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DAPSY Johor urge Independent Inquiry on Hospital Sultan Ismal
Press Statement
by Dr Boo Cheng Hau
(Skudai,
Monday):
DAPSY Johor urge Independent Inquiry on Hospital Sultan Ismal.
I. In response to Works Minster Statement
Johor State DAP Youth urged the Government to set up an independent inquiry
on the actual causes the fallouts of the Hospital Sultan Ismail, Pandan,
Johor in response to the Public Works Minister, Datuk Samy Vellu’s recent
statement that the contractor who was involved in the mismanagement of the
Hospital resulting in contamination by two types of fungi, i.e. Penicillium
and Aspergillus, would not be blacklisted.
Dr. Boo stresses that although the Ministry of Health and Public Works
Ministry already formed a joint committee to probe the irregularities in the
construction of the Hospital Sultan Ismail, the Public Works Minster’s
statement would bias the investigation by the joint committee.
Dr. Boo also adds that, since the Ministry of Health, the Public Works
Department (JKR) and the Johor Bahru City Council (MBJB) were involved in
process of tendering the contracts and issuing Certificate of Fitness, any
joint investigation by the parties involved would be certainly lack of
independence and public accountability due to conflict of interests..
Dr. Boo stresses that an independent inquiry is much needed to convince the
taxpayers that such mismanagement and possible corruptive practices would
not recur.
Dr. Boo urges the Prime Minister to set up an independent commission made
of both ruling party and opposition parliamentarians and independent
professional bodies to probe into the irregularities of the hospital’s
construction and maintenance leading to the result of harbouring fungi
Penicillium and Aspergillus in its building walls, medical equipments and
air conditioning system.
II. In Response to the Health Minster’s statement
The Health Minster stated that the fungus and infection problem is not
unique to the Sultan Ismail Hospital and it is a common problem worldwide.
The Minister of Health was also quoted to have said that in the United
States between 40,000 and 80,000 people died when they contracted diseases
while seeking treatment (in the hospitals).
It is to remind that the vast majority of the hospital acquired infections
are caused by resistant bacteria. Hospital acquired fungal infections are
rare and found mainly in immunosupressed patients. Nonetheless,
contamination of fungi in air conditioning system and building structure
adversely reflects the standard of management of the hospital itself. The
Ministry should not just blame it on humid tropical weather and find excuses
to get away from the problem.
Nonetheless, Malaysia has made a world record where a brand new hospital is
forced to close down due to fungal contamination of the hospital after
merely two months of opening up. It raise questions on the structural
defects of the buildings and poor maintenance that ought to be probed
independently so as to curb future fallouts in similar situations.
III. In response to Johor ACA Director’s Statement
Dr. Boo also notes that the Johor ACA Director Abdul Razak Idirs’ statement
that the fungi contamination of the HIS was due to poor maintenance than the
structural defects while quoting a report by its own forensic unit.
Sicne the ACA’s statement is in contrary to the Ministers’, Dr. Boo insists
that an independent inquiry is further needed in view of contradicting
statements made by various heads of departments.
As a very first step to get rid of the phenomenon of “first class idea,
second class infrastructure but third class management” that presently
prevails in the country, Dr. Boo urges the Prime Minster to allow the ACA
being upgraded to the position of Parliamentary Ombudsman and to set up an
independent inquiry to probe the Hospital Sultan Ismail fallouts.
(4/10/2004)
* Dr.Boo Cheng Hau, DAP Cetral Committee Member
and Johor State Youth Chief
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