The Island Hospital Expansion Groundbreaking Ceremony

Speech by Chief Minister of Penang

At The Island Hospital Expansion Groundbreaking Ceremony

2 December 2018

International Medical City Site, Lebuh Peel, Penang

 

YB Dato Seri Haji Farizan Bin Darus, Penang State Secretary

YB Dr. Afif bin Bahardin, Penang State Executive Councillor

Mr Mark Wee, Chief Executive Officer of Island Hospital

Mr Benny Lim, Director of Island Hospital

Mr CJ Lee, Managing Partner of Affinity Equity Partners

Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Tan Kok Ping, Life Honorary President, Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce

Yang Berbahagia, City Councillors of Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang

Members of the Island Hospital Board of Directors and Board of Visitors

Doctors and Heads of Departments

Distinguished guests

Members of the media

Ladies and gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to be here today for the Island Hospital Expansion Groundbreaking Ceremony, as the precursor to the establishment of Island Medical City (IMC) in Penang. This is indeed a big milestone for Island Hospital, and another great achievement for Penang.

Part of Penang state government’s Vision Penang2030 is to increase liveability to enhance quality of life and this medical city supports this pillar of our vision of the state.

As the Chief Minister of Penang, I am proud to announce that this landmark project spearheaded by Island Hospital will be the first-of-its-kind and the biggest medical hub in Malaysia. It will be an expansion to the current medical facility, which will encompass in total, a 600-bed medical complex, medical suites, as well as a medical tourist hotel as part of its facilities. With its state-of-the-art facilities and new cutting edge medical technologies, I am glad that the hospital will have all these advancement readily available to cater to the people of Penang, as well as medical tourists to the state.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I wish to note that, at the end of the lease of 99 years, when Island Hospital surrenders her own freehold land to be amalgamated to the state portion, the state actually gains more land than they originally alienated.

Being one of the largest medical tourist hubs in Southeast Asia, this project will provide Penangites with over 2,000 job opportunities. I believe that our up and coming young medical professionals are excited for the new opportunities at the Island Medical City. Not only that, medical specialists, especially those practicing overseas, will now have a reason to come home to set up their long-term practice in Penang. This is a good opportunity to attract back our talents who have since left the country.

This growth and revenue not only generate higher household income for our people but also additional tax income and boost in medical tourism for the state. The economic value of the project is expected to exceed RM7, with benefits spilling over to other industries as well, creating a sustainable progress for Penang.

We are excited to see Island Hospital grow and give their very best to elevate our healthcare standards and economic standing. I wish you the very best as you see to the completion of the new Island Medical City, which we will no doubt be very proud of.

Thank you!