Kuala lumpur: Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad has reaffirmed his ministry's stance on zero tolerance of workplace bullying, stating it will never normalise such a toxic culture. He emphasized that workplace bullying is a systemic disorder that undermines an organisation's integrity, weakens motivation, and affects teamwork.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dzulkefly highlighted the severe consequences of workplace bullying, noting that the quality of patient care could be jeopardised if an employee feels pressured or marginalised. He stressed that the ministry will not compromise with culprits, going so far as to fire senior management officials if they are found guilty of concealing cases.

Dzulkefly recalled an incident during his first term leading the ministry, where he took action against a department head at a hospital, resulting in the official's dismissal. He shared this after launching the Guidelines on Management of Bullying in the Workplace for Ministry of Health (MOH) personnel, making it the first ministry to introduce specific guidelines to tackle bullying cases.

He stated that despite the individual involved being a high-ranking official, action was taken, reflecting the ministry's commitment to rejecting bullying behaviours in workplaces. Dzulkefly revealed that 430 complaints about bullying were recorded through the MyHealth system as of July 31, each investigated based on fairness, transparency, and confidentiality principles.

Dzulkefly emphasized that cases should not be reported carelessly or downplayed, especially by department heads. He assured that informants' identities would be fully safeguarded under the new guidelines to protect privacy and information received.

He further advocated for a culture of mutual reprimand among employees to foster a dynamic, proactive, and resilient organisation. Dzulkefly concluded by stating the importance of stopping the bullying culture to create a safe and compassionate working environment based on MADANI values.