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SINGAPORE: Malaysia’s health minister and medical professionals’ body have called for a thorough probe into the death of a doctor in Sabah after she allegedly killed herself due to workplace bullying.
Dr Tay Tien Yaa, 30, headed the Chemical Pathology Unit at Hospital Lahad Datu and was found dead in her rental home on Aug 29.
But her death came into public spotlight only after her brother put up a Facebook post last Saturday (Sep 14) about her suicide which he claimed was due to workplace bullying.
Weighing in on the matter, Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, the health minister, said that he has taken a zero-tolerance approach to bullying since his first stint in the portfolio in 2018.
“(I) shall remain steadfast on this policy,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Monday.
“All Health Ministry staff deserve a safe and just working environment,” he added.
“I understand this toxic work culture still persists, so perpetrators just stop it!”
In a statement, the Malaysian Medical Association also called for a thorough investigation into Dr Tay’s death.
Its president Kalwinder Singh Khaira said the tragic loss underscores serious concerns about the mental health and well-being of doctors in the public healthcare system.
“The medical community is monitoring the situation closely, and we appreciate a swift and transparent response.”
A 2023 survey has found that 30-40 per cent of doctors in Malaysia have experienced some form of bullying, with the Malaysian Medical Association expressing “deep concern” over the findings.
It has also in the past urged doctors to report workplace bullying or lodge a police report.
Local police had said that no foul play was suspected in Dr Tay’s death.
New outlet The Star quoted Lahad Datu district police chief Dzulbaharin Ismail as saying that the incident has been classified as sudden death.
Dr Tay’s family had taken to Facebook to mourn her suicide which they claimed was due to workplace bullying.
“Throughout her life, people who knew her will remember her as a person who was kind, caring, thoughtful, loyal, and a wonderful sister, friend, colleague, partner and leader,” her sister wrote.
Her brother added: “In the overwhelming shock of losing you, your close family and friends are left with endless regret, guilt, sorrow, and self-blame.”
He said that Dr Tay graduated from Russia’s Volgograd State Medical University in 2013 and had worked in Johor and Kuala Lumpur before completing her masters in chemical pathology last year at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
She got married in September 2023 and in February this year, started work at Hospital Lahad Datu “with great anticipation”.
The hospital was a “brand new and unfamiliar place” to her, and she was separated from her husband who has been her pillar of support, the brother wrote.
She held onto the promise given to her that she would be transferred back to the peninsula to start a family with her husband after two years of service in Hospital Lahad Datu.
He claimed that while already overloaded with work, she was assigned other responsibilities by a senior colleague who “mistreated, oppressed” her.
“She was an exceptional doctor who devoted her life to society, but the immense pressures and bullying in her workplace ultimately led her to end her life,” he wrote.
“This tragic event shines a light on the severe issues in the medical industry, such as workplace stress and bullying, which continue to prevail,” he added.
“The pain of losing our loved one is indescribable, especially when there wasn’t a proper farewell. I hope that this experience will inspire greater awareness and improvements in the mental health and working conditions of healthcare workers.”
Where to get help:
Samaritans of Singapore Hotline: 1767
Institute of Mental Health’s Helpline: 6389 2222
Singapore Association for Mental Health Helpline: 1800 283 7019
You can also find a list of international helplines here. If someone you know is at immediate risk, call 24-hour emergency medical services.
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