Sunway Healthcare Group is set to expand its presence in southern Malaysia with the development of a new hospital in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, valued at RM800 million. The facility, expected to be completed by 2030, will feature more than 400 beds and is projected to generate over 1,400 jobs, according to officials present at the groundbreaking ceremony.
Lee Ting Han, chairman of Johor’s investment, trade, consumer affairs, and human resources committee, highlighted the project as a sign of strong investor confidence in the state. He said the new hospital would enhance healthcare standards in the region and help alleviate longstanding issues of hospital overcapacity in Johor. The state government is also exploring collaborations with private healthcare providers to ease the strain on public hospitals, including shifting certain services to the private sector.
Sunway Group founder and chairman Tan Sri Sir Dr Jeffrey Cheah described the timing as ideal, noting the group’s existing footprint in Iskandar Puteri with hotels, educational institutions, and retail outlets. Establishing a medical centre, he said, complements these developments and strengthens Sunway’s healthcare ecosystem. Cheah emphasized that the group’s training programs for doctors, nurses, and clinicians, coupled with advanced medical technology, have been instrumental in attracting Malaysian healthcare professionals back from overseas.
Cheah also pointed to Johor’s strategic location near Singapore as a potential driver for medical tourism, citing favorable currency exchange rates as an advantage. “We are very optimistic about attracting medical tourists and aim to build a top-tier hospital here,” he said.
Datuk Lau Beng Long, president of Sunway Healthcare Group, noted that the group had intensified its healthcare expansion in recent years after a two-decade period of slower growth. Sunway launched its first hospital in 1999 and expanded with Sunway Medical Centre Velocity in 2019. Lau attributed the acceleration to demographic trends, including Malaysia’s aging population and the rising prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, which are driving higher demand for quality healthcare services.
“Sunway Group intends to contribute by providing high-standard, sustainable healthcare facilities as part of its broader community development initiatives,” Lau said.
Datuk Anuar Taib, Sunway Group president, added that the group’s investments in Johor are positioned to benefit from improved regional connectivity, particularly with the upcoming Johor Baru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link. He described Iskandar Puteri as a township designed to offer a comprehensive living, working, and healthcare environment, complementing the roles of other nearby developments.
The new hospital will be located within the 809-hectare Sunway City Iskandar Puteri township. In addition, the group is considering establishing elder-care facilities in Johor to address the needs of its aging population.