The Lahad Datu police have ruled out foul play in the death Dr Tay Tien Yaa, a pathology specialist at the district hospital, who allegedly committed suicide as she was a victim of bullying.

District police chief Dzulbaharin Ismail said they were aware of the suicide allegations made by a family member but the police have not ascertained why the incident happened.

“But from our probe, there is no foul play involved at the moment,” he was quoted as saying by The Star.

He added that they would leave the matter of bullying claims to the health authorities.

According to an obituary published by Hospital Lahad Datu, Tay died on Aug 29.

Her brother, who goes by YA Tay, on a Facebook post yesterday said the doctor had been in Lahad Datu for only six months and alleged she died by suicide after being pressured and oppressed.

He said his newlywed sister was supposed to return after a two-year stint in Lahad Datu, on Sabah’s east coast.

When contacted by Malaysiakini, Tay’s sister, Wenya Tay, confirmed her death and that her brother had made the Facebook post.

However, she declined to comment further, citing the ongoing police investigation.

Promises of serious consequences

Tay’s death comes amid complaints of poor work conditions and bullying of healthcare workers in Sabah public hospitals by senior personnel.

It was reported that doctors had suffered verbal and physical abuse in a hospital, being subjected to profanities, racial slurs, and even threats with sharp objects for not following orders.

Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad

Following this, Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad vowed not to tolerate abuse of power by senior officers in the system.

The Hartal Doktor Kontrak movement noted that bullying in the public health sector had persisted and worsened despite a task force set up in 2022 to investigate and address the issue.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Medical Association president Kalwinder Singh Khaira wants the Health Ministry to go a step further and act against anyone found to be shielding bullies.

In a statement on Friday, he urged for a thorough investigation and stern action against bullies, while commending the ministry’s commitment to zero tolerance for bullying.

He also said the MMA had submitted a bullying case to the ministry, which was being investigated.

Both the health ministry and the MMA have avenues for healthcare workers to submit complaints; however, bullying in healthcare, be it in the public or private sector, persists.

Medical practitioners can report incidents through the ministry’s Public Complaint Management System (SiSPAA) or the MMA’s Doctor Assistance platform to report bullies.

Last October, the Health Ministry made similar pledges to address workplace bullying among healthcare workers after a poll of government and private medical practitioners revealed that 30 and 40 percent respectively had experienced some form of bullying on the job.

If you are feeling depressed or suicidal, or know someone who is, please call the following hotlines:

Talian Kasih
Hotline: 15999

The Befrienders
Hotline: 03-76272929

Agape Counselling Centre Malaysia
Hotline: 03-77855955 or 03-77810800

Life Line Association Malaysia
Hotline: 03-42657995

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