PETALING JAYA: Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah has urged a senior doctor who was allegedly sexually harassed by her superior to lodge a police report.
Noor Hisham said the ministry’s integrity unit was probing the case but urged her to lodge a police report against the alleged perpetrator, said to be the director of the hospital she works at.
“We need a police report. It doesn’t matter whether the perpetrator is a hospital director or someone else. A police report and an investigation by the police would be good,” the New Straits Times quoted him as saying.
He said certain procedures must be adhered to so as to ensure fairness, adding that all staff must be held accountable for their actions.
Earlier today, the husband of a hospital deputy director expressed frustration with the lack of response from the health ministry over his wife’s complaint of sexual harassment.
The husband, who wanted to be known as John, said his wife had complained that the hospital director had made lewd comments to her in the presence of others.
The director had allegedly made remarks such as “You sepatutnya layan saya” (You are supposed to entertain me) and had also asked “Are you a lion or a tiger?”
John added that his wife told him the director had also commented on women’s attire during meetings, such as the colour of their undergarments.
He said the state health department had held an inquiry and a warning was issued. However, the director remained in his post, he added.
John said he and his wife chose not to lodge police reports or take legal action for fear of repercussions from the ministry.