Malaysian Digest
KUALA LUMPUR, 3 JUNE, 2010: Lembah Pantai MP, Nurul Izzah Anwar, urged the federal government and the Public Service Department (JPA) to carry out a thorough open investigation into the recent death of a PTD officer, to determine if it was due to negligence.
Nurul, in a press conference held at her office this morning, said that the death of 31-year old Finance Ministry’s PTD officer Norhashimah Wahid, after undergoing a ‘commando-style’ training module, is both “disturbing and regrettable”.
She expressed her disappointment with the response from the Finance Ministry which has refused o bear responsibility over Norhashimah’s death.
“What are the criteria set for companies to manage the
training?” asked Nurul Izzah during the press conference.
“This incident happened due to the lack of responsibility from those who handled the training. We recognize that in every course or training there will be predicaments but the most important thing is for those that had been entrusted to carry out a specified course should have a sense of responsibility,“ she said.
Nurul, who had visited Nor Hashimah’s family members in Keramat last Tuesday, also said that parties concerned should inform the trainees’ families when something happened. She also said that training centres should also have a doctor on standby who to provide early treatment to participants before they are sent to hospital.
She added that most government-administered training courses are managed by companies which are selected by the government, adding that the authority should check whether these companies are genuinely qualified to conduct these courses.
“Who was giving out these contracts, what are the criteria for the company that is to be selected to manage the training? This is what is most important. Don’t just be concerned about your cronies until matters of training procedures are put aside,” Nurul said.
She said that Pakatan Rakyat will be discussing this matter and it will also be brought up in the next parliament sitting so they can get an explanation from the government on their “negligence”.
The death of Norhashimah, while undergoing a management diploma course in Jugra Training Camp, Banting on Monday, was the first fatal incident since the course was introduced in 1997.
She passed away awhile in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Klang and is survived by two-year old daughter, Nurhylda Daenia.
Her death is believed to be due to the failure ofconcerned parties to provide her early treatment.
It is believed that she died after the concerned party failed to provide her with immediate medical attention.
Also present at the press conference is Amiruddin Shari (Batu Caves State Assemblyman), Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (Seri Setia Assemblyman) and Sim Tze Tzin (Pantai Jereja Assemblyman).
