Malaysia's KPJ Healthcare Ready to Open Spectrum, Expand Regionally

KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 (Bernama) -- KPJ Healthcare Bhd is ready to open its spectrum and expand its presence regionally through acquisition of hospitals, said Managing Director Siti Sa'diah Sheikh Bakir. "We have received a lot of invitations, however, it is a matter of evaluating the location and look into the challenges in the country. "I do not mind if there are possibilities for acquisitions in Cambodia, Vietnam or even Thailand," she told a press conference at Invest Malaysia 2012 on Tuesday. Siti Sa'diah said the group hoped to at least conclude one sale and purchase agreement by year-end. However, she said the group is not in a hurry for regional expansion, as its plate is currently full with the upcoming RM1 billion (US$317.2 million) plan to set up new hospitals in nine locations throughout the country by 2016. "Six of the projects, which are listed under the Economic Transformation Programme, involved initial investments of some RM810 million (US$257 million)," she said. The six projects are KPJ Klang Specialist Hospital, Sabah Medical Centre, KPJ Pasir Gudang Specialist Hospital, KPJ Pahang Specialist Hospital, KPJ Specialist Hospital Bandar Dato' Onn and KPJ Perlis Specialist Hospital. Siti Sa'diah also said the group has allocated between RM100 million (US$31.72 million) and RM150 million (US$47.6 million) to upgrade two to three of its existing hospitals on a yearly basis. Additionally, the group will spend RM70 million (US$22.21 million) to upgrade the IT system of the hospitals within the group by year-end. -- BERNAMA