Explain bankrupt’s appointment as head of medical department, varsity told

 

Dr Rafidah Abdullah, a nephrologist, said she will file an official complaint which would be more specific.

PETALING JAYA: Nephrologist Dr Rafidah Abdullah has urged a public university to explain why it allowed a person who has been declared a bankrupt to lead one of the departments under its medical faculty.

Rafidah said the vice-chancellor of the varsity must explain the matter, especially since the government’s regulations bar bankrupts from being hired for the public services.

“Come on, university XX, please explain. Don’t embarrass the university,” she said in a Facebook post, keeping the varsity’s name anonymised. She added that she will file a complaint which would be more specific.

Rafidah also claimed that the academic has not been registered with the Malaysian Medical Council this year, a requirement for a doctor to legally practice medicine.

She asked Malaysians if they would be willing to be treated or operated on by a doctor who is not legally allowed to practice medicine and who is a bankrupt who has not settled outstanding debts.

FMT has sought a response from the university and from higher education minister Zambry Abdul Kadir.

Questions about the academic’s status were raised on social media after the academic was interviewed by a news portal recently. A search conducted with the insolvency department confirmed that the academic was declared a bankrupt in 2014 and remains undischarged as of Thursday.

FMT sought comment from the academic on Wednesday. - FMT