KUALA LUMPUR, August 4 — The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) and Malayan Nurses Union (MNU) have called for workplaces to be made safer for health workers, after two hospitals were hit with sexual harassment allegations.
CodeBlue reported last week police reports lodged by at least two female complainants in May – a cardiothoracic surgery trainee and a nurse – both of whom accused a head of department (HOD) at a cardiac centre in Kuala Lumpur of sexually harassing them.
This followed sexual harassment complaints by at least two female staff against the director of a government hospital in Kota Kinabalu, who was later transferred to the Sabah state health department late last month.
“There is absolutely no place for sexual harassment in the medical profession. Every health care worker, regardless of their role or seniority, has the right to work in a safe, respectful and professional environment,” said MMA president Dr R. Arasu in a statement yesterday on the Kuala Lumpur case.
“We urge all health care institutions to ensure that complaints are investigated promptly, fairly and transparently, while providing appropriate support and protection for those who come forward. Equally important is fostering a workplace culture where individuals can report misconduct without fear of intimidation or retaliation.”
Earlier on the Kota Kinabalu case, Dr Arasu said a toxic workplace wasn’t merely a staff welfare issue.
“It affects morale, patient safety, and workforce retention. Malaysia cannot invest heavily in training doctors and nurses, only to lose them because the working environment has become unsafe or intolerable. Recruitment alone will not solve our workforce challenges if these push factors are not addressed.”
MNU president Noor Aini Abu Hashim said each sexual harassment allegation must be taken seriously and addressed promptly, fairly, and in accordance with established procedures.
“MNU hopes that all health care facilities, whether public or private, will take firm and proactive measures to ensure that the workplace remains safe for all health care workers, particularly nurses, who make up one of the largest segments of the health workforce,” she told CodeBlue in a statement today.
“These measures include ensuring that every complaint is investigated independently and transparently, protecting complainants from any form of intimidation or retaliation, providing safe and confidential reporting channels, and taking appropriate action based on the findings of the investigation. This approach is essential to ensure justice for all parties involved.”
The nurses’ union stressed employers’ responsibility to provide a workplace that is safe, respectful, and free from sexual harassment for all employees.
“The burden of creating a safe working environment should not be placed on victims or female employees by restricting their duties, transferring them to different postings, or compromising their career development opportunities.
“Instead, institutions should have clear policies, effective reporting mechanisms, independent investigations, and appropriate risk management measures in place while investigations are ongoing.
“At the same time, MNU also emphasises that every individual who is accused is entitled to a fair investigation in accordance with the principles of natural justice. Therefore, any measures taken should be aimed at protecting the safety of all parties without making assumptions about the outcome of an investigation that is still in progress.”
