Dr Hasan Abdul Rahman who was  demoted one grade following his ‘khalwat’ (close proximity)  case last month is no longer the director-general of health.

Responding to queries on Dr Hasan’s status, Public Service Commission (PSC) chairperson Mahmood Adam said the PSC meeting on Nov 26 decided to suspend Dr Hasan’s duties as director-general of health effective Nov 14.

“Dr Hasan was suspended from duty and since then he was no longer the  director-general of health. However, he is still a civil servant,” he told Bernama when contacted today.

In a statement on Monday, Mahmood said the PSC meeting decided that Dr Hasan, who was Medical Officer Staff II Main Grade, be demoted one grade lower in accordance with Regualtion 33 (1) of the Public Officers Regulations (Conduct and Discipline) 1993.

Meanwhile, Mahmood said that Dr Hasan has not sent an appeal letter nor a request for early retirement following his demotion.

“If he (Dr Hasan) wants to appeal or go for early retirement, he has to make an application via the Health Ministry,” he added.

On Nov 14, Dr Hasan, 56, and Wan Syarifah Nooraazmanita Wan Hassan, 36, also an employee of the ministry, were fined RM3,000 and RM2,900 by the Syariah High Court after pleading guilty to committing ‘khalwat’ in a room in Hotel Pullman Putrajaya at 2.18am the same day.

- Bernama