KUALA LUMPUR – With three days to go before Health Director-General (DG) Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah retires, the Health Ministry has yet to appoint his successor.
The race is open as there are three deputy DGs to consider – Datuk Dr Asmayani Khalib (medical), Datuk Dr Norhayati Rusli (public health), and Datuk Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan (research and technical support) – as well as others serving in the ministry.
Also, the ministry has yet to appoint a secretary-general after Datuk Harjeet Singh retired on February 28.
Prior to her appointment as deputy DG on August 17, 2021, Dr Asmayani was Penang Health director since 2019. However, she will be 60 years old this year.
She was also National Cancer Institute director, Kulim Hospital director and senior principal assistant director of the Medical Development Division of the ministry.
During her career, she has served in several government facilities, such as the Kuala Kubu Baru and Kajang hospitals, Perak Health Department and Taiping Hospital, Penang Hospital and Bukit Mertajam Hospital, and Jengka Hospital in Pahang.
Meanwhile, Dr Norhayati worked with Dr Noor Hisham during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 in her capacity as Disease Control Division director.
She and Dr Radzi were appointed deputy DGs on July 15, 2022.
During her time at the Disease Control Division, she was actively involved in managing preparedness and response to incidents such as the Sg Kim Kim pollution and measles outbreak in Kelantan.
She obtained her bachelor of medicine from the Universiti Malaya and subsequently a master of public health from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia UKM.
As for Dr Radzi, he is a practicing consultant physician and gastroenterologist at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Star and heads its Clinical Research Centre. He is also involved in drafting national policies, especially involving the gastroenterology and hepatology practice.
Dr Noor Hisham, who is also a UKM alumni, is set to retire from his role on April 21 as he turns 60. He has spent more than three decades in the health civil service.
He has held the post since 2013, and previously held its deputy position from January 2008 to February 2013. He was thrust into the spotlight during the country’s fight against Covid-19.
Last year, Dr Noor Hisham chaired the World Health Organisation standing committee on health emergency prevention, preparedness and response. He also specialises in breast and endocrine surgery. – The Vibes, April 19, 2023
