MCA questions Selangor govt over lack of public hospital in PJ after 18 years in power

SHAH ALAM - MCA has questioned why Petaling Jaya and the surrounding areas still do not have a public hospital despite Pakatan Harapan (PH) having governed Selangor for more than 18 years.

MCA State Liaison Committee chairman and vice-president Lawrence Low Tuck Kwong said residents in densely populated areas such as Petaling Jaya, Subang and Puchong have long faced difficulties accessing government healthcare services, despite the rapid growth of private medical centres in the region.

“For years, residents in these areas have had to travel to Shah Alam Hospital or Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (PPUM) to receive affordable healthcare services and treatment,” he said in a statement.

He questioned why the issue of building a government hospital in Petaling Jaya was only being seriously raised now, despite Selangor being under PH administration since 2008.

“It has been 18 years since PKR and DAP took over the Selangor state government from Barisan Nasional. The question now is: why is the issue of the lack of a public hospital in one of the most densely populated areas in Selangor only being raised today?,” he said.

Low also criticised the explanation given by Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari who reportedly cited the lack of suitable land and the high cost of land acquisition as challenges in developing a public hospital in the area.

According to Low, the justification saw criticism from the public as it was difficult to believe that Selangor, regarded as one of the country’s wealthiest and most developed states could not identify land for a government healthcare facility while commercial developments continued to expand.

“It is hard to believe that Selangor, the richest and most developed state in Malaysia, with one of the highest population densities in the country, cannot allocate a parcel of land for the construction of a government hospital, while commercial developments continue to mushroom throughout the surrounding areas,” he said.

He claimed the state government appeared to prioritise property development projects over the healthcare needs of residents when public hospital projects were not treated as an urgent necessity.

Low also linked the issue to the recent increase in assessment tax collection approved by the Selangor government earlier this year, questioning whether the additional revenue was being channelled towards improving public welfare and healthcare access.

“In January 2025, the Selangor state government approved a 25 per cent increase in assessment tax collection by local authorities. So what is the purpose of collecting this money if it is not channelled back towards the welfare of residents?,” he said.

He further raised concerns that the issue may become politicised ahead of the 16th General Election (GE16), warning that healthcare access should not be used as an election campaign tool.

“The health and well-being of residents should not be used as an election tool to pressure voters into supporting any political coalition,” he said.

Low stressed that the need for a public hospital will become increasingly urgent as the populations in Petaling Jaya, Subang and Puchong continue to age, with many retirees potentially unable to afford rising private healthcare costs in the future.

He also pointed to what he described as contradictory statements by state leaders, noting that Petaling Jaya mayor Datuk Mohamad Zahri Samingon had reportedly announced in February that a government hospital would be built in the area.

“Why then does the Menteri Besar claimed that there is no suitable land? Residents of Selangor deserve an explanation regarding these contradictory statements,” he added.