GEORGE TOWN, Malaysia: A private hospital here was fined RM33,000 (S$13,655.40) by a magistrate's court yesterday for violating building extension regulations stipulated by the local authority.

Magistrate Muhammad Firdaus Abdul Wahab fined Island Hospital after it pleaded guilty to infringing three provisions of by-laws and defied a notice from the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP).

The hospital committed the three offences between March 27 and June 3 last year.

In addition, the hospital failed to comply with a 30-day notice dated Nov 4 last year issued by MPPP which required the hospital to demolish the additional structures and restore the building to its original condition.

In mitigation, the hospital's counsel T.C. Yeoh asked for a small fine saying that the rennovations and extensions were minor. -NST