He said it was one of the major health sector projects approved for implementation in eastern Sabah under the 11th Malaysia Plan.

He congratulated the Health Ministry for making Tawau a focal point of hospital development.

Speaking to the press after visiting the Hospital and Tawau Community Nursing College, Ali said the improvements would involve the construction of six operating theatres, provision of 154 more beds and 38 specialist clinics, upgrade of the emergency and trauma department, hemodialysis unit, endoscopy unit, as well as support services including radiotherapy unit, pharmacy and water tanks.

The hospital is also a reference hospital for patients from Kunak and Semporna. It has only 441 beds at present.

The project, which is to begin next year, is expected to be completed by March 2020.

Ali said the upgrading of the Tawau Hospital proved that the government was concerned about the people in the district, who numbered approximately 400,000.

During the visit, Ali’s wife, Rohani Abdullah, who heads the civil service wives’ association Puspanita, presented medical and non-medical equipment worth RM150,000 to Tawau Hospital.