PAPAR: Designating the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital (HQE2) as the Sabah National Heart Centre is evidence of the Federal Government's concern for the people of this state.
Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said his government appreciated the move announced by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday.
"We express our sincere thanks to the Federal Government, especially to the prime minister, for understanding the needs of Sabah and the importance of our people in this eastern region.
"This will facilitate heart patients ... no longer needing to be sent to Kuala Lumpur but can be treated in Kota Kinabalu.
"Surely this is what we want because the aspect of health is very important, besides education and others," he said during an Aidilfitri celebration here today.
Present were the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, who is also Papar member of parliament, and Kawang assemblyman Datuk Ghulam Haidar Khan Bahadar.
Yesterday, Anwar also said the Federal Government allocated RM80 million to upgrade HQE2 to a heart specialist hospital.