Hold Inquest To Determine Pathologist S Cause Of Death Says Rights Group

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Family members believe Dr Tay Tien Yaa’s death on Aug 29 was triggered by bullying and the immense pressure she was under at her workplace. (MCA pic)
PETALING JAYA: The family of the late Dr Tay Tien Yaa, who is believed to have committed suicide, can seek closure by pushing for an inquest to determine the actual cause of her death, says an advocacy group.
Eliminating Deaths and Abuse in Custody Together (Edict) chairman M Visvanathan said the first step would be for her family members, or their lawyers, to write to the Attorney-General’s Chambers or the coroner’s court seeking that an investigation be opened into her death.
He said a detailed probe would help address questions the family may have and any dissatisfaction surrounding the findings of the special task force formed to investigate her death.
Visvanathan was commenting after Tay’s husband Low Teck Khaang said he was still looking for answers and a detailed reasoning of the task force’s findings.

Low had claimed that the task force had minimal engagement with the family before coming to its conclusion.
“What was explained last week does not adequately address our doubts,” he was quoted as saying.
Last Wednesday, the task force said its findings did not reveal that the pathologist had been subject to bullying by her department head as claimed.
Task force chairman Borhan Dollah said they found no evidence to support claims that Tay had been mistreated by her superior.
Borhan said the investigation found no evidence of conflict between her and the department head, as confirmed through interviews with colleagues and subordinates.
He also said there was no proof that Tay had been burdened with work outside of her job scope or asked to perform duties outside her field of expertise.
However, Low claimed that the investigation “may not have been thorough enough”.
Tay died on Aug 29. Her sister alleged that she was a victim of bullying and had been put under immense work pressure. She said the excessive workload may have been one of the factors that led to her death.
Visvanathan, a lawyer, said that the special task force’s announcement two weeks ago had no force of law.
He also claimed that the authorities had deliberately ignored the provisions in the Criminal Procedure Code in ascertaining when, how, and under what circumstances Tay had died.
“The task force cannot usurp the powers and functions of the coroner’s court. (The task force’s) findings cannot be accepted by a court of law as it is not in accordance with the law,” he told FMT.
He said Tay’s family would have no recourse if dissatisfied with the findings of the task force.
“This would not happen if an inquiry had been carried out judiciously. The family will have avenues for appeal to the superior courts,” he added. - FMT

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