite Residential Tenancy Act KUALA LUMPUR: The National House Rental Association (NHRA) has urged the government to expedite the enactment and implementation of the Residential Tenancy Act (RTA) to safeguard the rights and interests of homeowners and tenants. Its president Prakash P. Kalivanan said the move was necessary amid growing public concern over the misuse of rented residential properties for illegal activities such as bitcoin mining operations, prostitution, harbouring illegal immigrants, storing stolen goods, loansharking activities and other unlawful conduct. He said under existing laws, homeowners could face investigation or possible legal action if authorities determined that they had knowledge of the illegal activities or failed to take reasonable steps to prevent such activities from taking place on their property. “As NHRA president, I would like to emphasise that the majority of homeowners rent out their properties in good faith and are often unaware of the activities carried out by irresponsible tenants. “Many property owners are ordinary Malaysians who rely on rental income (to meet) their financial commitments and should not be unfairly victimised due to the actions of tenants acting without their knowledge,” he said in a statement yesterday. He said NHRA strongly believes that Malaysia urgently require a comprehensive RTA to provide proper legal protection and clearer guidelines for both homeowners and tenants. “Such legislation would help regulate the residential rental market more effectively by outlining the rights, responsibilities and obligations of all parties involved.” He said the introduction of a comprehensive RTA was necessary to create a balanced, transparent and legally protected rental ecosystem in Malaysia, while helping to reduce disputes, improve accountability and provide clearer enforcement mechanisms involving tenancy-related issues. At the same time, Prakash said homeowners must also exercise reasonable responsibility and due diligence when renting out their properties, including taking precautionary measures to protect themselves from potential legal complications. He said among the measures suggested were preparing proper written tenancy agreements, conducting tenant verification and background checks. – Bernama ‘Extend validity period of childcare centres’ KUANTAN: The Malaysian Association of Childcare Centres has proposed that the government extend the validity period for the registration of childcare centres from five years to 10 years. Association founder and chairman Simon Ng said this would allow operators to focus on improving teaching quality while reducing repetitive administrative procedures and enhancing the overall operational efficiency of the industry. “The centres are not only responsible for overseeing children’s learning and safety after school hours, but also bear labour, training and operational costs. If the registration validity period can be extended, it would help operators plan long-term development more steadily,” he said in a statement. He added that the association encourages all unregistered childcare centres nationwide to complete the registration process promptly and provide a safer and more secure learning environment for children. “The registration system not only helps improve the overall quality of the centre services, but also boosts the confidence of parents as their children are able to learn and grow in a more structured and well-monitored environment,” he said. – Bernama

Speaking to theSun, Taman Medan resident Muhammad Nizam Ahmad Ghazali, 34, said while the proposed hospital would clearly benefit the community, traffic and infrastructure issues must be addressed before construction commences. “I think it would be a very good thing for residents here because it will make it more convenient for us to get medical treatment without travelling far,” he said. “However, I am concerned about the traffic situation. The roads here are already quite busy, so I think it could get worse if a large hospital is built unless proper upgrades and planning are done.” He added that authorities should carefully assess infrastructure capacity before proceeding. “I think they should really look at traffic flow, parking and access roads first before building the hospital, to make sure it does not create more problems for residents in the PETALING Medan assemblyman Dr Afif Bahardin has welcomed the proposed construction of a new public hospital here, describing it as a much-needed facility for residents, while raising concerns over the financial feasibility of the project and the high cost of land acquisition. Afif claimed he was the first to raise the need for a new public hospital in Petaling Jaya during the Selangor State Legislative Assembly sitting in 2023. “A new public hospital is definitely something I welcome, whether it is initiated by the state or federal government,” he told theSun yesterday. He said the proposal was important as the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre has become increasingly costly for the public seeking treatment and admission. “I raised this matter in 2023 because there was already a clear need for another public hospital in Petaling Jaya. “It was later supported by several other assemblymen and submitted under the Malaysia Plan through the state government,” he said. Afif, a former doctor, said he was encouraged by recent reports suggesting that the proposed hospital could be built in Taman Medan, adding that such a facility would greatly benefit the local community. However, he questioned whether the government would be able to finance the project, particularly if compulsory land acquisition is required. “I am still not fully convinced the hospital can be realised because it ultimately depends JAYA: Taman o Taman Medan assemblyman describes proposed project as much-needed facility, while expessing concern over costly land acquisitions Ű BY KIRTINEE RAMESH newsdesk@thesundaily.com

