KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Community Development and People's Wellbeing Minister Datuk James Ratib said swift action will be taken to rebuild the Tangkarason health clinic in Beluran, which was destroyed by fire on Wednesday.
James, who is also the Sabah state health executive committee, stated that a makeshift clinic will be set up to continue providing health services to the residents in the area.
"We are awaiting the results of the investigation by the Fire and Rescue Department to determine the cause of the fire.
"Preliminary information indicates that Tangkarason is a type 6 health clinic."
"The incident has affected health services for 2,738 residents in the area, so this matter needs to be addressed urgently," he said.
James said that during initial planning discussions, a village representative proposed using the Kampung Tangkarason multipurpose hall as a temporary clinic.
Additionally, James highlighted the presence of two other clinics in the area: the Paitan health clinic, located 29 kilometres from Kampung Tangkarason, and the Sungai-Sungai health clinic, located 50 kilometres away.
He estimated that constructing a new clinic building alone would take about six months, and potentially nine months if including the clinic staff quarters.
"For type 6 health clinics, allocations will be channelled based on discussions and decisions with the Sabah State Health Department (JKNS) and the Health Ministry," James explained.
"As for special allocations to build a clinic in cases of disasters like this, it will also depend on discussions between JKNS and the ministry," he added.