(From left) Ahmad Fadzli, Ng, Jamaliah, Amirudin and Lim welcoming ambulances under the Ambulans Kita Selangor programme at the state secretariat building in Shah Alam. — KK SHAM/The Star
SENIOR citizens and people with disabilities in Selangor can now access free ambulance services to attend medical appointments and non-emergency procedures at government health facilities.
The service under the “Ambulans Kita Selangor” initiative began operating this month in the Petaling, Kuala Langat and Kuala Selangor districts.
Forty-eight ambulances, operated in collaboration with St John Ambulance of Malaysia, have been mobilised.
State public health and environment committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin said individuals from households with incomes less than RM5,000 a month could apply for the ambulance service.
“Applications must be made at least 24 hours before the pickup time, at any of the 26 assemblymen’s service centres in the districts involved.
“Each ambulance is equipped to support bedridden patients as well as those needing oxygen,” she added.
Jamaliah said the programme would run for a year before it is considered for expansion to more locations.
The initiative was launched by Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari at the state secretariat building in Shah Alam.
Amirudin hoped it would improve access to medical services for those from low-income families in the state.
“Regular ambulance service tends to be expensive and a typical ride can cost between RM200 and RM650.
“The ambulance programme – with a total operating cost of RM1mil – was among many initiatives outlined in Selangor’s 2025 budget,” he told reporters.
Amirudin said a previous Auditor-General’s report found that on average, ambulances took nearly 90 minutes to respond to emergency calls.
“It said 57% of ambulances used to get to government hospitals was for non-emergency purposes.
“This is putting a great strain on our healthcare system, which our initiative aims to ease,” he said.
Also present at the launch were State Secretary Datuk Dr Ahmad Fadzli Ahmad Tajuddin, state investment, trade and mobility committee chairman Ng Sze Han and St John Ambulance of Malaysia Selangor state officer Lim Wun Lok.
