Chong, speaking to reporters at the state party headquarters, said the delay was an example of “poor management of taxpayers’ money”.
“During a visit to the hospital, I found the lift to the cancer ward needed replacement and the time needed to do it, according to a sign there, was one year and two months.”
Chong said the sign indicated that work commenced on April 4 and was due to be completed on June 7 next year.
“This is one of the most laughable things ever. You don’t need such a long time to replace one lift. You need maybe two to three months.”
Chong also said another pressing problem at the hospital was the lack of parking spaces for visitors.
“SGH is in dire need of a multi-story car park. It has needed it for 10 years. This issue has prevailed through three elections.”
He further criticised proposals for a RM378 million hospital upgrade that included the construction of a 160-room budget hotel.
“At the end of the day, we just need a car park. What the government has done is to include another daycare centre, a pathology centre and a low-cost hotel, which have increased costs to a ridiculously high level.”
Chong said he estimated a 1,700-bay car park would cost RM40 million.
“The cost overrun is way beyond reasonable. This is especially so if you compare the cost of construction for the KPJ (Healthcare) hospital in BDC Stampin. It is a 300-bed hospital (to be) constructed from scratch.
“To build the whole block of the hospital, including equipping it with advanced equipment for cancer treatment, only cost RM170 million.
“For RM378 million, you can build more than a 300-bed state-of-the-art hospital.”
Chong also criticised the re-launch of SGH’s palliative care ward by state Local Government Minister Dr Sim Kui Hian on Sunday.
“It is a ridiculous re-opening. Does he (Sim) have nothing better to do or no event to open? Is that why he is opening something that has been open for more than 10 years?”
Chong disputed reports that until Sunday’s re-launch, care for the terminally ill had stopped for five years due to a lack of funds.
“There has been no such five-year break. It was in operation all this while,” said Chong, adding that the palliative care unit had received an award from the European Society for Medical Oncology (Esmo) in 2009.
FMT has attempted to contact SGH’s radiotherapy, oncology and palliative care units for verification.
Last month, a woman gave birth to a baby boy while trapped in a malfunctioning lift at SGH. She and her newborn were later freed by Batu Lintang Fire and Rescue Department personnel.