Najib launches 12 Health Ministry projects in Penang

BALIK PULAU: Caretaker prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak today launched 12 Health Ministry projects in Penang valued at RM1.64 billion.
The 12 projects involved the construction of the specialist clinic block and the maternity ward of the Penang General Hospital (HPP); the construction of the women's block and the children's block of HPP; the construction of HPP quarters; upgrading of HPP phase II; upgrading of the HPP transplant services including the allogenic bone marrow transplant and the construction of the Kepala Batas Nurses College in Bertam.
These are in addition to the upgrading of the centralised air conditioning system operation theatre and electrical system of the Bukit Mertajam Hospital; the construction of the Bandar Perda Health Clinic; upgrading of the Seberang Jaya Hospital; construction of the multi-level block of the Seberang Jaya Hospital; construction of the Air Putih Health Clinic (Type 3) in the South-West District and Upgrading the Emergency and Outpatient Department of Balik Pulau Hospital.
In his speech, Najib said the 12 projects were the continued initiative of the caretaker federal government in looking after the welfare and prosperity of the people in the state.
"It is true that we give a lot to Penang. Within the last five years we have given RM4 billion to Penang. We don't neglect Penang. We will continue with this project and today we launch 12 projects," he said at the gathering of Balik Pulau residents with the caretaker prime minister, here today.
He said the launch of these projects was also proof that the Barisan Nasional (BN) fulfilled its promises and pledged that it would implement many more development projects in Penang if it were to win in the state in the 14th General Election (GE14).
"Today, I will continue to develop Balik Pulau. As for the big projects, just wait for us to win first. If you all want the big projects, let us (BN) win in Penang first," Najib said.
He said only the BN was capable of giving a more guaranteed future and this was proven based on the outstanding track record of the party in administering and developing the nation.
He said the BN would add the essence of the BN manifesto in GE14 by including the abolition of toll collection for motorcyclists at the Penang Bridge and the Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Bridge if it succeeded in wresting the state from the DAP.
He said the BN government was a responsible one and looked after the prosperity of the people and this was proven when BN had fulfilled 99.4 per cent of its pledges in the manifesto five years ago.
The caretaker prime minister said the Penang DAP government failed to fulfil the 51 pledges made throughout the 10-year period of its administration in the state.
"What is the point of talking when it is not fulfilled. 'Talk is cheap'. But when we talk, issue a promise, BN fulfils the pledge," he said.
Najib also criticised the caretaker Penang state government which was alleged to have approved 39 hill slope projects throughout its administration in the state compared to the BN government previously which only approved four hill slope projects.
He said the people must place its hopes on the BN if they wished for a guaranteed and developed future instead of the opposition which often issued differing statements and were irresponsible.
"Can we place our hopes on a 93-year-old man. Today he says something, tomorrow says something else ... I watched the video recently where he was sitting in the middle, on his right was Mat (Mohamad) Sabu and left (Datuk Seri Dr) Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and he could say that he did not arrest anyone," he said.
He said that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's statement was incorrect because in reality, the former prime minister had arrested Mat Sabu under the Internal Security Act (ISA) and Wan Azizah's husband, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
"Innocently says I (Dr Mahathir) did not arrest anyone. Not to that extent, you must take responsibility ... don't lie," he said.
At the function, Najib also launched 22 units of new ambulances for the health facilities in Penang and approved RM10 million for the construction of an overhead bridge in Kampung Seronok, Bayan Lepas. — Bernama