Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg (right) arriving at the 2026 Sarawak Budget conference in Kuching on Wednesday (Dec 17). - ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star
KUCHING: Sarawak will bear the cost of providing medical equipment for the Sarawak Cancer Centre at Putrajaya's request, says Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg.
The Premier said the equipment was estimated to cost RM500mil, bringing the total project cost to RM1.5bil.
He said the state government earlier agreed to extend a RM1bil loan to the Federal Government to construct the centre.
"An arrangement is in place for the Federal Government to pay back in instalments over a period of time to be determined," he told reporters after speaking at the 2026 Sarawak Budget conference here on Wednesday (Dec 17).
However, Abang Johari said the Federal Government recently asked Sarawak to provide the centre's medical equipment.
"We agreed for the sake of the people. There are many cancer patients, so never mind, we will contribute the funds.
"This means the cancer centre will be funded by both the Federal and Sarawak governments.
"The Federal Government will pay for the building and we will pay for the equipment," he said.
The 310-bed Sarawak Cancer Centre will be built near the Sarawak Heart Centre at Kota Samarahan.
Construction is expected to start in the third quarter of next year and completed before 2031.
