Independent inquiry body recommends hospital sex predator be suspended

PETALING JAYA: The independent inquiry body set up to investigate the sexual harassment cases in a Klang Valley hospital has recommended for its head of department (HOD) implicated in the case to be suspended.

In a tweet on Monday (Sept 10), Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the independent inquiry body has made two major recommendations.

One is to lodge a report to the Malaysian Medical Council to investigate the HOD for professional misconduct under the Medical Act 1971.

The other is for the Health Ministry to take the necessary action to suspend the HOD to facilitate further investigations by the relevant authorities.

“The findings revealed that there were enough grounds for the Health Ministry to proceed with further action against the HOD.

“As to the rumours about transfers of doctors and specialists, please wait for further official statements from the Ministry on this matter,” he said.

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had also retweeted Dr Dzulkefly’s statement.

In July, The Star carried a front-page report on house officers who alleged they had been sexually harassed by an orthopaedic department head at a hospital in the Klang Valley.

In response to the story, Dr Dzulkefly asked victims to e-mail him directly, and a committee comprising representatives from both the Health and the Women, Family and Community Development Ministries was set up to look into the matter.

On Monday (Sept 10), The Star published a report that a number of specialists from the hospital had been informed that they would be transferred out of the hospital.