THE Penang Development Corporation (PDC) is looking to further accelerate the maturing township of Bandar Cassia in Batu Kawan into a medical and digital technology hub after exchanging a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with iHeal Health Sdn Bhd.
The MoU exchange ceremony marked the collaboration between the Penang government and iHeal.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who witnessed the ceremony, said a final proposal for the building concept of the hub is mandatory before further proceedings.
“Now that both parties have reached a consensus in terms of the building concept in the early stages, iHeal will now be required to carry out a thorough study on the overall concept which must be sent back to PDC for final approval.
“The submission for final approval must be done in a year’s time.
“Known as Penang Medical and Digital Technology Hub, the initiative will be an extra boost for the already maturing township of Bandar Cassia.
“The plan of setting up a hub of this nature will also further help promote Penang as an Asean hub for medical and digital technology, which would consist of medical facilities that are of international standards, while offering excellent healthcare services,” Chow said during the MoU exchange ceremony in Komtar today.
PDC chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Bazid Abd Kahar and iHeal executive chairman Dr David Khoo exchanged the MoU in the presence of Chow.
According to Chow, when the project is given the green light, it would occupy some 295 acres of land out of a total 6,000 acres of PDC’s third township development in Batu Kawan (Bandar Cassia).
“The Penang government would like to commend iHeal for its idea of also turning this hub into a one-stop centre (OSC), and have it equipped with environmental-friendly facilities,” Chow added.
Khoo thanked the Penang government and PDC for the opportunity of exchanging the MoU and has vowed to work closely with all related parties to turn the plan into a reality.
“This is a huge opportunity, and we at iHeal will work very hard to make sure this initiative becomes a reality,” he said during the press conference.
Specialised in the medical line, iHeal, also known as iHeal Medical Centre, is a one-stop boutique medical centre located at Mid Valley in Kuala Lumpur.
The centre is focused on the diagnosis and treatment of heart and heart-related diseases, offering a range of treatment options which include angioplasty, bypass surgery and bariatric surgery.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Law Suun Ting
Video by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi