BINTULU: Columbia Asia, an international healthcare provider will open its sixth hospital in Malaysia at a cost of around RM10 million (land and building) at Jalan Tanjong Kidurong here.

The medical centre, to be built on a 2-acre site, is a joint-venture project of Bintulu Development Authority and ASSAR Services Sdn Bhd with a 40 and 60 per cent share each respectively.

According to BDA general manager Mohidin Ishak the building was nearing completion – it would be completed by end of this month, and would be handed over to the operator (Columbia Asia) in June.

“Hopefully the medical centre will be fully operational by September,” Mohidin told a press conference after a meeting with representatives of Assar at BDA headquarters here yesterday.

Mohidin said he was glad to see Bintulu now moving another step forward in providing quality private medical facilities to complement what the government was providing. This development was in line with Bintulu’s expansion as more major heavy industries are set to come in.

“This is the first major project being implemented in the Kidurong district centre for a long time, and hopefully it is a catalyst to attract more development in the area,” Mohidin said.

ASSAR Services Sdn Bhd managing director Ghazali Ismail said the RM10 million spent in phase one of the project included cost of land. On completion, the medical centre built on a boutique concept would have 19 beds and a children’s ward.

Ghazali, who is also Permodalan Assar Sdn Bhd general manager, said the building of the medical centre was one of their contributions to the state government in providing basic medical facilities for the people here, which was fast becoming a vibrant industrial centre.

He added that with Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) underway, this private medical centre was most fitting for Bintulu, which wanted to achieve a Friendly Industrial City status by 2020.

Ghazali also said that Columbia Asia itself would furnish the centre with the necessary facilities and equipment while most of the personnel had been recruited, who were now undergoing familiarisation works.

Columbia Asia’s other branches in the country are in Taiping Perak, Puchong Selangor, Seremban Negeri Sembilan, Shah Alam Selangor, and Miri.