Family of Soosaimanickam urged Health Ministry to intervene

IPOH, Sept 7 (Bernama) -- The family of J. Soosaimanicckam who died while undergoing training as a cadet officer of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) in Lumut has called on the Health Ministry to look into the improper conduct by the Seri Manjung Hospital and the Perak Health Department.

Lawyers for the family of the late Soosaimanicckam, Zaid Malek and Mahajoth Singh in a statement today said the final and conclusive post-mortem report should be released to the family of deceased immediately.

“On Sept 6, we accompanied Calvin, the brother of the late Soosaimanicckam, to the Seri Manjung Hospital, Perak, for a meeting regarding the hospital’s refusal to release the final post-mortem report to the deceased’s family.

“However, the hospital refused to allow us to accompany Calvin during the meeting. We were informed that this was an order made by Director of the Perak Health Department Dr. Noorisah Mahat Noor,” they said in a statement here today.

The lawyers said the hospital had seven people representing it during the meeting, consisting of its deputy director, the medical officer that conducted the post-mortem, several other doctors and also a specialist doctor from Ipoh General Hospital.

“Yet they insisted that Calvin attend the meeting without any legal assistance while the hospital has the benefit of a team of professionals on its side.

“In the end, we had no choice but to withdraw from the meeting as it was clearly a farce,” they lawyers said.

Bernama tried to get feedback from the Perak Health Department but no statement was issued.

On July 13, Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu in a statement called on RMN to conduct an immediate investigation and issue a detailed report on the death of Soosaimanicckam, 27, during his training at KD Sultan Idris, Lumut on May 19.

This, he said, followed the family's demand for the RMN to provide a detailed explanation of the cause of the cadet officer’s death.

Soosaimanicckam was pronounced dead at 1.45 pm on May 19 at the Armed Forces Hospital.

Prior to that, he complained of chest pain and shortness of breath after completing a physical exercise which was part of his a daily routine training.

--  BERNAMA