Chua Jui Meng: Health Transcends Politics

Gwee Tong Hiang, The Johor State Legislative Assemblyman for Bentayan Constituency said he willing to work with Chua Jui Meng.

DATUK CHUA JUI MENG: wants high standard to be maintained

New Straits Times, Monday, July 21, 2008

By Chong Chee Seng

FORMER health minister Datuk Chua Jui Meng said political differences should not affect efforts to provide first-class treatment to patients.

"Let us work together to maintain the high standard of excellence in the medical and healthcare field," he said at a charity event at Pei Yang primary school in Muar on Tuesday night.

Chua, who is the Bakri MCA division chairman, said hospitals played a vital role in caring for the ageing population. "Many are alone when their children leave home in search of work or to set up their own families.

Many of them have also settled in Vietnam, Cambodia, China and other Asean countries.

"The ageing parents have to turn to government hospitals as many are unable to afford treatment at private hospitals."

Chua said it took him several years to transform Muar hospital into a specialist hospital, which was achieved on Oct 13,2003."Apart from being a centre of medical excellence for those in northern Johor and southern Malacca, the Muar Sultanah Fatimah specialist hospital is also a referral hospital for Segamat, Tangkak, Batu Pahat and Kluang."

Chua said although he did not contest in the last general election, he would continue to help upgrade the facilities at the hospital.

He called on the Member of Parliament for Bakri, Er Teck Hwa, and Bentayan assemblyman, Gwee Tong Hiang (both of DAP), to work together for the welfare of the people.

"The sick, regardless of their social standing and political ideologies, must be accorded first-class treatment in hospitals," Chua said.

Gwee Tong Hiang: Willing to work with Chua Jui Meng

When contacted, Gwee said both DAP elected representatives would be happy to work with Chua as they had pledged to serve the people.

"In fact, at the last state assembly sitting, I called for a neurologist to be placed at the hospital.

"Currently, accident victims suspected of brain injuries are referred to the Sultanah Aminah hospital in Johor Baru and the 21/2-hours travel time could cause more harm to them.

"Gwee said the Muar Sultanah Fatimah specialist hospital was only one in name as it was in dire shortage of specialists.

"I hope current Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai will look into the problems speedily," he added.