Upgrading works on Hospital Sentosa carpark kick off, completion expected by June 2025

Yap (fourth left) hands over the letter of award to a Megah Jaya Enterprise representative, witnessed by Hospital Sentosa director Dr Rosliwati Md Yusoff (fifth left) and others.

KUCHING (Feb 8): Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap has handed over the letter of award and project site to Megah Jaya Enterprise for the construction of 40 additional parking bays and upgrading works on facilities at Hospital Sentosa here.

The RM400,000 development, funded under the Rural Transformation Programme (RTP) grant for Kota Sentosa state constituency, is meant to improve the accessibility and enhance the facilities at Sarawak’s only specialist psychiatric hospital.

“After more than a year of bureaucratic delays, construction is finally set to begin, with completion expected by June 2025,” said Yap, adding that the long-standing issue of inadequate parking, which was first brought to his attention two years ago, had caused traffic congestion and imposed delays on patients and visitors.

The assemblyman was met by reporters after the handing-over ceremony yesterday.

Adding on, Yap stressed that the problem of inadequate parking bays at Hospital Sentosa was critical, in view of it being the only public specialist psychiatric hospital in Kuching.

Moreover, he urged the appointed implementing agency, the Padawan Municipal Council (MPP), to closely monitor the project so as to ensure timely completion with quality finishing.

“This is to ensure the benefits from the additional carpark sites and upgraded occupational therapy-and-recreation hall can be delivered on time for the benefit of all patients and visitors requiring psychiatric services from the clinic.”

The project’s scope covers air-conditioning installation, new aluminium windows, wiring, tiling, and partition works for the therapy-and-recreation hall.

Additionally, earthworks, concrete drainage, premix road and parking area works, along with directional road and lane line painting, will be carried out.

Upon completion, the upgraded parking facility will feature designated entry and exit points to improve traffic flow.

Hospital Sentosa began its operation in 1958, and was originally known as the Sarawak Mental Hospital until the name-change on Aug 1, 1998.

It is a 338-bed hospital and provides mental specialist services for outpatients and in-patients.