KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 3 (Bernama) -- The proposed establishment of a MARA Hospital is aimed at completing the healthcare education and services ecosystem developed by Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), rather than being driven by racial sentiments, said its chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.
He said the project was appropriate considering that MARA had produced tens of thousands of medical specialists, doctors and nurses through its educational institutions, including Universiti Kuala Lumpur Royal College of Medicine Perak (UniKL RCMP) in Ipoh, Perak.
"MARA already has a complete ecosystem in the health sector, encompassing medical studies, biomedical sciences and health instrument maintenance at MARA Higher Skills Colleges (KKTM), right up to the U.n.i Klinik and Pharmacy network.
"It is time for MARA to have its own hospital as a clinical training ground for students as well as a service hospital. Furthermore, the hospital's services will be for all citizens regardless of race because medical ethics never discriminate between patients," he said at a press conference here today.
Asyraf Wajdi said a special task force led by MARA deputy director-general (Education) Dr Mahzan Teh had been established to evaluate the feasibility of the project.
Meanwhile, commenting on demands by Angkatan Muda Keadilan (AMK) leaders for him to be investigated and resign over the Tabung Haji issue, Asyraf Wajdi said he would not bow to external political pressure.
The UMNO secretary-general said his position as MARA chairman was a trust from the party and an appointment by Deputy Prime Minister and Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
“I hold the trust to oversee MARA, which was born from the womb of UMNO itself, in order to empower the Bumiputera education and economic agenda. I only follow the instructions of the KKDW Minister. If he asks me to resign, I will resign, but not because of AMK’s demands.”
"The act of raising unrelated issues, including linking my name to the Tabung Haji Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) Report when my name was never called or mentioned, is merely an evil perception game to tear down MARA's reputation," he said.
-- BERNAMA