Sunday, January 14, 2024

Ministry denies 10 pathologists transferred in Johor urine-tampering controversy


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Ministry denies 10 pathologists transferred in Johor urine-tampering controversy


Health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad says urine sample tests are carried out by lab technicians, who are under probe by MACC.



Health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said a report by The Star of a ‘sweeping shakeup’ at Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor is inaccurate. (Bernama pic)


PETALING JAYA: The health ministry has denied that 10 pathologists were transferred out of Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) in Johor following a urine-tampering controversy in the state.

“The management of urine sample tests falls under the job scope of medical laboratory technicians, and does not involve pathologists.

“The involved people are still under investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission,” its minister, Dzulkefly Ahmad, said in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter).

He urged The Star, which broke the story, to “publish accurate information and not cause concern among the community about the public health service”.

HSA director Dr Sal Atan also denied the report, according to Harian Metro.

The report had said that 10 pathologists had been transferred out in a sweeping shakeup, amid an ongoing MACC investigation after the arrest of a pathologist and 33 narcotics policemen in Johor.

According to Johor health and unity committee chairman Ling Tian Soon, HSA is the only hospital in the southern region involved in testing urine samples for the police and National Anti-Drug Agency.

Before this, The Star had reported that a pathologist was at the centre of an extensive network involved in providing tampered urine samples in substance abuse cases for a fee of between RM500 and RM1,500.

The 33 narcotics policemen arrested were of various ranks and from almost all of Johor’s 13 police districts, in a network operational since 2018.

Johor MACC director Azmi Alias said the agency is investigating the case under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009, and is looking for witnesses to assist the probe.

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