KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 — Dr Tay Tien Yaa’s family has expressed a lack of confidence in a task force, led by a former Public Service director-general, that was formed to investigate the death of the pathologist.
Besides chairman Borhan Dollah, the independent six-member task force formed by the Ministry of Health (MOH) includes former Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation secretary-general Prof Siti Hamisah Tapsir, former Health deputy director-general (medicine) Dr Azman Abu Bakar, former MOH legal advisor Mohamad Fazin Mahmud, as well as Universiti Malaya pathologist Prof Dr Looi Lai Meng and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia psychiatrist Prof Dr Chan Lai Fong.
“In fact, there is a high likelihood that these experts are likely to have connections with the senior officers in the pathology department! Why isn’t there a legal advisor on the task force to ensure justice? Is the team truly free from any influence or bias?” Dr Tay’s brother, Yong Shen, wrote on Facebook last Saturday.
Dr Tay, a young UD52 chemical pathologist in her 30s, headed the chemical pathology unit under the pathology department at Lahad Datu Hospital, a district government hospital in Sabah, before she was found dead from suicide last August 29.
Yong Shen also questioned the progress of a previous task force – the Healthcare Work Culture Improvement Task Force (HWCITF) headed by Siti Hamisah under then-Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin – that released its report in August 2022 on bullying in the MOH based on a survey of over 110,000 staff, following the death of a houseman in Penang Hospital.
The HWCITF had found no conclusive evidence to link the junior doctor’s death to workplace bullying, besides stating in general that incidents of bullying occurred at “different levels” in the public health service and not in every MOH health care facility.
“But now, where is the existence of this task force?” Yong Shen said.
In a separate statement last Saturday, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) similarly questioned which recommendations by the HWCITF had been taken up by the MOH, two years on.
“Although the recommendations were compiled by mostly a different panel, significant time, effort, and resources were invested in research, gathering insights and feedback from public health care staff,” said MMA president Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira.
“Transparency on which recommendations, if any, were adopted by the ministry would help clarify the direction of these ongoing reforms and reassure health care personnel about the government’s commitment to addressing work culture issues and challenges.
“We urge that the newly formed task force also be empowered to review the findings and recommendations of the HWCITF.”
Yong Shen also slammed the absence of a response to the family’s Sispaa complaint filed last September 12 against the alleged bullying of Dr Tay. The MOH complaints channel’s website states that responses to public inquiries must be made within 15 working days.
“The Health Minister, Datuk Seri Dzulkefly [Ahmad], has advocated for zero tolerance against bullying and encouraged the use of Sispaa as a channel to report workplace bullying. Is this just a slogan? Is this channel even operating?” he said.
“I have always had faith and trust in our government, believing that Sispaa would seek justice for my late sister. I’m deeply disappointed with the efficiency of the Ministry of Health, Malaysia! Is Malaysia really Madani?”
He pointed out that Dzulkefly announced the formation of the special task force on October 2 – which will take effect on October 10 – a day after Yong Shen and his family held a press conference with MCA and appointed a lawyer. The family lawyer announced potential legal action over Dr Tay’s death.
“Does it mean that there isn’t any action taken after the complaint was lodged via Sispaa? Is this showing MOH’s ‘firm’ approach to handling bullying cases? Was the announcement of the investigation simply coincided with the family’s press conference?” Yong Shen said.
“Does every bullying case need to be escalated to a press conference before the agency takes action?”
The 31-year-old expressed frustration that the special task force has been given three months to complete its investigation.
“Dr Tay Tien Yaa served the government for nearly 10 years. Does the government not value her and the contributions of health care workers, given how slow the investigation has been?” he said.
Yong Shen said another sister of his is an internal physician with subspecialisation, while his cousins are also serving as medical officers in government hospitals.
“The lack of protection to the health care professions leaves me deeply concerned about their welfare and future development in their career! What would you feel if you were bullied today and had no guarantee of safety?”
