KUCHING: Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian has called on elected representatives to ensure the accuracy of their facts before making any accusation.
Referring to Pending assemblywoman, Violet Yong’s recent remarks concerning the alleged treatment delay of a patient at the Sarawak Heart Centre, Dr Sim said all information must be verified despite wanting to help someone in good faith.
“It’s important to know that what you fight for is the truth.
“If not, you have to take responsibility and ensure that it is verified or not,” said Dr Sim when asked to comment on the matter.
On March 29, Yong posted a screenshot of a woman’s complaint that her husband had been waiting for nearly 20 hours at the hospital with “no sight of a cardiologist”.
The woman claimed that a doctor at the emergency department told her they would need to wait until Wednesday to see a heart specialist since it was the weekend, and the Aidilfitri holidays fell on Monday and Tuesday.
The State Health Department (JKNS) in a statement responded to the claim and clarified that the patient arrived at the facility’s emergency department at 1.00 am on March 29, and was attended to by an emergency medical officer within 10 minutes.
It added the patient was subsequently referred to a cardiology medical officer, who at the time was treating another patient in critical condition.
It noted that the patient was re-examined by the cardiologist together with the medical officer during morning ward rounds.
“In line with that, the allegation that there were no cardiologists on duty at the Sarawak Heart Centre throughout the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration, causing the patient to wait long for treatment, is not true,” said JKNS.
