YB Dato' Dr Haji Noor Azmi bin Ghazali
Deputy Health Minister I
And representative of Health Minister YB Tuan Khairy Jamaluddin

Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Liow Tiong Lai
Chairman of the Tunku Abdul Rahman University College Board of Governors

H.E. Mr Lu Shiwei
Consul-General of the People's Republic of China in Penang

Yang Berbahagia Venerable Jit Heng
Chairman of the Board of Directors for Yayasan Kek Lok Si

Yang Berusaha Dato’ Seri Steven Ooi
Board Member of the Kek Lok Si Charitable Hospital

Yang Berbahagia Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan
Board Member and Medical Suprintendent of Kek Lok Si Charitable Hospital

Distinguished Guests, Media Friends

各位护法、善信，以及媒体的朋友们，大家好！

A very good morning to all of you.

I am very pleased to be here today for this very meaningful occasion which is the official opening of the Kek Lok Si Charitable Hospital. My last visit here was in April this year at the invitation of the Board to view the progress and the conditions of the state-of-the-art equipment in the hospital.

I have to say that the Kek Lok Si Charitable Hospital is truly impressive. It is impressive because, despite its size and a mere capacity for 50 beds, it has 7 resident consultants, 2 medical officers, 2 sessional consultants and one visiting consultant which make up the total 130 staff members of this hospital. The medical facilities are on par with any other private hospitals in Penang and your fees will be the lowest in the state.  

The Kek Lok Si Charitable Hospital is certainly not an easy project to be realised. As we all know, to build and to run a hospital with its various advanced medical equipment, professional medical team and well-trained personnel will incur huge expenses. One can imagine the amount of effort, manpower and the perseverance needed to see to the final physical completion of the hospital as well as its current operational stage.

While it is true that the Kek Lok Si Charitable Hospital is not yet able to provide totally free treatment, to the needy patients who face difficulties in paying their medical bills, the hospital is already of great help.      

The rank and file of the Kek Lok Si Charitable Hospital have persevered despite the health and economic challenges from Covid-19 to enable the smooth day-to-day running of the hospital. This compassionate spirit of equal relief to the sufferings of all living beings should be shared by everyone regardless of religious affiliation.

I sincerely applaud the dedication of the Kek Lok Si Charitable Hospital rank & file, the hospital board members and those of you who contributed through the Kek Lok Si Charity Foundation. In April this year, I pledged RM200,000.00to the Kek Lok Si Charitable Hospital. Right now, I am happy to announce that the Penang State Government will give out the same amount of RM200,000.00to the hospital through the Kek Lok Si Charity Foundation in 2022. 

Lastly, I also wish to congratulate Kek Lok Si Temple for your 130^th anniversary. This is a day worthy to be celebrated as it not only marks the completion of Kek Lok Si Temple back in 1891 but, at the same time, it highlights a significant medical contribution by the temple to all Malaysians in the form of this charitable hospital.

Thank you.

各位，槟州政府的槟城2030愿景，将致力维持社区内的宗教和谐，让人民在互相尊重的前提之下，自由进行合法的各种宗教活动。

作为国内最古老的佛教寺院之一，极乐寺在漫长的130年里为社会做出不少贡献，特别是刚完成建设，并且已经投入服务的极乐寺慈善医院。

尽管全国都受到新冠肺炎疫情的困扰，经济等方面因此受到影响，但是极乐寺和医院的全体工作人员依然能够同心协力、排除众难，成功成立慈善医院，给赤贫的病黎提供非常完善的医疗服务。

这真正是平等救济众生的慈悲精神，是各个宗教团体应该共同看齐的。

在此衷心感谢极乐寺丶慈善医院以及极乐寺慈善基金会全体人员的付出。也祝贺极乐寺130周年纪念，以及极乐寺慈善医院成功开幕。

谢谢！

SPEECH BY THE CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG YAB TUAN CHOW KON YEOW FOR THE GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY OF KEK LOK SI CHARITY HOSPITAL EXTENSION

24 December 2023

No. 623 Jalan Balik Pulau

YB Jagdeep Singh Deo A/L Karpal Singh

Penang Deputy Chief Minister (II)

YB Wong Hon Wai

State Executive Councillor for Tourism & Creative Economy

Dato’ Seri Ven. Jit Heng

Kek Lok Si Temple Trustee & Chairman of Yayasan Kek Lok Si

Dato’ Dr Teng Hock Nan

Kek Lok Si Charitable Hospital (KLSCH) Medical Superintendent

Dato’ Khoo Boo Leong

Chairman of KLSCH Board of Visitors

Mr Kek Boon Wei and Mr Krishnan Vadivelu

Members of KLSCH Board of Visitors

Media Friends

Ladies & Gentlemen

A very good morning to all of you.

