Johor police chief Mohd Khalil Kader Mohd said the investigation into the case was still ongoing and would be completed soon.
“The suspect in his 30s was arrested in the state at 3am yesterday but was released on police bail today.
“The car involved in the accident is still in our possession for further probe and the investigation paper will be handed over to the public prosecutor when it is ready,” he said when contacted today.
Earlier media reports said the victim, Justinian Tan, 25, had gone to Johor Bahru with five of his friends for supper.
However, while walking back to their car at about 3am, a Proton Saga car smashed into the group and sped off.
Tan sustained critical injuries following the accident and was sent to the Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA).
His friends alleged that there was a slow response time by the ambulance from HSA of up to 30 minutes.
According to a Singapore online news portal, they had also claimed that HSA had demanded a sum of deposit from the victim’s family before treating the patient.
The health ministry has denied the allegations, saying it was a baseless report.
Tan, who was later transferred to Singapore General Hospital, died five days later after being taken off life support.
Earlier today, Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam said the ministry will submit an official letter to the Singapore government on dissatisfaction over the republic’s online news portal which published a baseless report pertaining to the country’s healthcare services and medical personnel.
He said the letter would be submitted in the near future after discussing with the ministry’s legal team and the foreign ministry.
“The letter to the Singapore government will state our feelings and views on what was done by the (news) portal. After that, it is up to the Singapore government to take the necessary action,” he said.
Subramaniam condemned the irresponsible action of the news portal as “the facts in the report were baseless”.
“At the end of the day, the ambulance was dispatched (to the scene) immediately.
“The allegation that the hospital staff refused to give treatment if payment was not made was also baseless as emergency treatment was administered to the victim before his next of kin and family members arrived from Singapore,” he said.
The minister also stressed that a communication breakdown involving the Malay-speaking hospital staff should not become an excuse as hospitals the world over had been using their national language as the medium of communication, but that could be improved in future.
Asked whether the portal should apologise over its article, he said he would suggest that this be included in the official letter.