TAWAU, Oct 17 — The proposed parking charges at Tawau Hospital should be viewed as a practical solution to persistent parking shortages and security concerns rather than a matter for continued debate.

State Assistant Minister of Health, Women and People’s Wellbeing Datuk Rina Jainal said the provision of paid parking was intended to improve parking management, address concerns over accidents and theft, and enhance security for hospital visitors and staff.

Rina was speaking to reporters after officiating the Tawau Prison Corrective Outreach Programme here on Thursday. 

Also present was Tawau Prison director PKK Hasrul Anwar Hasim.

She described the private company’s initiative to develop the hospital’s parking facilities as a step forward, saying the proposal should be assessed based on the needs of the public, patients and hospital staff.

“The initiative can provide facilities for members of the public and visitors from outside the district, while also benefiting hospital staff, following numerous complaints previously received about the shortage of parking spaces,” she said.

The Kukusan assemblywoman said the shortage of parking spaces at Tawau Hospital required practical solutions to ensure greater convenience for visitors and employees.

She urged the public to keep an open mind towards the proposed system, noting that developing and maintaining the parking facilities involved costs and that the land was reportedly owned by an external party rather than the hospital.

Meanwhile, a message circulating online explained that the parking site belonged to Khazanah and had been leased to the Tawau Hospital Staff Association, which pays monthly rental.

According to the message, the proposed paid parking system was intended to help the association cover rental and maintenance costs, including cleaning, with any surplus channelled towards assisting hospital staff and patients.

The proposed parking rates are understood to be RM1 for the first entry for members of the public, followed by RM0.50 for each subsequent hour, capped at RM5 per day. Hospital staff would be charged a monthly rate of RM30. — Daily Express

* Editor’s note: PKK stands for Penolong Komisioner Kanan, the Malay title for Senior Assistant Commissioner, a rank used in the Malaysian Prisons Department.