As Pengerang’s population grows, DPM Zahid backs hospital and district status plans

KOTA TINGGI, July 2 — Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has agreed to a proposal to build a hospital in Pengerang, near here, citing its growing population.

He said the proposal would soon be brought to the Cabinet through the Housing and Local Government Ministry.

“It is very reasonable for a new hospital to cater and to address the problems of patients in the Pengerang area.

“I also support the application to turn Pengerang into a new district as proposed by the Pengerang MP (Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said) herself for approval,” he told reporters after the 2025 Excellent Service Award Ceremony and Kejora Charity Donation at Lotus Desaru here today.

Also present was Azalina, who is also minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), in her capacity as the Pengerang MP.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also the rural and regional development minister, said the construction of a hospital and turning Pengerang into a new district were part of Kejora’s long-term plans in collaboration with the Johor state government.

Earlier in his speech, Ahmad Zahid said the presentation of Kejora’s annual report at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting showed encouraging achievements.

He said the organisation, which comes under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry, had recorded good performance and expressed hope that it would continue.

Kejora was founded on June 1, 1972, as a statutory body responsible for driving socio-economic development, housing, infrastructure, agriculture and tourism across the southeastern region of Johor. It originally covered 16 per cent of Johor, mainly spanning the Kota Tinggi and Kluang districts.