PUTRAJAYA: Claims that Dr Tay Tien Yaa, a pathology specialist at Hospital Lahad Datu in Sabah, had a difficult working relationship with her superior before her death did not arise, an independent panel has found following a three-month probe.
Tan Sri Borhan Dollah, who chaired a six-member special task force to investigate the matter, also revealed that it has found no elements of bullying, oppression or mistreatment in Dr Tay’s demise.
Borhan, a former Public Service Department director-general, said the conclusion was based on four issues raised in complaints by the deceased’s two siblings.
It looked into aspects of heavy workload outside her job scope; the work dynamic with coworkers; any evidence of bullying, oppression, and mistreatment by her superior; and her intention to be posted to Peninsular Malaysia instead of Sabah.
“There were claims that the head of department did not perform their duties as a leader. According to the statement (in the complaint), the head of department oppressed the deceased at work and this was coupled with the workload,” he told a press conference at the Health Ministry here yesterday to present the findings of the probe.
“Based on what we found in our investigation this did not arise. They had a professional working relationship and a group chat,” he said, adding that interviews were conducted with other staff members and there was no indication of an argument with the officer against whom the complaint was lodged.
Borhan said Dr Tay’s workload was well within her job scope and there was no appeal from her to be posted to the peninsula.
“The claims by the complainants did not arise. We can conclude that the issue of mistreatment and bullying inflicted on Dr Tay did not arise. In fact, they worked well as a team and were constantly in touch,” he said.
Borhan said 19 witnesses were interviewed, including family members and hospital staff. The task force members also visited her rental home.
The task force also recommended that healthcare workers posted to the peninsula, Sabah or Sarawak be given the necessary support to help them adapt to the new environment and cultures.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, meanwhile, said Dr Tay’s family has been informed of the findings.
“We can also understand the emotional burden they had to endure when the findings were disclosed. I understand ... how hard it would be for the family to accept the findings,” he said, expressing his condolences to the family.
He also acknowledged that Dr Tay could have been under a lot of work stress owing to the resource limitations at the hospital, adding that he would look into rectifying the issue.
Dzulkelfy reiterated that he would not compromise on any act of bullying in the ministry.
After the findings were presented, Dr Tay’s brother Tay Yong Shen said in a brief Facebook post: “That’s the findings with three months of investigation ...”.
Dr Tay, 30, was found dead in her rental unit last Aug 29, following allegations of workplace bullying.
She was the head of the hospital’s Chemical Pathology Unit and lived alone in her rental home.
On Oct 1, Yong Shen, 31, said his sister had shown no signs of depression or intentions to end her life, adding that the family discovered evidence in her WhatsApp conversations of her workload and how she was treated.
Other members of the task force are former Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry secretary-general Prof Datuk Dr Siti Hamisah Tapsir; former Health deputy director-general (medicine) Datuk Dr Azman Abu Bakar; former Health Ministry legal adviser Datuk Mohamad Fazin Mahmud; Universiti Malaya Medical Centre senior consultant Prof Dr Looi Lai Meng; and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia psychiatrist Prof Dr Chan Lai Fong.
