Hisham did not disclose what Dr Ali Noor Hassan was suffering from.

He said the doctor, who worked at a clinic in Cheras, had tested negative for Covid-19.

“The health ministry urges everyone to refrain from making speculations on his case,” he said in a Facebook post today.

Earlier, an organisation which Ali was associated with had posted a photo of him in full protective equipment, slumped over a table as he took a rest. The photo has since gone viral.

The posting by Skuad Pengurusan Jenazah Malaysia (SPJM), which helps manage burials, led to talk that Ali died because of exhaustion and heavy workload in the frontlines of the fight against Covid-19.

SPJM said Ali had been part of their team since 2018 and was a committed volunteer who was willing to travel across the country to serve.

Noor Hisham also extended condolences to Ali’s family, adding that he was well-liked by his colleagues, patients and the local community.

The health director-general had told Malay Mail Online that Ali died of a brain aneurysm.