Court dismisses defamation suit by senior specialist against junior doc

SEREMBAN: The Sessions Court here has dismissed a defamation suit brought by a senior medical specialist of a government hospital against a junior doctor over a complaint letter the latter sent against her to the Health director-general.

Judge Datin Surita Budin, in dismissing the suit by Dr Suraina Mohamad of Hospital Tuanku Ja'afar, said the plaintiff had failed to prove the allegations against Dr Nur Qalida Amirah Mahazir.

"After examining testimonies from the witnesses, exhibits produced before the court and considering the written submissions from both parties, the court, on the balance of probabilities, finds that the plaintiff has failed to prove her claim against the defendant," she said in her decision which was sent via e-mail to the defendant's lawyers.

Surita also rejected the plaintiff's claim with cost.

Dr Nur Qalida, who was then a UD41 grade officer, had also sent a copy of her complaint dated Oct 14, 2019, alleging workplace harassment to the Negri Sembilan women, family and welfare committee chairman; the state health director; the hospital director; and the hospital's emergency and trauma department head.

She had among others claimed that she felt harassed by her superior while working at the Emergency and Trauma Department.

In her letter, Dr Nur Qalida had also among others claimed that the plaintiff had not been fair to her with regard to her transfer to another department and had also belittled her in front of other specialists.

She demanded that stern action be taken against her superior for being unfair to her.

The defendant was represented by Haresh Mahadevan, Ramzani Idris and Vivi'Asnita Zaina'Larifin.

A team of lawyers led by Syed Fadil Syed Othman appeared for the plaintiff.