KUCHING: The construction of a dry pond at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) needs to be expedited to ensure that healthcare services at the hospital remain uninterrupted.

Sarawak Deputy Premier, Datuk Amar Professor Dr. Sim Kui Hian said HUS is not just an ordinary hospital but the state’s main medical facility, where 80 to 90 per cent of specialist services are provided.

"We cannot allow these specialist services to be disrupted by floods. How many lives depend on the hospital every day? This is not merely a matter of flooding or heritage value alone.

"Therefore, efforts are being made to find a solution. Deputy Sarawak Secretary (Economic Planning and Development), Dato Sri Dr. Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel has chaired a meeting involving all relevant stakeholders, and actions are currently underway," he said.

He said this in a press conference after officiating the Chinese New Year 2025 Fire Safety Campaign Programme organised by the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) at Wisma Wan, Tabuan Jaya, on Tuesday.

The Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government added that the Japanese method of constructing underground bunkers could be a potential solution, allowing the dry pond to be built without affecting the heritage structures in the hospital area.

Earlier, Datuk Amar Dr. Sim presented prizes to the winners of the children’s drawing competition held as part of the fire safety campaign.

The event also featured an official flag-off ceremony to launch the safety campaign ahead of the upcoming Chinese New Year celebration.

Also present were JBPM Sarawak Director, Jamri Masran, Kuching South City Council Mayor, Dato Wee Hong Seng, and other invited guests. -UKASnews