GEORGE TOWN: Anjung Kasih, the free accommodation facility for underprivileged families of patients seeking treatment at government hospitals, will be expanded to three more institutions.
Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Lim Hui Ying (pic) said the new facilities would be located in Segamat (Johor), Kuala Terengganu (Terengganu) and Penang.
She said the temporary accommodation programme allows family members to remain close to their loved ones without being burdened by high accommodation costs, while also easing emotional and financial stress.
“This facility helps families from outside the area save between RM100 and RM150 a day that would otherwise be spent on nearby hotels,” she said after visiting the YKN Anjung Kasih at Penang Hospital yesterday.
Also present were National Welfare Foundation (YKN) chief executive Nordina Haron and Penang Hospital director Dr Goh Hin Kwang, Bernama reported.
Anjung Kasih, was established by the foundation in 2006.
Lim said 19 facilities are currently operating nationwide through partnerships between the government and corporate contributors, including Tenaga Nasional Berhad, Sunway Group, Petronas and Bintulu Port Holdings Berhad.
Although every state has had at least one YKN Anjung Kasih facility since 2023, she said many hospitals outside state capitals were still requesting similar services, hence calling on more corporations to support the initiative so more families could benefit in the future.
Nordina said each YKN Anjung Kasih facility costs between RM1mil and RM1.5mil to establish, depending on the building size, and more than 30,000 family members of patients have used the facilities nationwide since 2008.
She said the facility was designed to provide a safe, comfortable and quality environment for families who live far from hospitals and cannot afford hotels or rented rooms.
