The Penang government is mulling over taking legal action against Deputy Health Minister Dr Hilmi Yahya over his statement that the state had been “uncooperative” in the probe over allegations of racists doctors who refused to treat Malay patients.

Dr Afif Bahardin State executive councillor on health Dr Afif Bahardin ( left ) said that Hilmi had issued the statement on July 26, when he was quoted in a Bernama report, without “a single item of evidence”.

He added that the state executive council, in its meeting yesterday, decided to ask Hilmi - who is also Balik Pulau MP - to withdraw his purported statement.

“If Dr Hilmi refuses to do so, the state will consider the possibility of taking legal action against him,” said Afif in a statement today.

“This is because his statement was irresponsible and was an attempt to tarnish the image and credibility of the state government,” he added.

In the report, Hilmi had reportedly said that his ministry was “awaiting for the investigation report on the racist doctors from the Penang government as verbally promised” by its chief minister.

Hilmi said the ministry would decide on its next course of action only after receiving the state government’s report.

NONE The allegations was first raised by Umno’s Pinang Tunggal assemblyperson Roslan Saidin, who claimed there had been six incidents where Malay patients within his constituency were refused treatment by three Chinese Malaysian doctors in Kepala Batas (two) and Seberang Jaya (one).

Health Minister S Subramaniam has since said there were no elements of racism in the probe conducted by his department. However, there were incidents of “poor communication and clinical competency” of the doctors towards their patients.

He was earlier quoted in Malay language daily Utusan Malaysia as saying that the state government was “uncooperative”, while Harian Metro reported that he said that it was difficult to obtain information from Lim to facilitate the probe.

Afif said Lim had refuted Hilmi’s allegations, saying he never promised - whether verbally or in writing - to provide information about the issue.

“Up to the time of writing, no one from the ministry or Hilmi’s assistants have asked the state government for information regarding the issue,” said the PKR Seberang Jaya assemblyperson.