Lee hopes temporary car park project to start soon

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Lee (fourth right) and Wong (third right) at the empty land, which is the proposed site for Miri Hospital’s temporary car park.

MIRI: The expansion of Miri Hospital prevents the construction of a proper and permanent parking space, which results in the need for a temporary car park as a solution.

Assistant Minister for Communication Datuk Lee Kim Shin yesterday led a joint meeting with Public Works Department (JKR), Land and Survey Department, Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) and Miri City Council (MCC) to discuss the progress of the temporary car park project initiated by SUPP.

“The meeting decided that ‘temporary’ meant that it could take a minimum of three years.

“Therefore, with such long-term ‘temporary’ period, it would be better to take into consideration the construction of a car park that will last and meet safety standard,” said Lee, who is also SUPP vice president. However, he said, the cost of the proposed temporary car park had yet to be determined because they had not decided on the materials needed for construction.

“The proposal for the temporary car park project also includes a second entry/exit point to the hospital.

“This will ease traffic flow at the main access point at Miri Hospital, especially during visiting hours,” he said. Currently, the hospital has a total of 646 parking lots.

“At least 1,000 parking lots are needed to cater to the number of visitors as well as the staff. The proposed temporary car park will be able to cater to another 140 to 160 vehicles,” he added.

Lee also said they had to resort to building a temporary car park because the expansion project for the hospital included a multi-storey car park building. Thus, he hoped that the proposal would be approved the soonest.

“Hopefully, in two to three months after approval, it would be completed,” he said. A site for the temporary car park has been identified at the empty space behind the hospital’s cafeteria. Miri Hospital director Dr Jack Wong also joined the meeting and site visit.