The site was identified through recent technical discussions between federal and state authorities as a possible solution to meet rising demand for a public hospital. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUN

Medan, currently occupied by the X Park PJ South sports complex, as a potential location for the new hospital. The site was identified through recent technical discussions between federal and state authorities as a possible solution to meet rising demand along the densely populated Petaling Jaya–Subang Jaya–Puchong corridor. The Selangor government on Wednesday, welcomed the announcement by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad regarding the proposed site agreed upon for the construction of the Petaling Jaya General Hospital. Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said the decision followed a recent coordination meeting held on May 14 involving federal and state agencies, as well as local authorities. Amirudin said the proposed site accepted by the ministry was considered highly suitable due to its accessibility, proximity to population centres, cost efficiency in land acquisition and overall capacity planning. He added that the hospital is expected to adopt a vertical development model similar to the Ampang Hospital, enabling a 500-bed facility to be built without requiring extensive land while optimising construction costs.

on the government’s financial capability and whether sufficient funding can be secured.” The Bersatu lawmaker estimated that constructing a 500-bed hospital could cost about RM500 million, excluding the cost of acquiring land in Petaling Jaya, where property prices are high. He suggested that if the Health Ministry faces difficulties securing funding due to land costs, both the state and federal governments could consider using existing institutional land already under government control. Among the sites proposed were land owned by Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia in Petaling Jaya and Universiti Teknologi Mara land in Jalan Othman. “I think these institutional lands are more feasible because they are already within government control. “Converting them into hospital land would be more sustainable and practical for the government to implement,” he said. Afif added that such an approach could significantly reduce costs and ensure better use of public funds while still addressing the urgent need for improved healthcare access in Petaling Jaya. The Health Ministry is reportedly considering a six-hectare site in Taman

Proposed site of building sparks traffic concerns PETALING JAYA: The suitability of the proposed site for the Petaling Jaya General Hospital has drawn mixed reactions from both residents and netizens, who have raised concerns over traffic congestion and infrastructure capacity. long run.” Another resident Rais Zulfahmi, 26, said the proposed hospital would not only benefit residents in Taman Medan, but also those travelling from nearby areas such as Puchong and Shah Alam, as the XPark area near Sri Manja serves as a direct access route connecting the locations. hospital is built as a high-rise facility, saying: “Can imagine the queues for the lifts and the traffic around the lobby area, drop-off and emergency if it’s a small footprint but a tall building?” The same user added that while the site has strong catchment potential, traffic congestion could be a major issue.

“Location will be one of the best in terms of catchment but the traffic there is going to be a nightmare.” It was also noted that the land may be viable for development. “Not a big loss honestly, it’s a private golf driving range so the land owners would be compensated.” Recent checks by theSun showed the surrounding area is relatively large and presents potential for a hospital development. However, access roads in the vicinity are narrow, and the site is surrounded by established residential areas, which could contribute to increased congestion if the project proceeds. However, the land located near the entrance to X Park is also sizeable, offering space for possible development. – BY KIRTINEE RAMESH

Expressing similar concern over the already congested conditions in Taman Medan, particularly the lack of sufficient parking spaces, he cautioned that vehicles parked along roadsides could narrow roads further, worsen traffic congestion and pose safety risks. The government should consider a “condominium-style” hospital design, in which the lower floors are dedicated to parking facilities to accommodate visitors and prevent roadside parking from disrupting traffic flow, he said. On Reddit, user iamatwork420 lamented road conditions in the area, writing:“The area is very poorly maintained. I hate driving there. The roads are messy with random roundabouts, and it is difficult to make U-turns.” User cosine-t highlighted potential operational challenges, particularly if the