The Health Ministry has completed its internal investigation into a sexual harassment allegation involving a Sabah hospital director, transferring the officer to a medical post at the Sabah Health Department while the Public Service Department determines subsequent disciplinary steps, according to Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad.
Health Ministry Reassigns Sabah Hospital Director Following Internal Probe
According to Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad, the Health Ministry finished its internal inquiry and moved the director to a medical officer position within the medical division of the Sabah Health Department. Speaking at a press conference on August 15 after the ministry’s Training Institutes convocation at Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Dzulkefly stated that the official report was submitted to the Public Service Department (PSD). Because the PSD holds jurisdiction over the officer’s civil service grade, that department will decide the next course of action.
Dzulkefly also confirmed that the alleged victim received full support, psychiatric treatment, and placement in a better working environment. The allegations initially drew public attention last month through a video featuring Kepayan assemblyman Chin Teck Ming and Sabah Warisan Health Bureau chief Dr Istefan Koh. Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun confirmed that authorities received a police report on the matter earlier in the year.
Legal Representation Challenges Administrative Action and Transparency
According to lawyer Joan Goh, the former hospital director is seeking transparency and procedural fairness rather than preferential treatment. Goh stated that her client served in the public health service for approximately 30 years and that removing him from his post near the end of his career carries serious professional consequences. Her firm submitted a formal representation to the Health Ministry challenging the transfer and demanding reasons for the decision, investigation findings, and the source of authority used.
Goh also raised questions regarding the administrative arrangement that followed her client’s removal. According to public reports, the complainant subsequently assumed the functions of hospital director. Goh argued that if separating the parties was necessary during the investigation, a neutral arrangement could have been made without placing the complainant into the exact role vacated by her client.
"If the Ministry considered it necessary to separate the parties pending investigations, a neutral administrative arrangement could have been made without placing the complainant in the very position from which our client had been removed," Joan Goh said in a statement reported by the New Straits Times.
Medical Associations Call for Institutional Neutrality and Due Process
According to the Federation of Private Medical Practitioners’ Associations Malaysia (FPMPAM), the sequence of events warrants formal clarification from authorities. In a statement issued by president Dr Shanmuganathan TV Ganeson, FPMPAM supported the Association of Private Practitioners Sabah (APPS) in calling for procedural fairness, institutional neutrality, and natural justice.
FPMPAM noted that while temporary administrative measures like reassignment can be legitimate to protect complainants or safeguard investigations, interim arrangements should remain proportionate. The federation emphasized that an NFA (No Further Action) police classification under Section 354 of the Penal Code does not amount to a judicial declaration of innocence, just as an initial allegation does not constitute a finding of guilt. Both organizations urged the Ministry of Health and the Sabah State Health Department to ensure a fair, transparent conclusion that protects both complainants from retaliation and respondents from premature disciplinary consequences.
Frequently Asked Questions
What actions did the Health Ministry take regarding the Sabah hospital director?
According to Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad, the ministry transferred the director to a medical officer position in the Sabah Health Department and submitted the internal investigation report to the Public Service Department for further action.
What are the legal concerns raised by the former director’s defense?
According to lawyer Joan Goh, the former director is challenging the administrative transfer, demanding investigation findings, and questioning the neutrality of an arrangement where the complainant assumed the duties of hospital director.
What is the current status of the police investigation?
According to FPMPAM and related reports, the police investigation under Section 354 of the Penal Code was classified as No Further Action (NFA), though separate administrative and disciplinary processes remain under review by the Public Service Department.
Pro Tip for Healthcare Professionals
Maintaining institutional neutrality and strict adherence to established protocols during workplace investigations helps protect the rights of both complainants and respondents while preserving public trust in healthcare systems.
What are your thoughts on balancing administrative reassignment with procedural neutrality in healthcare institutions? Share your perspective in the comments below, explore our related coverage on medical administration policies, or subscribe to our newsletter for updates.
Worth a look