Tiong rejects claim his contractor caused dust to fall on hospital bed

 

Tourism, arts and culture minister Tiong King Sing said patient safety must never be compromised, even during routine maintenance work. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

Tourism, arts and culture minister Tiong King Sing has rejected claims that a contractor he hired was behind an incident involving a patient’s wellbeing at Sibu Hospital.

Tiong said that while he had arranged for air-conditioning units to be installed at the hospital, his contractor was not responsible for cleaning the light fixtures which allegedly led to dust falling on a patient’s bed.

He said Sibu Hospital had confirmed that the cleaning was carried out by an employee of the hospital’s service provider.

“I am deeply concerned by the unfounded accusations directed at me,” he said in a statement on Facebook.

“It is possible that the misunderstanding arose due to the close timing between the installation of the air-conditioning units and cleaning of the light fixtures.”

The allegation, which surfaced in a social media post, led to netizens criticising what they believed was poor maintenance oversight that endangered patients.

Tiong, who is also the Dudong assemblyman, said the hospital had assured him that an internal probe was under way.

“If any breach of standard operating procedures or work regulations is found, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken against the personnel involved,” he added.

Tiong also reminded all parties to prioritise patient welfare and safety, saying that maintenance work in healthcare settings must be carried out with due care.

“For example, light fixtures should be wiped with a damp cloth to avoid dust dispersal. Patient safety must not be compromised for convenience,” he said. - FMT