PSM welcomes Taman Medan hospital site, demands clear timeline for project

SHAH ALAM – Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) Petaling Jaya has described the identification of the Taman Medan sports complex as a potential site for a new government hospital as a “victory” for residents in Petaling Jaya, Puchong and Subang Jaya, while stressing that the announcement must now be followed by clear timelines and structural healthcare reforms.

In a joint statement, PSM Petaling Jaya chair Gandipan Nantha Gopalan and secretary Cheong Huei Ting said the development marks a long-awaited step forward for communities that have long faced limited access to public healthcare services in one of the country’s most densely populated urban areas.

However, they cautioned that the announcement must now be translated into firm action on the ground, rather than remaining at the level of planning.

“We call on the government to clearly communicate the timeline for this project to the public – when construction will begin and when it will be completed,” they said, stressing that residents have already waited for years for improved access to public hospital services in the Klang Valley.

PSM also warned that delays or ambiguity in execution would risk undermining public confidence, particularly given longstanding concerns over healthcare accessibility in Petaling Jaya and surrounding areas.

PSM Petaling Jaya chair Gandipan Nantha Gopalan and secretary Cheong Huei Ting said the development marks a long-awaited step forward for communities that have long faced limited access to public healthcare services in one of the country’s most densely populated urban areas.

At the same time, the party said the issue extends beyond infrastructure alone, pointing to cost pressures faced by patients seeking treatment at existing public facilities.

“We also reiterate our demand that Universiti Malaya Medical Centre’s user charges be reduced back to pre-2025 levels, at the very least until the new hospital is operational,” they said, adding that recent increases have placed additional strain on lower-income patients who depend on subsidised care.

Beyond immediate pricing concerns, PSM argued that healthcare planning must not be shaped by fiscal restraint alone, but by long-term public need.

“Healthcare and education cannot be the casualties of budget constraints,” they said, calling instead for broader fiscal reforms that would prioritise public welfare funding over austerity-driven approaches.

The party also urged the government to revisit previously shelved or delayed healthcare projects, including Hospital Maran, arguing that cancellation decisions based on current utilisation rates risk ignoring future population growth and changing demand patterns.

In addition, PSM highlighted that the announcement of a new hospital must be viewed alongside wider urban pressures in Petaling Jaya, including rising living costs, transport constraints and housing affordability issues, all of which continue to affect residents’ quality of life.

PSM said it will continue to monitor the project’s progress closely, reiterating that the identification of a site is only the first step in addressing what it described as long-standing gaps in public healthcare provision.

“This announcement is a beginning, not an end,” they said, highlighting that sustained political will and transparent implementation will be key to ensuring the project delivers tangible benefits to the communities it is meant to serve.