Warisan Penampang highlights urgent need to upgrade healthcare facilities in district

PENAMPANG (Feb 28): Parti Warisan Penampang Division has called on both the federal and state governments to prioritise healthcare services in the district, warning that existing facilities are struggling to meet the needs of its rapidly growing population.

The division’s Inobong District Election Coordinator, Simon Peter, said the party had received numerous complaints regarding the poor condition of the Penampang Polyclinic, citing maintenance, infrastructure and service delivery issues affecting patients.

“During our visit to the polyclinic today, we observed untrimmed branches and overgrown shrubs along the road just outside the clinic’s main gate, which are scratching vehicles entering and exiting the compound. Inside the clinic grounds, numerous potholes are visible along the internal roads,” he said in a statement on Feb 28.

He expressed hope that Majlis Perbandaran Penampang would coordinate with Sabah Electricity to clear the shrubs and with the relevant road concessionaires to reseal the internal road network within the clinic compound, noting that temporary cold-mix patchwork would not offer long-term durability.

Simon also stressed the urgent need to upgrade the clinic’s information technology infrastructure.

“The federal government must improve the clinic’s IT system by procuring new computers, laptops, printers, and servers. Nearly all administrative and clinical functions rely on digital systems, and outdated equipment only slows down service delivery,” he said.

He said the most serious concern involved the waiting area outside the building, which was originally a parking lot converted into a waiting space during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The state government should empathise with the heat, humidity, and discomfort faced by Penampang residents by installing sufficient cooling fans and properly paving and concreting the area,” he said.

Simon added that worn-out chairs must be replaced, while the number of seats and wheelchairs should be increased to ensure patients could wait more comfortably.

He was accompanied during the visit by Warisan’s Strategic Communication Director Christopher Masudal, Division Chief Jeffrey Leiking and committee members Michael Tann Jr. and Agnes Kinsil.

Meanwhile, Masudal raised concerns over the status of the proposed Class 3 Health Clinic (KK3) in Kg Dambai, Penampang.

“News reports in April 2023 indicated that JKR was expected to conduct the tender process around October or November 2023, with construction scheduled to begin in 2024. However, during our visit today, there were no visible signs of construction at the site,” he said.

He questioned whether the project remained on track or had been delayed without public knowledge.

“The Penampang Health Clinic project is a priority for our division and for me personally, as it directly impacts the quality of healthcare services for hundreds of thousands of current and future Penampang residents,” he added.