Workplace bullying: Health Ministry to curb verbal abuse with new guidelines in October

New Straits Times

3 days ago

KUALA LUMPUR: The use of hurtful or offensive language has been listed as a form of workplace bullying in new Health Ministry guidelines, set to be launched this October, aimed at curbing abuse in government hospitals and clinics.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said elements of verbal bullying in the workplace include insulting, threatening, mocking, and humiliating others.
"In the guidelines, it is stated that the use of language or words that are hurtful, insulting, threatening, mocking, or humiliating individuals is part of verbal bullying in the workplace," he said to Berita Harian.
"Although the guidelines do not specify individual words, any use of offensive language — particularly if it happens repeatedly — can be considered bullying, subject to investigation and the context of the incident," he added.
On July 12, Dzulkefly had announced that the guidelines were fully completed and would be officially launched during World Mental Health Month in October before being distributed to all Health Ministry facilities.
The move is aimed at creating a safer, more harmonious work environment—free from the negative effects of bullying—while strengthening existing support systems such as MyHELP.
It also reflects the ministry's ongoing commitment to safeguarding the psychosocial wellbeing of its healthcare workforce.
The guidelines are intended to provide clear direction to Health Ministry staff on how to identify, prevent, and address bullying in the workplace.
This includes explaining reporting procedures, as well as outlining preventive and intervention measures for both individuals and organisations.
Currently, bullying cases can be reported through the MyHELP portal, which was launched on Oct 1, 2022.
Reports submitted online must be investigated within 15 working days, depending on whether the case is classified as standard or complex.
Previously, the group Hartal Doktor Kontrak (HDK) had called for the inclusion of additional measures in the new guidelines, such as an independent committee with full authority to investigate bullying cases and impose appropriate penalties.
They also recommended an anonymous reporting channel, unlike the current Public Complaints Management System (SISPA), which requires complainants to report directly to department heads —potentially exposing their identity.
Earlier this year, HDK spokesperson Dr Muhammad Yassin urged the ministry to expedite the release of the anti-bullying guidelines as a complement to existing standard operating procedures (SOPs) in public healthcare.
The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) also called on the ministry to share the guidelines before they are finalised, saying it was important for stakeholders to provide input based on their long-standing experience handling bullying cases among healthcare workers.
In Parliament earlier this year, Dzulkefly acknowledged that house officers were often the primary targets of bullying and stressed the need to build a healthier working environment in health facilities.