KUCHING, Singapore-based Health Management International Pte Ltd (HMI Medical) will establish a state-of-the-art smart specialist hospital, Regency Hospital Kuching, within The NorthBank township — a flagship mixed development by Ibraco Bhd.
The proposed 300-bed hospital will feature comprehensive specialist and subspecialty services, advanced digital healthcare systems, and internationally benchmarked clinical standards, said HMI Medical group chief executive officer Chin Wei Jia.
She said the project aims to meet rising demand for quality healthcare services in Sarawak and across Southeast Asia, while creating more than 1,000 new jobs and cross-training opportunities for healthcare professionals to enhance patient-centred care.
With over 27 years of experience in healthcare operations across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam, HMI Medical currently manages Mahkota Medical Centre in Melaka and Regency Specialist Hospital in Johor.
Dr Richard Chew, senior surgeon and board director of HMI’s hospitals in Malaysia — and a Sarawakian — will lead the development of Regency Hospital Kuching, which is scheduled to open in 2029.
“This initiative will drive new economic opportunities and strengthen Sarawak’s position as a leading medical tourism hub in Southeast Asia,” said Chin during the signing of a share sale agreement between Ibraco and Kuching Health Holdings Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of HMI Medical.
Under the agreement, Ibraco will sell its 100% stake in NorthBank Specialist Hospital Sdn Bhd (NSHSB) to Kuching Health Holdings for RM900,000 cash. Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg witnessed the signing during the Sarawak Mega Fair 2025 at Singapore’s Suntec Convention & Exhibition Centre last Thursday.
In a Bursa Malaysia filing, Ibraco said the transaction was made on a “willing buyer, willing seller” basis, with no material gain or loss expected. NSHSB currently holds development approval for a private hospital project that has yet to commence operations.
Ibraco said the disposal enables a reputable healthcare group to realise the hospital’s potential while enhancing Sarawak’s private healthcare landscape. “This collaboration supports the national agenda to expand high-quality private healthcare services and improve accessibility for the community,” it said. The hospital will be built on a 1.7ha leasehold site within The NorthBank, with land acquisition to be completed within six months.
