KUALA LUMPUR – The Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital (HTAR) in Klang has issued a warning to its staff against sharing photos and videos from within the hospital across social media.
The notice, dated yesterday, which was sighted by The Vibes today, was addressed to all department and unit heads at the hospital.
HTAR director Dr Zulkarnain Mohd Rawi stated disciplinary action, including dismissal, can be taken for breaking the rule and affecting the civil service’s image, should sufficient proof emerge from such acts.
He also said recent photos and videos of the hospital being shared on social media platforms caused public anxiety which tarnished the government’s image, giving the impression that it is not performing its duty.
The increasing number of cases has made the sharing of the leaked videos and images more rampant, he said, causing HTAR to draw more public attention.
The notice appeared after numerous photos and videos emerged across social media in recent weeks depicting the hospital’s poor condition in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The leaks were believed to have originated from frontliners currently based in the hospital and resulted in numerous reports highlighting Covid-19 patients being placed on canvas beds outside HTAR’s Emergency and Trauma Department.
Yesterday, HTAR’s management vehemently denied clearing patients from its emergency and trauma department to accommodate the prime minister’s visit on Tuesday.
Responding to claims on social media following Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba’s visit, HTAR director Dr Zulkarnain Mohd Rawi in a statement said the department was full of Covid-19 patients at that time.
Following Muhyiddin’s visit, he announced the hospital will receive another 151 beds, to be placed in its mother and child care complex, as well as 15 ventilators.
He said the number of beds for Covid-19 patients at the hospital will be increased to 606, and ICU beds will be upped to 72. Additionally, a video taken inside the hospital apparently showing the remains of Covid-19 victims bagged and tagged and left on the floor, has made the rounds online.
The shortages have prompted MIC to contribute a RM35,000 container for the hospital to keep bodies. Since then it is learnt that the hospital now has four refrigerated containers to be utilised as temporary morgues. – The Vibes, July 15, 2021
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