New Hospital Approved for Bandar Enstek to Alleviate Congestion at Tuanku Ja’afar Hospital

KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 — A new hospital will be constructed in Bandar Enstek, Nilai, to adequately meet the expanding healthcare demands of residents in the Seremban district while significantly easing the patient load at the heavily congested Tuanku Ja’afar Hospital (HTJ).

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad stated that establishing a new facility within the northern Seremban corridor is highly appropriate given the region’s rapid development, which has led to a sharp spike in the local population. The decision to advance this project follows a comprehensive review by the Health Ministry (MOH) regarding the previously proposed Tuanku Ja’afar Hospital 2 (HTJ2) project in Rasah, alongside strategic discussions held with Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun on June 16.

Dr Dzulkefly revealed that the state government has already identified two 50-acre (20-hectare) parcels of land owned by the Federal Lands Commissioner within the target area.

“Accordingly, MOH will inspect both sites in the near future to determine the most suitable location before submitting an application for land-use conversion to the Department of the Director General of Lands and Mines,” he said.

The Health Minister shared these details in a written parliamentary reply published on the Dewan Rakyat website in response to queries from Cha Kee Chin (PH-Rasah) regarding the latest status of the proposed HTJ2 project.

Dr Dzulkefly explained that once the land-use conversion application secures official approval, preliminary site works will launch immediately. This initial phase will encompass comprehensive land surveying, detailed soil investigations, the preparation of conceptual designs, project cost estimations, and a formal Value Assessment (VA) exercise.

Furthermore, Aminuddin has agreed to alienate 36.748 acres (approximately 14 hectares) of Federal Reserve land in Bandar Seremban for future healthcare expansion. This tract will be earmarked for an additional block at the existing Tuanku Ja’afar Hospital as well as a dedicated Centre of Excellence (COE).

Incentivizing the Return of Medical Experts

Replying to a separate question from Suhaizan Kaiat (PH-Pulai) concerning government strategies to draw Malaysian medical and healthcare professionals working abroad back home, Dr Dzulkefly highlighted the ongoing implementation of the Returning Expert Programme (REP) managed via TalentCorp.

“The REP provides special incentives, including exemptions from income tax and excise duty on the purchase of locally manufactured vehicles,” he noted.

Dr Dzulkefly observed that the highest volume of REP applications within the healthcare sector originates from overseas Malaysians residing in the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Australia, with medical specialists and doctors making up the largest cohort of applicants.

Regulatory Oversight on Foreign Healthcare Staffing

Addressing the recruitment of international medical personnel, the minister clarified that foreign doctors and nurses have long been permitted to practice in Malaysia, provided they clear strict regulations enforced by the Malaysian Medical Council and the Malaysian Nursing Board to safeguard the overall quality of local healthcare services.

Currently, the MOH appoints non-citizen medical specialists specifically to fill critical gaps in specialized disciplines and understaffed locations. The ministry also engages non-citizen graduate medical officers—who are permanent residents or spouses of Malaysian citizens—to complete their required housemanship training within ministry facilities.

Regarding broader nursing recruitment, the government is proceeding cautiously to ensure local market balance is maintained before making final policy updates.

“As for the recruitment of foreign nurses to serve in MOH, the matter is still being studied in terms of its feasibility with the relevant ministries and agencies,” he added.

-NMT