KOTA KINABALU – A man is seeking answers from the Health Ministry after his 71-year-old mother’s death due to Covid-19 was made public only 32 days afterwards.
She died at Serdang Hospital in January.
Logeswaran Nadesan, who has lived in Sabah for 25 years, also threatened to take legal action if health authorities continue to give him the slip.
He said his mother, Kolandaiamah Perumal, was admitted to Serdang Hospital due to breathing difficulties on January 13 and discharged five days later when her coronavirus swab test returned negative.
Logeswaran said she had pneumonia, and was admitted again on January 21 on suspicion of being a Covid-19 close contact.
She was confirmed positive for the virus the next day.
“She was admitted to the Covid-19 ICU on January 23, and doctors certified her death the next day,” Logeswaran told a press conference on Friday organised by Sabah DAP’s Luyang office near here.
He was accompanied by state DAP secretary Chan Foong Hin and Youth chief Phoong Jin Zhe.
To Logeswaran’s surprise, the ministry’s report on Covid-19 cases from January 22 to February 24 did not include his mother’s death.
Instead, the ministry on January 25 reported the death of a 71-year-old woman from Sibu, Sarawak.
After Logeswaran reached out to the hospital and health authorities, his mother’s death was noted and included in the February 25 Covid-19 report.
But, the details were again incorrect, with the report stating that a 72-year-old woman had died in Sibu.
“To be certain, it was not a mistake. I contacted health authorities to clarify,” said Logeswaran.
“On March 1, they responded that Case No. 1,093 relates to my mother. The ministry responded without prejudice, saying her death was listed on February 25.”
No manipulation of data?
Logeswaran said the episode runs counter to Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s statement that there is no manipulation of coronavirus data.
He said he has been contacting the hospital, ministry and health authorities, but the facts in the ministry’s report remain incorrect.
It does not make sense. And, Serdang Hospital is one of the main facilities for Covid-19 patients. A mistake like this should not have happened. Are they using my mother’s case to tamper with the statistics?”
Logeswaran said he needs closure, and is infuriated that the family were denied the chance to conduct a funeral according to his mother’s faith.
He said he is giving the authorities seven days to clarify his mother’s death, or he will bring the matter to court.
Chan and Phoong questioned the authorities’ procedures, and said the case of Logeswaran’s mother casts doubt on the Covid-19 reports provided to the public.
“This is not for our political interest, or a political issue. The authorities must be transparent and honest about the figures.”
Chan questioned the numbers issued by the ministry, citing the case of a Sabah school that the authorities said had infections, but denied by the institution itself.
The state Covid-19 secretariat in an April 22 statement said there were Covid-19 cases recorded in four schools, including SJK (C) Shan Tao.
However, the school issued a statement refuting the matter.
The secretariat has yet to respond to a request for clarification. – The Vibes, April 26, 2021
