KUCHING: An allegation that a gang, acting as funeral service agents, has controlled the mortuary of a public hospital in Sarawak is under investigation by the Ministry of Health (MOH).
Sarawak State Health Department Director, Dr Veronica Lugah, said the ministry takes the issue of integrity seriously and will not compromise on any misconduct, abuse of power, or actions that may lead to corruption.
“MOH takes every allegation raised seriously and reaffirms its full commitment to safeguarding the integrity and credibility of the country’s public healthcare services,” she said in a statement recently.
She also clarified that the management of the deceased in government hospitals is entirely the responsibility of the next of kin or the family of the deceased.
“Hospitals do not provide funeral management services. Families are given full freedom to choose any funeral management company they trust, without coercion or interference from hospital,” she said.
Dr Veronica added that in accordance with existing guidelines and regulations, healthcare personnel are strictly prohibited from acting as middlemen or intermediaries in the management of the deceased.
“Any violation of this directive can result in disciplinary action under the Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 1993,” she said.
She also called upon the public to lodge complaints involving any misconduct or non-compliance by healthcare personnel through the official complaint channels provided.
“If there are elements of coercion, threats, or conduct resembling gangsterism, police reports should be filed immediately so that proper investigation and action can be taken by the authorities,” she said.
Dr Veronica reiterated that MOH remains committed to ensuring public healthcare services are delivered transparently, with integrity and full accountability, in the best interest and wellbeing of the people.
On July 17, a news report titled ‘Hospital mortuary ‘dominated’ by gangsters, says ex-doctor’ was published online.
In the report, the former doctor said that gang members would often show up as soon as a death was reported in the emergency department or hospital wards, sometimes even before the death was officially confirmed.
The report also quoted the former doctor as alleging that the gang mainly targeted non-Muslim bodies in a practice that has long been in existence and continues to this day.
This group of people is sometimes described as ‘body-chasers’ or ‘body-snatchers’.
