Abang Johari (fifth left) and Juma’ani (on his left) lead the cake-cutting ceremony. From third left are Uggah, Bujang Nor and Dr Au Yong (third right).
KUCHING: Sarawak’s first low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT) will benefit many sectors, including private hospitals.
According to Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, upon completion of the LCCT, it should facilitate more flights coming in and as such, make it easier for foreigners to seek treatment in Sarawak.
One of the most anticipated direct flights to be handled by the LCCT would be that flying the Kuching-Jakarta route, in that this segment could bring in more Indonesians to Sarawak.
“Currently, there are many Indonesians coming to Sarawak and seeking (medical) treatment here, especially those from West Kalimantan. With the LCCT, I believe more Indonesians from various parts of Indonesia would come to Sarawak for that reason,” he said in his speech at Normah Medical Specialist Centre’s 30th anniversary dinner here on Friday.
In this regard, Abang Johari highlighted ‘Xpress Air’ – an Indonesian airline that frequently brings in visitors from West Kalimantan to Sarawak, where they seek medical treatment.
According to him, Xpress Air is also known as the ‘ambulance’ because it is always full of patients from Pontianak (in West Kalimantan) seeking medical treatment in Kuching.
“I’ve heard that the airline often records full passenger loads in both its inbound and outbound flights from and to Kuching, which is a good sign (and it is hoped) that more Indonesians would come to Sarawak in the future, once the LCCT is ready. The reason why many Indonesians come to Sarawak is because we have good medical facilities here,” he said.
In February this year, AirAsia group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes spoke about seeing great potential in Sarawak, and looking to expand routes between Sarawak and Southeast Asia once AirAsia had set up the LCCT in Kuching. However, no timeline was disclosed.
Meanwhile in his remarks, Normah Medical Specialist Centre chief executive officer Datu Dr Au Yong Kien Hoe regarded the centre as the pioneering private hospital in Sarawak, following its opening more than 30 years ago. Nevertheless he also pointed out that despite needing funds to operate, the facility is not run solely for profits.
“We must do everything we can to help as many people as we can. This is the vision of Normah Medical Specialist Centre, which has been upheld since its opening,” he said.
Adding on, Abang Johari said the Sarawak government is more than willing to invest in the expansion plan of the Normah Medical Specialist Centre, as a way to enable the facility to offer top-class medical services to those seeking treatment there.
“This also aims to boost Sarawak’s medical tourism industry too,” said the chief minister, who came to the event with his wife Datin Patinggi Dato Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang.
Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and his wife Datin Amar Doreen Mayang, as well as Sarawak Medical Centre chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Bujang Mohammed Nor were also present.