Proposed Mara hospital would serve all regardless of race, says Asyraf

Mara chairman Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki clarified that the proposed Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) hospital would cater to all Malaysians, irrespective of their race. He emphasized that the hospital was not intended to be racialised, as it aimed to complement Mara’s education and healthcare initiatives. Asyraf stated, "The hospital is for everyone. We won't pick and choose patients, and under medical ethics and professional standards, doctors cannot select patients based on race."

Mara has a long history of training over tens of thousands of doctors, nurses, and specialists in various fields. The organization offers medical, nursing, biomedicine, and healthcare technology programs at institutions like UniKL’s Royal College of Medicine Perak in Ipoh. However, Mara has been lacking its own hospital for student training, which is a common practice among universities providing medical programs.

Mara's director-general, Zulfikri Osman, supported the proposal, noting that numerous private hospitals owned by non-Bumiputeras also serve patients from all racial backgrounds, including Bumiputeras. Asyraf reiterated that the proposal was currently under evaluation and study, with a special task force examining the plan. He expressed hope that the explanation would clarify that the proposal is not racially motivated.