Taman Intan Baiduri PPR folk want bigger clinic, not library

The cramped community clinic at the Intan Baiduri PPR in Kepong doesn't even have a doctor.

RESIDENTS of Intan Baiduri People’s Housing Project (PPR) in Taman Intan Baiduri, Kuala Lumpur, who suggested the relocation of their community clinic to a nearby community hall, are in for disappointment.

An officer with the Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya Health Department who is in charge of the Kepong area said Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) planned to set up a community library at the space instead.

ALSO READ: ‘PPR Intan Baiduri clinic poorly equipped’

“We need to write to DBKL and get approval (for the space) because the building and all the facilities in it are under the local authority’s control,” he told StarMetro.

“DBKL has to make the decision to let us have that space for the clinic,” added the officer.

The PPR residents are not in favour of a library and preferred for a clinic to cater to their growing population of 9,000.

Former Block A chairman Khairul Anuwar Yusoff, 58, said the high ageing population at the PPR required a well-equipped and spacious community clinic.

“A library will not be utilised as much as a clinic,” he said, adding that clinic is a necessity.

StarMetro reported on March 25 that the existing clinic did not have many facilities or even a doctor.

StarMetro report on March 25

The clinic which is a former Klinik 1Malaysia is also very small and unable to accommodate many patients.

Residents complained that the clinic at the PPR was too small and those on wheelchairs or crutches found it difficult to move around.

Residents like Khairul had griped that his wheelchair- bound wife Bibi Mumtaz Akbar found it difficult to travel to other medical facilities in the area for routine check-up.

PPR Intan Baiduri Residents Association chairman Rashid Samad said Health Ministry officers visited the clinic recently.

As the proposed location for the clinic was not available because it was booked by DBKL for a library, the officers said they could not proceed, he said.

“We were asked to write to DBKL requesting for a space for the clinic and they promised to do the same,” Rashid added.

He also said the ministry would liaise with DBKL to construct an awning around the existing clinic area to protect patients from falling litter.

“The clinic has only a few chairs. So if there are many patients, people have to wait outside and will be exposed to dangers from above,” he said.

A DBKL corporate communications department spokesperson said they were aware of the shortcomings of the Taman Intan Baiduri community clinic.

“However the lack of facilities and manpower at the clinic is under the purview of the Health Ministry. Nevertheless DBKL is willing to work with the ministry for the betterment of the community at the PPR.”