The Selangor government has been urged to collaborate with the Transport Ministry and Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) on a technical study to realign the KTM line, ensuring public transport connectivity to the new Taman Medan hospital site.
Assemblyman Dr Afif Bahardin (PN-Taman Medan) said the move would integrate public transport and pedestrian infrastructure into the development of the public hospital, which is set to replace a modern sports complex.
Speaking during debates on the Second Selangor Plan (RS-2) at the Selangor state assembly at Bangunan Dewan Negeri Selangor in Shah Alam on Tuesday (Aug 11), Dr Afif stressed that healthcare facilities must be fully accessible from the outset.
“Do not build a hospital now and only ask how people should access it five years later.
"Plan the entire ecosystem — including the hospital itself, public transport, and pedestrian facilities — all at once. A hospital does not truly provide healthcare access if people struggle to reach it."
The proposed site is roughly 3.5km from the nearest rail connection at the Kampung Dato Harun KTM station.
Beyond healthcare infrastructure, Dr Afif called on the state to incorporate the Selangor Living Cost and Well-Being Index along with the Selangor Living Wage Benchmark into the RS-2 framework to gain a clearer picture of household financial health.
He argued that policy evaluations must look beyond gross household income to assess disposable income after essential living expenses.
"The Selangor Living Cost and Well-Being Index can act as a compass to help the state government identify not just the poor, but also those facing financial distress," Dr Afif said.
"Meanwhile, the Selangor Living Wage Benchmark will help determine the income required for residents to live comfortably and with dignity."
He added that in attracting foreign and domestic investments, the state government should evaluate projects based on job creation and wage quality rather than total capital value alone.
