NEARLY 92% of hospital beds at Hospital Sultanah Aminah (HSA) Johor Baru have been replaced this year as part of an ongoing large-scale effort to upgrade the ageing health facility, says Ling Tian Soon.
The state health and environment committee chairman said 1,026 of the 1,111 beds targeted for replacement this year have already been delivered to the hospital.
“Of the beds received so far, 861 are mechanical beds, 108 are baby bassinets and 57 are child cot beds. The target for baby bassinets and cot beds has been fully met,” he said in an interview.
He added that more than 20 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds and bed structures are expected to be delivered on December 1.
Ling said the contributions were crucial in restoring the medical facility’s wards, many of which had long relied on beds that were worn out and damaged.
“The hospital’s beds used to be old and in poor condition, but not anymore. Step by step, we are restoring this facility for the comfort of patients and healthcare workers.
“This joint initiative proves that when the government and the community work hand in hand, meaningful change can be achieved for the well-being of Johoreans,” he said.
He added that he was initially unsure whether the initiative could be fully realised, but the public and NGOs' response was overwhelming.
“This effort was supported by a wide range of contributors, including Gabungan Pertubuhan Cina Pasir Gudang & Lions Club, Persatuan Tionghua Johor Baru, Pertubuhan Kebajikan Yu Yi Fang, WSC Charity Association and Klinik Teow,” he said.
In July, the state secured 860 new beds, with more on the way due to high demand and limited supply in the market.
Ling said upgrading HSA remains a priority as the 140-year-old hospital is one of the country’s oldest medical facilities.
He added that relying solely on Healthy Ministry allocations is unrealistic given the ministry’s commitments, including maintenance and overtime payments.
“Besides replacing worn-out beds, we will also help upgrade the hospital in terms of equipment to improve healthcare services in every ward, especially in the main building,” he said.
In the 2026 Johor Budget, Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi announced RM1.6mil for ICU bed assistance and ambulance contributions to selected hospitals and clinics.
Another RM2.8mil to extend operating hours at selected clinics and hire more locum doctors at the emergency departments of HSA and Hospital Sultan Ismail.
