[UPDATED] Penang houseman death: cops record statements from family, girlfriend

GEORGE TOWN – Police have recorded statements from family members and the girlfriend of a houseman who was found dead on April 17 after allegedly falling from his apartment building in Jalan Datuk Keramat here.

Northeast acting district police chief V. Saravanan said the authorities recorded statements from the victim’s father and brother at the station today, while the girlfriend’s statement was taken in Nilai, Negri Sembilan.

“We asked them (the victim’s father and brother) to come again today to facilitate the investigation. It took us two hours to record their statements.

“The girlfriend’s statement had to be recorded in Nilai today as she lives there,” he told The Vibes today.

Saravanan added that police have yet to receive the results of the victim’s autopsy report.

State health exco Dr Norlela Arifin yesterday said she submitted names of individuals from five departments who were allegedly involved in the bullying of a houseman at Penang Hospital to the health minister.

Dr Norlela told The Vibes in a WhatsApp message that Khairy Jamaluddin had responded to her information.

Khairy had recently announced plans to set up a special task force to investigate the sudden death of the Penang houseman and allegations of a bullying culture among the healthcare fraternity.

Dr Norlela had also called for a meeting with stakeholders soon to formally discuss the incident and come up with changes and solutions.

“The meeting will first involve trainee and junior doctors before meeting with health directors, deputy health directors, hospital directors, and heads of departments in Penang.”

The houseman, whose name has been withheld due to a request from his parents, was posted to the hospital just three weeks before his sudden demise here. This is believed to be the second death to involve a junior doctor in the span of two years.

In December 2020, The Vibes reported that another doctor who had resigned from the same hospital had died suddenly.

Following the incidents, there was an outcry from NGOs and the public for the Health Ministry to set up an investigation committee to probe the allegations. – The Vibes, May 11, 2022