Category: Health

Second letter to the Minister of Health on the Malacca General Hospital Deaths

On 26th August, 1973 the Opposition Leader and DAP Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr.Lim Kit Siang, send the following second letter to the Minister of Health on the Malacca Hospital deaths. He made five proposals for an investigation into the deaths to satisfy public opinion and social conscience

26.8.1973

“Tan Sri Lee Siok Yew,
Minister of Health,
Ministry of Health,
Kuala Lumpur.

Dear Tan Sri,

Investigation Committee into Malacca Hospital deaths: Five proposals

The appointment of investigation committee members from outside the Ministry of Health into the Malacca Hospital deaths is a right decision.

However, as the Malacca Hospital deaths have greatly shaken public confidence in the hospital service, it is important that the people be convinced that there will be a full and free inquiry, and that there is no cause for anyone to feel that there had been any attempt to hush up the affair.

It is with this objective in mind, i.e. to fully restore public confidence in the hospital service that I wish to make five proposals concerning the investigation committee into the Malacca Hospital deaths:
Continue reading Second letter to the Minister of Health on the Malacca General Hospital Deaths

“Unusual: hospital deaths: DAP calls for probe

Statement on 25.8.1973:

DAP Secretary-General Mr.Lim Kit Siang today called for a full scale public inquiry into the unusually high rate of maternally and surgical deaths at the Malacca General Hospital between Aug.6 and 16.

“This high death rate connected with the breakdown of the autoclave – the sterilization plant – in the hospital” said Mr.Lim in a letter to Health Minister Tan Sri Lee Siok Yew today.

He added the Ministry should, in future, make sure that all equipment in hospital is in perfect order so that such cases would not recur.

He said during the breakdown of the autoclave bottles and containers were contaminated as they could not be properly sterilized.
Continue reading “Unusual: hospital deaths: DAP calls for probe

Letter to the Minister of Health on the Malacca General Hospital Deaths

Opposition Leader and DAP Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka Mr.Lim Kit Siang, on 24th August, 1973, sent the following letter to the Minister of Health, Tan Sri Lee Siok Yew urging a public Commission of Inquiry into the unusual number of deaths in the Malacca General Hospital in August during the break down of the sterilisation plant.

24.8.1973

Tan Sri Lee Siok Yew,
Minister of Health

Dear Tan Sri,

I appreciate your immediate action in asking for inquiry by your officials on my Press Conference statement in Malacca on 22nd August, 1973, on the unusually high rate of maternity, surgical and medical deaths in the Malacca General Hospital in the last month, especially during the period from August 6th to the 16th.

This is unusually high rate of maternity, surgical and medical death cases coincide with the breakdown of the autoclave – the sterilisation plant – in the Malacca General Hospital. As you are no doubt aware, with the breakdown or malfunctioning of the autoclave, bottles and containers will remain contaminated as they cannot be properly sterilised. Thus, blood, saline or glucose put into these bottles or containers for transfusion for patients will be contaminated in turn and such contaminated blood and saline transfusion into the bodies of the sick and weak can only lead to fatal results.
Continue reading Letter to the Minister of Health on the Malacca General Hospital Deaths

Criminal negligence in the General Hospital Malacca caused multiple deaths

Press Conference Statement by Opposition Leader and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr.Lim Kit Siang, in Melacca on 22.8.1973

Call for a public commission of inquiry into the gross criminal negligence in the General Hospital Malacca which has caused multiple deaths

I have called this press conference with sadness and anger to expose a black and heinous chapter in the administration of the Malacca General Hospital, and of the people of Malacca.

Between August 6 and 16, a period of some 10 days, the Malacca General Hospital became a death chamber. Unusual number of deaths occurred in maternity, surgical and even medical cases.

Routine cases of Caesarian operations, where deaths should not occur, ended up fatally. Continue reading Criminal negligence in the General Hospital Malacca caused multiple deaths

Complaint against Dr. Mrs. L. Mohan, Eye specialist in Malacca General Hospital

Adjournment Speech by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, in the Dewan Ra’ayat on 23rd August 1972.

