By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, July 19: The Ministry of Health (MoH) has acknowledged a news report involving a former doctor who alleged that a gang, acting as agents for funeral services, has ‘dominated’ the mortuary of a public hospital in Sarawak.
In a statement, Sarawak Health Department director Dr Veronica Lugah said the ministry takes the allegation seriously and reaffirmed its full commitment to upholding the integrity and credibility of the country’s public health services.
She clarified that the management of deceased patients at government hospitals is the full responsibility of the next of kin, and that hospitals do not provide funeral arrangement services, adding that the patient’s family is free to choose any service provider without pressure or interference from the hospital.
“All healthcare service personnel are prohibited from acting as middlemen for funeral arrangements, and those who violate this rule will be subject to disciplinary action under the Public Officers Regulations Act (Conduct and Discipline) 1993,” she said.
The public has been urged to report any related complaints through official channels. In cases involving elements of coercion, threats, or gangsterism, individuals are advised to lodge a report at the nearest police station.
On July 17, Free Malaysia Today (FMT) reported that a former doctor, who only wished to be known as ‘Johan’, alleged that gang members often showed up as soon as a death was reported in the emergency department or hospital wards, sometimes even before the death was officially confirmed.
He told FMT that he believed insiders are being paid to leak information to the gang members.
This followed a recent report that the health ministry had issued a stern warning to hospital mortuary staff not to accept any form of bribes in exchange for handling the remains of dead people or providing information about the deceased.
In a circular sent to all hospitals, the ministry reiterated that accepting money or cooperating with funeral service agents could be seen as corruption. — DayakDaily
