13-07-2025
Business as usual at Bangi hospital despite RM8.32mil court order
KAJANG: With just 10 days left before a court-ordered asset seizure over a medical negligence case that resulted in an RM8.32 million payout, Hospital Islam Az-Zahrah is operating as usual, according to its staff and patients.
A check by the New Straits Times today found that hospital services, including outpatient treatment, surgeries and maternity care, are ongoing, with patients and staff saying they have not been informed of any plans for closure or relocation.
Nurul Yati Abd Manaf, 40, a patient from Kajang, said she had asked hospital staff if they were preparing to move or shut down, following rumours she had seen online.
"I asked the staff here, but they said they have not received any directive from their CEO or management. Everything seems normal. Even the minor construction on the first floor is still in progress," she said.
The mother of two said news reports had raised her concerns about the future of the hospital, especially since she has been seeking treatment there since the delivery of her first child, who is now 10.
"All my children's medical records are here, and if there is going to be any closure or whatsoever, I need to know," she said when met outside the facility in Bangi today.
Another visitor, who only wanted to be known as Mohamed Zack, 32, from Port Dickson, said he was at the hospital for the delivery of his first child.
"I also heard about the lawsuit, but over here everything seems to be normal," he said.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Amran Mohd Ajis, 44, said he brought his baby for treatment to the hospital on Friday and has since not received any clear information on whether the hospital will continue to operate.
"My wife gave birth here, and we've been coming for check-ups. No one has told us anything about the hospital shutting down. We're still receiving care as usual," he said, adding that he was also keen to find out about the court order.
Hospital staff on site also said they had not been given any notice of termination or changes in operations.
Despite the apparent calm, the hospital, owned by Medi-Circle Sdn Bhd, is currently under legal pressure after the Kuala Lumpur High Court issued a writ of seizure and sale on May 26.
The enforcement stems from a 2020 High Court judgment in favour of the family of a premature baby who suffered brain damage due to negligent obstetric care in 2003.
The High Court initially awarded the family RM8.12 million in damages. While the Court of Appeal upheld the ruling in 2022, it reduced the award to RM6.03 million and released two doctors named in the suit.
