The smartly-dressed ‘Dr Who?’ of Alor Setar hospital

ALOR SETAR: For the past one year, he has been making his rounds at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital here, his doctor’s smock neat and clean and stethoscope around his neck.

Smartly dressed, and wearing a tie as well, the 30-something “Dr Ridzuan” has been seen on some occasions scolding the cleaners for not carrying out their task properly.

He would usually be seen around the Emergency Unit or the Specialist Clinic.

There was only one problem: He is not a doctor. The bogus medical officer has managed to make his rounds for a full year without raising any suspicion.

On Monday, his luck ran out when a senior doctor checked the hospital’s records and discovered that there was no such doctor working there.

A hospital employee, who requested anonymity, said the security guards detained the man at about 9am and handed him over to the doctor on duty for further action.

“He was later released. Everybody here thought he was a doctor attached to one of the departments.

“Since a year ago, he had introduced himself as Dr Ridzuan when met at the hospital.

“We would usually see him once a week loitering around the Emergency Unit, Specialist Clinic and at the lobby,” said the employee.

However, he added that the “doctor” would not see patients during his “rounds”.

“About two months ago, a senior doctor became suspicious of him, saying he could be an impersonator,” he said.

Deputy Kota Setar OCPD Supt Yazri Ismail confirmed the incident but said no police report has been lodged.