Health Ministry denies claims officials absent from funerals of FDS crash victims

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 — Dr Ismuni Bohari, the deputy director-general of Health Malaysia, has refuted allegations that senior health officials did not attend the funerals of members of the Flying Doctors Service (FDS) who perished in a crash in Sarawak. The deputy director-general emphasized that he personally visited the families of the crash victims in Miri and Kuching, alongside other senior leaders of the ministry, to pay his respects to the victims.

Dr Ismuni clarified that he, alongside Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad and other top Health Ministry officials, attended these visits. He stated that this arrangement was not only in an official capacity but also stemmed from his deep personal connection with the FDS team, his origins from Sarawak, and his role as the director of the National Public Health Programme.

Dr Ismuni underscored the importance of continuing to honor the deceased and offering support to the grieving families. In response to a news portal report claiming that the Health Minister should have attended the funerals instead of a conference in the capital, Dr Ismuni urged the outlet to verify the facts before pursuing legal action.