The Health Ministry is investigating the death of a doctor at Seberang Jaya Hospital in Penang, amid reports of possible bullying.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad told the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (Oct 17) that an internal investigation began immediately after a complaint was lodged.
In response to Lee Chuan How (Pakatan-Ipoh Timur), Dr Dzulkefly said the findings of the independent inquiry into the death of pathology specialist Dr Tay Tien Yaa at Lahad Datu Hospital would be disclosed later.
Read more at https://tinyurl.com/mtedu8t9
WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news
SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar
LIKE: https://fb.com/TheStarOnline
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad told the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (Oct 17) that an internal investigation began immediately after a complaint was lodged.
In response to Lee Chuan How (Pakatan-Ipoh Timur), Dr Dzulkefly said the findings of the independent inquiry into the death of pathology specialist Dr Tay Tien Yaa at Lahad Datu Hospital would be disclosed later.
Read more at https://tinyurl.com/mtedu8t9
WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news
SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar
LIKE: https://fb.com/TheStarOnline
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00I would like to ask the Minister of Health to state the actions that have been taken by the Ministry of Death Order of a pathology specialist at the Lahad Datu Hospital that have been reported to have been bullied at work.
00:16And what steps are being taken to avoid bullying from recurring among doctors?
00:25Thank you, Mr. Timur, my friend.
00:27Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh and Salam Malaysia Madani to all.
00:31Once again, thank you, Mr. Timur, who always shows his kindness and concern, especially to the doctors who we know are on duty every day to give devotion to the entire Malaysian people.
00:47I would also like to take this opportunity to express my condolences to the family of Dr. T, who passed away on 29 August 2024.
01:02There are two things that were brought up by the esteemed Dr. Timur.
01:08The first is related to the actions of the KKM to deal with this case, to get what is called a closure on this case.
01:19The second is what are the next steps to avoid the recurrence of this bullying case.
01:26First, for me to mention, the KKM has investigated this matter.
01:30After we carried out an internal investigation by the Sabah State Health Department and the Lahad Datu Hospital,
01:42this is the procedure that I have decided in the post-gap to create a free police force.
01:49This is what we did immediately after the death.
01:53This is the next step to create a free police force to investigate this case.
02:04Which is led by the former Chief Executive of Public Services.
02:13And the main thing I need to mention is the term of reference.
02:17The term of reference is to carry out an in-depth, free and inclusive investigation to ensure that there is a closure on this case.
02:28The second is to determine the cause of the death and to verify whether there is a bullying case.
02:36And the third is to provide a complete report on the results of the investigation and investigation of the Special Task Force in the period of three months of bullying.
02:48Starting from October 10th.
02:51Now, there is also a second answer related to what are our steps.
02:55The first step is to create an ambient atmosphere of work culture.
03:04Which I would like to refer to as Adjust Work Culture in M4H.
03:11Or to create an ambient atmosphere around the workplace that creates and facilitates justice, empathy, compassion and equanimity.
03:24Once again, I would like to emphasize that KKM will not compromise on the issue of bullying.
03:31And with that, I know that there are other cases.
03:39Even though we have given three months for the case of Datuk Tidur and Datuk Endiputua to handle,
03:45we will give another three months to the Special Task Force to carry out an investigation on all cases of bullying across the country.
03:58So, another extra treatment we give to the Special Task Force led by Tan Sri Burhan.
04:05Of course, bullying in our country's health care system does not start with Dr. Teh.
04:12But we need to ensure that it ends with Dr. Teh.
04:16In this context, I would like to ask for a clear stance from the Minister and the Ministry.
04:24Does the Ministry have a plan or a plan to face accountability and transparency?
04:34To face the results or reports from the authorities to the parliament, to the public, to the Malaysians?
04:46Secondly, what actions can and will be taken if there is an element of bullying that has led to Dr. Teh's death?
05:04What is the maximum sentence or maximum action that can be taken by the KKM?
05:12And of course, if there is an element of crime, the PDR and the law must be taken.
05:19But if there is no element of crime, what can be obtained if there is an element of bullying that has led to his death?
05:30Yes.
05:31In short, when the results are found and given to us from the Free Police Force,
05:40we will take a stance that we will not hide or keep secret.
05:49We will take a stance to expose the principle of accountability and transparency.
