Among the topics of discussion would be the bed occupancy rate at intensive care units (ICUs) in Sabah hospitals, which has exceeded 100%.
“We will do something to overcome this issue,” he told reporters after launching the Skybridge project here today.
“I was informed that the new health minister will be visiting Sabah on Monday and we will have a meeting after that.
“We will find a way to address this problem but what’s important now is the people must strictly follow the Covid-19 protocols because the number of daily infections is increasing.”
Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah had said yesterday the bed occupancy rates in ICUs treating Covid-19 patients in Sabah, Kedah and Perak have now exceeded 100%.
As of Sept 1, Sabah had 145 beds or 126% being used at the ICUs, followed by Kedah at 121% with 104 beds, and Perak at 107% with 90 beds.
The opposition had also previously slammed the state government over the worsening situation in Sabah, with Warisan deputy president Darell Leiking calling for the state to allocate emergency funds to address issues such as vaccine shortage and insufficient medical equipment including ICU beds.
The former international trade and industry minister said the state must also admit that Sabah was in a “serious and critical medical situation”.
To a question on the army’s readiness to help out with field hospitals, Hajiji said the state government welcomed the assistance.
He said the state would not object to any measure in the battle against the pandemic that benefited Sabah and its people.
This was in response to a previous statement by Sabah Pakatan Harapan assemblymen Phoong Jin Zhe and Ewon Benedick that they had submitted a special motion under Standing Order 31(2) for the state assembly to enact a new law on prevention and control of diseases.
This is to pave the way for the state government to be empowered in making key decisions to support the healthcare system amid the Covid-19 outbreak.
Asked if he would support the motion, Hajiji said: “We’ll see when it gets tabled in the state assembly. It’s up to the speaker. But we have no problem discussing what’s best for Sabah.”
Meanwhile, city dwellers can finally use the Kota Kinabalu Skybridge after a four-year delay.
The RM31.5 million project, which connects pedestrians to several malls and commercial areas of the city, was initially funded by the Public Private Partnership Unit through a facilitation fund agreement between the federal government, Malaysia Development Bank and Sunsea Development Sdn Bhd on Feb 9, 2017.
Construction and upgrading of the surrounding infrastructure began on April 7 that year.
Sunsea Development was, however, given a winding up order on April 8, 2018. Work was then halted at the 90% completion stage after the contractor, Petrofiq Sdn Bhd, did not receive payment for the work done.
The project was given a new lease of life after the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) came into power last year, with the new administration approving RM4.6 million to complete the walkway.