PUTRAJAYA, Jan 22 — An independent task force investigating the death of Dr Tay Tien Yaa found no conclusive evidence linking the chemical pathologist’s suicide to workplace bullying.
Former Public Service Department director-general Borhan Dollah, who is chair of the six-member task force, stated that allegations of bullying and Dr Tay being overburdened with tasks outside her scope at Lahad Datu Hospital in Sabah – as raised by the deceased’s family – “did not arise” in the investigation.
“Based on our investigation, we found that the tasks performed by the late Dr Tay were in line with the duties and job description assigned to her. We did not find any evidence indicating that her tasks were beyond her scope or outside her area of responsibility,” Borhan told a press conference at the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) headquarters today.
“As the first deputy head of department, the late Dr Tay was responsible for managing procurement, store maintenance, point-of-care testing (POCT), and so on. From the evidence, including documents and interviews, we did not find any issues suggesting that she was overburdened with excessive work or tasked with responsibilities beyond her scope,” Borhan added.
The task force was given three months, from October 10, 2024, to January 9, 2025 to investigate the death of Dr Tay, a young UD52 specialist doctor. Borhan said the task force interviewed 19 witnesses, including family members, Lahad Datu Hospital staff, and the head of the pathology department, and reviewed 41 documents, including photos, videos, medical reports, and police reports.
The team also visited the Pathology Department at Lahad Datu Hospital and Dr Tay’s rental home on November 4.
Dr Tay, who was in her 30s, was found dead from suicide in her rental unit on August 29 last year. She had been serving as head of the Chemical Pathology Unit under the Pathology Department at Lahad Datu Hospital, an MOH hospital in Sabah, since February 2024.
Her brother, Tay Yong Shen, had specifically blamed her superior for workplace harassment in a viral Facebook post following her death.
Borhan said apart from Yong Shen’s Facebook post on September 14, the task force’s investigation was based on another complaint lodged by Dr Tay’s older sister to the MOH integrity unit on September 7.
Key issues raised included allegations of excessive workload, being tasked as a medical officer for unrelated duties, harassment by her department head, and claims that she had requested to remain in Peninsular Malaysia rather than being transferred to Sabah.
“We found, based on our investigation, that these issues did not arise. They worked professionally, had group chats, and this was corroborated through interviews with colleagues and subordinate officers — medical officers (MOs) and others.
“Therefore, the question of her being oppressed or mistreated does not arise. There were no incidents reported to us during interviews indicating that the head of department and the deceased were seen arguing or having conflicts. That’s what we concluded,” Borhan said.
On the claim that Dr Tay was referred to as a medical officer for matters outside her field, Borhan said there is no evidence, except possibly during on-call duties.
“During on-call duties, we have to address all questions that arise from various fields or within the field — there are three divisions within the pathology department. At any time, officers can consult colleagues in other areas because they have their respective group chats,” Borhan said.
Borhan said the allegation that the late Dr Tay had requested to remain in Peninsular Malaysia and did not want to be transferred or stay in Peninsular Malaysia was also unfounded.
“Our findings revealed that there was no such appeal, as alleged, recorded by the Human Resources Division or the Medical Development Division. Therefore, we can see that the allegations made by the two complainants are unfounded (tidak berbangkit),” Borhan said.
Borhan concluded that the claims suggesting Dr Tay was oppressed, mistreated, and bullied by her department head are not relevant to this matter.
“In fact, based on our findings, they worked well as a team, maintained constant communication, and supported each other in their respective tasks,” Borhan said.
Work Stress From ‘Resource Limited’ Facility Identified As Main Factor
While workplace bullying was ruled out, Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad acknowledged the significant “work stress” and “work pressure” Dr Tay faced, compounded by her relocation from Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) to “resource limited” Lahad Datu Hospital.
“It is important for us to understand, and I deeply acknowledge and recognise, the ‘work stress’ and ‘work pressure’ faced by the late Dr Tay. This was one of the key issues highlighted in the investigation.
“As minister, I will certainly take action, particularly regarding what [Tan Sri] mentioned about the ‘resource-limited’ setting. Dr Tay previously worked in Kuala Lumpur at HKL and then moved to Lahad Datu, which is a resource-limited area. That was one of the main causes of stress and work pressure stemming from the workload,” Dzulkefly said.
“I will take steps to improve the conditions and reduce the pressures faced by specialists in similar roles, particularly in pathology,” he added.
The task force shared only a single recommendation during the press conference. It recommended implementing immediate support programmes for staff relocated between Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak to ease their transition and help them adapt to cultural and logistical differences.
Borhan highlighted that Dr Tay, as a “city girl”, might have faced challenges adjusting to life in Lahad Datu, a remote town with limited resources.
“One of the recommendations I can mention is for those who are transferred between the three regions — Sabah, Sarawak, and Peninsular Malaysia. Given the differing cultures, environments, and so on, it can be very challenging for someone who is alone. We recommend that the ministry quickly implement programmes to help officers adapt and adjust to their new settings.
“For example, in Dr Tay’s case, she was alone when she moved to Lahad Datu. Coming from a ‘city girl’ background, we can imagine the adjustment required when she transferred to Lahad Datu, a relatively remote town with a different culture and work environment,” Borhan said.
Family Finds It Difficult To Accept Report, Health Minister Says
The committee met with Dr Tay’s family and her husband’s family before the press conference to share the findings.
Dzulkefly said he empathised with their difficulty in accepting the report. “We understand the emotional toll on the family. It is not easy to come to terms with these findings,” he said.
“Yes, I deeply understand — I truly understand, as we all can — the range of emotions that arise when this information was presented by Tan Sri (Borhan) earlier. I fully understand and am aware of how difficult it is for the family to accept the findings of this special task force as outlined by Tan Sri,” Dzulkefly said.
The MOH did not issue a statement on the committee’s findings; the committee’s full report remains unavailable. It is expected to be tabled to the Cabinet this Friday, at the earliest, and reviewed by the chief government security officer (CGSO) under the Prime Minister’s Office, a process that could take months.
