NGO demands suspension of doctor amid fourth arrest for alleged molest

Summary

• Women’s Centre for Change criticises authorities for failing to act decisively against a Penang doctor arrested four times for alleged sexual misconduct involving female patients.

• It questions why the doctor remains allowed to practise, including taking locum shifts, despite multiple police reports and serious accusations.

• NGO urges the immediate suspension of the doctor’s medical licence and swift prosecution, while police confirm DPP has ordered further investigations.

A feminist NGO condemned the failure of authorities to take effective action against a Penang-based doctor who has now been arrested for the fourth time over alleged sexual misconduct involving female patients.

The Women’s Centre for Change (WCC) questioned why the doctor was allowed to continue practising medicine, including taking locum shifts at private clinics, despite the serious nature of the accusations and multiple arrests.

“These recurring allegations raise serious concerns about the apparent lack of effective action and accountability within medical institutions, enforcement agencies, and prosecutorial authorities,” the WCC said in a statement today.

“How many more women must be violated - deceived, secretly recorded, molested, or worse - before meaningful and effective action is finally taken?

“The public is no longer just waiting for answers - it is demanding effective action,” it added.

Earlier today, The Star reported that the deputy public prosecutor’s office has instructed Penang police to further investigate the doctor, who had been arrested four times for allegedly molesting his patients.

“We submitted the investigation papers for the three original cases reported in the northeast district to the DPP’s office.

“We recently received instructions from the DPP’s office to further investigate the cases,” acting Penang police chief Alwi Zainal Abidin told reporters at the state police contingent headquarters.

He expressed the belief that the 43-year-old doctor was reassigned to a government clinic in the Southwest district after working in a government hospital in the Northeast district.

Swift prosecution

WCC urged the Health Ministry, Malaysian Medical Council, Malaysian Medical Association, and other relevant authorities to immediately suspend or revoke the doctor’s licence to practise, including barring him from locum duty pending the outcome of court proceedings.

It also implored the police and Attorney-General’s Chambers to work towards a swift prosecution in all four cases.

It said that the man had been arrested three separate times in February and March this year, after reports from three separate women.

“Earlier news reports indicated that the doctor had allegedly photographed or filmed at least two female patients under the guise of medical procedures, where the women were told to run in place, topless,” it added.

Earlier today, Bernama reported that the doctor was arrested yesterday and detained at the Southwest district police headquarters.

Southwest district police chief Sazalee Adam said this followed a report that the latest victim had lodged on July 18, alleging that he had told her to take off her clothes and touched her breasts after she went to him on June 29 for treatment of abdominal pains.

In the same report, Alwi said the case is being investigated under Section 354 of the Penal Code, which criminalises the use of force against a person with the intent to outrage their modesty.

The man has been remanded for three days until July 23, he added.

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