KUALA LUMPUR – Top Glove Corp Bhd’s Nepali security guard who died of Covid-19 complications was admitted to hospital during the late stages of the disease, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said today.
Confirming the death of Yam Narayan Chaudhary, Dr Noor Hisham said the 29-year-old was admitted to hospital when he was in the fourth or fifth stage of Covid-19 infection.
“We gave the best treatment possible but he died of lung complications from the Covid-19 infection,” he told his daily briefing.
Yesterday, The Vibes had reported that Yam, who was stationed at Top Glove’s 13th factory in Meru, Klang, died on December 12 after the company admitted him to the nearest hospital on November 21.
A source had told The Vibes that the security guards’ duties had been increased during the movement control order to include taking people's temperatures using handheld scanners in the absence of stationary thermal scanners.
Top Glove has come under intense scrutiny by media and local authorities following a major outbreak at its Meru factories.
The Labour Department has opened 19 investigation papers in five states over claims of mistreatment of its workers and failure to meet minimum standards on housing its employees under the Workers’ Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act 1990 (Act 446).
Top Glove executives adamantly deny the allegations, insisting the company has spent millions to improve the living conditions of its workers in Meru. The company had said it was investing an additional RM100 million to build new hotels and amenities for over 7,000 workers in the next three years.
The company had also warned the media on ethical reporting after international media outlet Vice News published a video “This PPE Factory Isn't Protecting Its Workers Against Covid”, which the company had described as "thoroughly misleading and damaging”.
“Top Glove urges all media to honour the principles of ethical journalism by verifying the news they publish and broadcast, enabling their readers to have access to accurate, balanced, and transparent reporting.” – The Vibes, December 14, 2020
