§ 23. Mr. WELLOCKasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that dissatisfaction exists with respect to the hospital accommodation for non-Europeans in Kuala Lumpur, Federated Malay States; and whether it is proposed to take steps to remove this grievance?
§ Dr. SHIELSMy hon. Friend is presumably referring to a recent report on the General Hospital at Kuala Lumpur by a sub-committee appointed at a public meeting of the residents of Selangor. The report has been carefully examined by the local authorities, and my Noble Friend is satisfied that many of the statements made in it are exaggerated and based upon misapprehensions. The High Commissioner for the Malay States states that the Selangor Government has at this moment under consideration certain proposals which it is believed will adequately meet the legitimate demands of the public without involving the local Treasury in expenditure of so great an amount as dangerously to aggravate the present financial difficulties.