JOHOR BARU (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Malaysia's Health Ministry has ordered the entire west block of the Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) to be shut down immediately following two fire incidents there.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said most of the services within the block would be affected temporarily by the closure.

"This is to allow the concession company and the engineering team to inspect the whole block including its wiring, utility, bio medical gas, and structure," he said.

"Some of the patients warded in the west block will be transferred to the Sultan Ismail Hospital and Permai Hospital, while we have also asked private hospitals around here to help HSA out," he added after visiting the hospital on Thursday (Oct 27).

He added that the block would be closed for two to four weeks to allow the team to conduct a comprehensive check.

"I urge those who usually come to HSA to get their treatment from other Government hospitals such as HSI (Sultan Ismail Hospital) or Kulai Hospital during the closure," he said.