In a statement today, the hospital said the “closure” was to redirect patients to the Mahmoodiah Health Clinic at the hospital.

“This redirection to Mahmoodiah Health Clinic was due to an increase in patients receiving treatment in the yellow and red zones exceeding their capacity,” it said.

Earlier, a photograph uploaded on X (formerly Twitter) showed a notice indicating that the green zone was closed from 2pm to 9pm on Jan 17 because of capacity issues.

HSA said the green zone was reopened at 5pm the same day, earlier than initially anticipated.

Meanwhile, health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad gave an assurance that everything was under control when a netizen questioned if the healthcare system was collapsing.

He said the redirection of patients was a mechanism the ministry employed to reduce the waiting time at the emergency department.

“It is activated when there is a surge in non-critical cases waiting in the emergency zone,” he said on X.