Pahang to lower land premium for new Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital facilities
The hospital, which opened in 1983, faces overcrowding issues amid a rising population.
The rise in patient numbers is also attributed to increasing medical costs in private hospitals.
HTAA is the largest healthcare facility in the state.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said it has been standard practice for the Pahang government to consider an appropriate land premium when there are development projects planned by the federal government involving public needs.
"The matter (reduce land premium for HTAA) was raised during a recent meeting with the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) and the federal government was told to send in an appeal. PTG (Pahang Land and Mines Office) has received the appeal and the matter will be brought to the attention of the state executive council meeting.
"I give assurance that the state government will consider reducing the premium for HTAA's development," he said in response to a question from appointed assemblyman Mohd Fadzli Mohd Ramly at the state assembly sitting today.
Fadzli had asked if the state government was prepared to lower the land premium charge, which costs hundreds of millions, to a nominal fee to speed up the development at HTAA.
Replying to a supplementary question by Fadzli on measures to reduce congestion at HTAA, Wan Rosdy said the federal government had set aside RM500,000 to expand the hospital to accommodate another 446 new patient beds.
"The project has been agreed by the federal government and the technical requirements are being looked into," he said.
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