05:59The reason for this is so that all parties can make a full statement.
06:09Both the perpetrator and the policy makers and the executive.
06:15And also, as a foundation, we must know the truth in a granular and detailed way.
06:24So that we can take a stance and make it a policy if we want to change the policy.
06:30Based on evidence and correct information.
06:35Therefore, I will not compromise to not expose it.
06:44On the contrary, I will expose it based on the principle of transparency and accountability.
06:51And if, don't forget what I did in 2018, when I held an independence committee to handle a bullying case,
07:04which may be referred to as Google,
07:09ended with a situation where a head of the office, I don't need to mention which one,
07:17in a public hospital, MOH hospital in Lembah Kelang,
07:24ended with the head of the office being arrested and then fired.
07:31And because he has a high rank, it involves the highest authority in this country.
07:39So, don't take it lightly and I will not compromise in this matter.
07:43And if the evidence is correct, I will not take the next step.
07:50If not, I will not.
07:52So, we must take a stance so that we don't easily commit a crime.
08:00That's one thing. We must balance the attitude and culture.
08:04Thank you once again.
08:06Bullying is not a new thing.
08:08We have heard about bullying and sexual crimes before this,
08:13which was mentioned by the minister earlier,
08:15the head of the orthopedics department in one of the KKM hospitals,
08:20which involves the staff below him.
08:24And recently, I was informed that there is a bullying issue
08:31that occurs in the KKM hospital in Semenanjung,
08:35which also involves the head of the pathology department
08:41and several pathologists involved.
08:47And I was informed that there is a police report,
08:50there is a report to the KKM integrity,
08:53there is a report to the office of the Minister of Health.
08:58The question is, if we are concerned,
09:02if there is a delay in what happened to the pathologist,
09:07from the case that I was informed about four months ago,
09:12the report has been sent,
09:14and we don't know what to do,
09:16as if there is no action.
09:18So, this is a concern out there.
09:21And what actually happened?
09:25Because we also see that the freedom of speech
09:28that was formed was after the death of the pathologist
09:36on the deathbed.
09:37So, maybe you can give a response.
09:40Thank you, Mr. Langat.
09:41Of course, the freedom of speech was after the tragedy,
09:45not before.
09:47However, I want to emphasize first
09:49that we have established an in-depth investigation.
09:53There is an accusation that human beings and I were late.
09:56So, right after that happened,
09:58we have carried out an in-depth investigation.
10:00And that was exactly what I did in 2018.
10:05Before, we carried out an independent investigation
10:10as we established to handle the Datu case this time,
10:15which was led by Tan Sri Burhan,
10:17the former KPPA.
10:20So, don't take it so lightly.
10:24On the other hand,
10:26the case today,
10:28as far as I know,
10:32there is another case,
10:33the death of a patient at Hospital Seberang Jaya,
10:36which was also accused of being a bully case.
10:40And I have observed
10:42whatever data, facts, and figures,
10:49I will not easily jump to conclusions
10:55and make that accusation.
10:57Especially when we see that
10:59the lack of energy in Seberang Jaya
11:04is not really like that.
11:07On the contrary,
11:08there are 25 MOs in Seberang Jaya Hospital.
11:13We have 30 MOs there
11:15compared to the other hospitals
11:17which are very close to each other,
11:19such as Alostar and Singapetani.
11:21They have their own shortcomings and deficits.
11:24So, once again, I would like to remind you,
11:26Your Honour,
11:28that we will also take,
11:30I am sure,
11:31we will also take the initial investigation
11:33of this new case
11:34and will also follow up
11:36with the independent investigation.
11:38So, once again,
11:40it happened in July,
11:42but we have taken
11:46the initial investigation
11:48in August,
11:50but we have taken
11:52the initial investigation
11:54in turn.
11:56And also,
11:58I am sorry,
12:00on October 10th,
12:02the body of the independent investigation
12:04led by Tan Sri Burhan
12:06will be held.
12:07So, put it in perspective.
12:09We will not compromise
12:11in handling the bully case.
12:13And we want a just work culture
12:15in MH.
12:16A working atmosphere
12:18with a fair team
12:20that will be
12:22a working culture
12:25and respect each other
12:27in the framework of the Madani spirit.
12:29Thank you, Your Honour,
12:31for your time.
12:43Thank you, Your Honour.