First of all, I would like to thank Kek Lok Si for inviting me to participate and witness this groundbreaking ceremony of great significance.

I still remember that two years ago, I was also present here to witness the opening ceremony of Kek Lok Si Charitable Hospital. It is inspiring to think that in just 2 short years, under the guidance of Venerable Jit Heng, the hospital is now embarking on a new project which is to add a renal dialysis centre and a cardiology department.

Two years ago, through the efforts of Venerable Jit Heng and his committee members, Kek Lok Si established the first Buddhist charitable hospital in Air Itam. The vision to establish a hospital that is not for profit, and seeks to provide quality healthcare at affordable rates to whomever needs it, regardless of race and religion, was finally realised.

During these 2 years of operation, Kek Lok Si Charitable Hospital has indeed earned its place in the hearts of Penangites. I have been informed that besides Air Itam, Farlim, and Paya Terubong, many patients also came from Seberang Prai and out of state, from southern Kedah and even northern Perak. This hospital has given low-income families an affordable option that is hard to find nowadays.

It is therefore good news for the people of this community, and even for the whole of Penang, that Kek Lok Si Charitable Hospital will be able to provide additional healthcare services and options with this new 3-storey building.

Kek Lok Si Charitable Hospital has gained a good reputation in the community. Besides providing affordable medical services, patients under financial constraints are also able to seek subsidies for their medical expenses through the Yayasan Kek Lok Si.

As Kek Lok Si Charitable Hospital continues to grow, it will also at the same time provide more job opportunities to the community and people of Penang. With the addition of these new facilities, I am sure that there will be more career opportunities available for both healthcare and non-healthcare professionals here. I would like to take this opportunity to urge the people to come or return to Penang, and to work together to create a more compassionate and caring healthcare environment.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to Venerable Jit Heng, Chairman Kek Lok Si Temple and Yayasan Kek Lok Si, Dato’ Dr Teng Hock Nan, Kek Lok Si Charitable Hospital Director and the team members for your tireless efforts in promoting charitable healthcare over the years.

Finally, I would like to offer my most sincere wishes that this new addition to Kek Lok Si Charitable Hospital will proceed smoothly and be able to commence its services as soon as possible, to bring more comprehensive charitable healthcare to the people. May we work hard towards a healthy future for the people of Penang.

I wish you all good health. Thank you.

首先，感谢极乐寺的再次邀请，让我参与和见证这富有意义的动土典礼。

我记得，两年前的这个时候，我也受邀前来见证极乐寺慈善医院的开幕典礼。短短两年的时间内，在释日恒长老的推动下，极乐寺慈善医院又开始了另一项的计划，那就是增设洗肾中心和心脏科。

这两年来，极乐寺慈善医院得到社会人士很好的口碑，也获得了槟城人的青睐。我被告知，除了亚依淡，发林和龙尾一带的居民，也有不少来自于威省，甚至吉打南部和霹雳北部的病患也前来极乐寺慈善医院求医。

各位，槟州人口逐渐乐龄化，统计局也估计在槟州乐龄人口在2040年就达到26.2%，也就是全国之首。在人口乐龄化的趋势下，我们也面对了一些挑战，其中就包括医疗服务。除了槟城中央医院、政府诊所，如今私人医院也越来越拥挤，患者需要等待的时间也越来越长，有时也会出现病床不足的情况。

为此，极乐寺慈善医院这项扩建三层楼的医院建筑和增设医疗服务的计划，对这个社区，甚至整个槟州的人民来说，绝对是一个好消息。希望极乐寺慈善医院未来继续不分种族、宗教和信仰下，给所有的民众提供高素质和可负担的专科医疗服务。对于有经济压力和困难的病人，也可通过极乐寺基金会，获得在医疗费用上的援助。

人口乐龄化是不可避免的现象，槟州政府已积极探讨相关政策和措施，以应付乐龄人士的需求，放眼将槟州打造成乐龄友好城市。我也想借这个机会，呼吁更多的医护专才前来或回来槟城发展，一起携手打造一个更具有爱心与关怀的医疗行业。

最后，再一次感谢释日恒长老和拿督丁福南医生，在这些年来不遗余力推动慈善医疗。我衷心祝愿极乐寺慈善医院的这项新计划，能够顺利完成，早日投入服务，提供更加全面和专业的慈善医疗。

祝大家圣诞快乐，健康幸福，也预祝大家新年快乐。谢谢。