KOTA KINABALU: Sedafiat Sdn Bhd is planning to extend its hospital support services to neighbouring countries, including Brunei and Philippines after 2019, said its chief executive officer, Datuk Awang Buhtamam Awang Mahmun.
“We want to become the prominent hospital support services provider not only in Sabah.
“We are looking at extending our services to neighbouring countries like Brunei and Philippines,” said Awang Buhtamam.
He was speaking during an interview before handing over RM671,085.05 as Sedafiat’s business zakat (tithes) for the 2016 financial year to Sabah Tithes Centre represented by MUIS chairman Datuk Haji Mohd Ariffin Arif at Sri Gaya here yesterday.
The presentation ceremony was witnessed by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman.
Awang Buhtamam said there was potential in the healthcare industry and the company strived to provide quality hospital support services.
“We will be looking at extending our services to the neighbouring countries, in particular the Philippines and other nations which we think fit,” he disclosed.
He added that the company recorded about 5.5 per cent of organic growth every year.
Nonetheless, he said the future plans to extend its services to other countries was based on the approval by the government after the moratorium period, which was a minimum of five years upon the commencement of the concession tenure.
Hence, Awang Buhtamam said the plan to extend to other countries would only happen after 2019 or 2020.
Incorporated on September 30, 2011, Sedafiat was granted a concession agreement by the government to provide hospital support services in all the 25 government hospitals in Sabah and Labuan as well as the Public Health Laboratory in Bukit Padang for a period of 10 years until 2024.
“Upon expiry of the contract, we hope the government will give us further extension,” he said.
The services carried by the company include facility management, facility engineering maintenance, biomedical engineering maintenance, cleansing, linen supply and laundry and healthcare waste management.
The company is also the sole licensee for collecting and disposing clinical wastes produced by private hospitals here.
On another note, Awang Buhtamam said the business zakat payment to Sabah Tithes Centre was much higher compared to around RM200,000 contributed by the company last year.
The increase of zakat was owing to savings in cost by carrying out preventive maintenance according to schedule, which enabled hospital equipment to last longer, he said.
“A dollar saved is a dollar earned,” he said, adding that the company was also moving towards improved efficiency that could boost its profits.
Sedafiat has close to 1,000 permanent staff and 1,500 contract employees.