Penrissen in Kuching. PHOTO: AHMAD ISKANDAR
KUCHING: The new RM31. 2 million ATM (Malaysian Armed Forces ) Polycl inic at Kem Penrissen here will serve as a benchmark for four other ATM Polyclinics in Malaysia. This was pointed out yesterday by the Minister of Defence, Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein during his surprise visit to the new ATM Polyclinic site and the ATM Mock Up House at Kem Penrissen here.
The new polyclinic project was announced by Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak when he presented the 2018 Budget. Hishammuddin said that the other four new polyclinics – in Kluang (Johor), Seberang Takir (Terengganu), Kuantan (Pahang) and Sungai Petani (Kedah) – would be developed in stages. He explained that the new ATM Polyclinic at Kem Penrissen was expected to be completed in 2019.
“Even though the project was initiated four months late, I firmly hope the contractor will deliver his promises,” said Hishammuddin.
The new polyclinic, located on 180 acres of land, will be equipped with various facilities such as a family clinic, an army clinic, an emergency unit, an X-ray unit, a surgery unit, a dental centre, a haemodiaylisis centre, a pharmacy, a lab, a rehabilitation unit, and a ward with 20 beds, Meanwhile, on the ATM mock up house, the Defence Minister explained that the government would upgrade the ATM house by combining two houses into one.
“The new house, which has additional rooms, will be more comfortable for the army personnel and family. “The upgrading project has been implemented at Kem Penrissen since 2013.
The project, which involves 20 G Class Block and 240 units of houses, has benefited 240 army personnel and their families,” he said. Hishammuddin added that the Ministry of Education had identified five schools near Kem Penrissen which provided good services to children of the army personnel.
“The five schools are SK Batu 10, SK Batu 15, SK Mejer Jeneral Dato Ibrahim, SK Kem Pakit and SK Batu 12. The services include providing a school bus for the army children to go to school,” he said.
On the transformation of the PERNAMA shop located within the camp, Hishammuddin said he had received feedback on how to transform the shop. “The transformation includes selling goods at reasonable prices to lessen the costs of living of army personnel, their families and the veterans,” he explained.
