QuickCheck: Is the Health Ministry building three new hospitals as claimed?

Recently, a viral message claimed that the Health Ministry had “chosen” a company to construct three new hospitals.

The claims were even brought up in Parliament, with an MP asking about the “construction” of the Sultanah Fatimah Specialist Hospital in Muar.

Is there any truth to the claims?

VERDICT:

FALSE

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad debunked these viral claims, pointing out that the purported projects do not exist.

He said the Health Ministry had reviewed the “appointment letter” and found it false.

The letter claimed three hospitals were being constructed, namely the Sultanah Fatimah Specialist Hospital in Muar, Johor; the Jelebu Hospital in Negri Sembilan; and the Kuala Lipis Hospital in Pahang.

However, all these hospitals already exist and are in full operation.

“The Health Ministry does not have any plans in the near future to build new hospitals to replace the three existing hospitals in question.

“Therefore, there were no government allocations for the projects stated. As the projects do not exist, and no further action has been taken by the ministry,” Dzulkefly said.