Complaint against Dr. Mrs. L. Mohan, Eye specialist in Malacca General Hospital by Malacca DAP state Assemblyman for Kota Timor, Bernard Sta Maria for rudeness and discourtesy

On 19th May 1972, the DAP State Assemblyman for Kota Timor in Malacca, Sdr. Bernard Sta Maria, wrote to the Minister of Health complaining against the rudeness of Dr. L. Mohan, eye specialist at the Malacca General Hospital, for rudeness against patients and the general public. Continue reading Complaint against Dr. Mrs. L. Mohan, Eye specialist in Malacca General Hospital

DAP on Health Services and Environment

Speech by DAP Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, in the Dewan Ra’ayat during the Committee of Supply 1972 on the Ministry of Health on 1st February 1972

DAP calls for
(i) a more human, sympathetic and efficient health service;
(ii) inquiry into water pollution in Klang

I refer to B. 26 Pechahan-kepala Kod 1100 (3) where $68.5 million is set aside for patient care services.

Mr. Chairman, Sir, one of the most unsatisfactory aspects of the public hospital service in Malaysia is the attitude of the hospital staff to patients, the sick and the members of the public. Continue reading DAP on Health Services and Environment

Question by Mr.Lim Kit Siang for the session of Parliament

Press Statement by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, 8th December 1971

The DAP member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, has submitted 100 questions, 29 for oral and 71 for written answers, for the forthcoming session of Parliament beginning on 8th December, 1971

His 29 oral questions are as follows:

1. To ask the Prime Minister to state the conditions on which the Malaysian government will establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. Continue reading Question by Mr.Lim Kit Siang for the session of Parliament

Chinese Medical School

Speech by DAP Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, in the Dewan Ra’ayat on the Medical Bill on 29th July 1971

Chinese Medical School

I wish to make a proposal with regard to the problem of shortage of doctors which this Bill is partly trying to solve.

As my colleague from Seremban Timor, Dr. Chen Man Hin, said yesterday, the People’s Republic of China has very successfully married the Western and the traditional Chinese medicine.

American and Canadian medical experts have reported of operations, including heart operations, without anaesthetios, but by the use of acupuncture which they had personally witnessed. Continue reading Chinese Medical School

Malacca-wide signature campaign for reform to Malacca General Hospital

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary and Parliamentary Candidate for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang at the 8th DAP Public Rally at Kubu Stadium on Tuesday, 29th April 1969 at 9 p.m.;

Warning to Dato Tan Cheng Swee and Malacca Alliance: DAP will launch a Malacca-wide signature campaign for reform to Malacca General Hospital if call for public inquiry into the death of Choo Heng Hwa is unheeded and ignored

Speaking at a DAP Public Rally at Bachang Chew Loy, Malacca, a week ago, I called for a public inquiry into the unnecessary death of a Form Four pupil of St. David School, one Choo Heng Hwa.

Choo met with an accident last month, and was immediately taken to the Malacca General Hospital by his parents. The medical officer on duty examined him, and sent him home with the assurance that there was nothing wrong with him. The medical officer also rejected pleas of the boy’s parent to admit him into hospital for observation.

The next day, the boy’s condition worsened. The parent again took him to hospital, but he was not immediately attended to. The boy died subsequently. Continue reading Malacca-wide signature campaign for reform to Malacca General Hospital

Call for Public Inquiry into the Scandalous service and standard of Kuala Lumpur General Hospital

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, to the Sentul DAP Branch on Saturday, January 11, 1969 at 4.30p.m.
Call for Public Inquiry into the Scandalous service and standard of Kuala Lumpur General Hospital

Over the years and months, there have been mounting criticisms and complaints against the service and standard of the Kuala Lumpur General Hospital.

I have personally come across numerous complaints of patients who were ignored and neglected when they were hospitalized, leading to the deterioriation of their health and worsening of their illness. Many of them had to be re-hospitalised at the Assunta Hospital or University Teaching Hospital before they could recover their health.

The latest case concerned Mr. Chan Kok Sang, who was victim of a gang clash. He was admitted to the General Hospital on December 26 with grave injuries on both arms. As the KL General Hospital authorities did not seem to bother much about Mr. Chan’s grave injuries, Mr. Chan was transferred to the University Teaching Hospital staff commented that if there had been a further delay of another five hours, it would have been impossible to save Mr. Chan. In the event, both his arms had to be amputated.

The question is: What did the Kuala Lumpur General Hospital do in the four days between Dec. 26 – Dec. 30, which led to the worsening of Mr. Chan’s condition, even to endanger his life? Continue reading Call for Public Inquiry into the Scandalous service and standard of Kuala Lumpur General Hospital