Dzulkefly said an independent special task force that has been established should be first allowed to look into the death of Dr Tay Tien Yaa and report its findings.

“Don’t jump the gun or put the cart before the horse. Let us wait first to see the task force’s findings,” he told reporters today. “Not to worry, once we have obtained the findings, (an ex-gratia payment will) definitely (be made). As the minister, I will ensure that the ex-gratia payment will be made based on the task force’s findings.”

Tay, a pathologist at Lahad Datu Hospital, Sabah, died on Aug 29. Her sister alleged that bullying may have been one of the factors that led to her death.

Dzulkefly said the task force’s findings would be made public.

Last Friday, DAP’s Khoo Poay Tiong, MP for Kota Melaka, urged the government to provide a substantial ex-gratia payment to Tay’s family to alleviate their financial burden and acknowledge her contributions.

Khoo had expressed disappointment with the health ministry’s apparently slow response to Tay’s death and the delay in forming the task force.

Dzulkefly insisted that his ministry took quick action on the matter, saying an investigation was launched by the state health department immediately after the doctor’s death.

Separately, Dzulkefly said his ministry had issued 86,402 notices for lighting up in non-smoking areas between January to August this year. In the same period, the ministry received 8,762 complaints of people disobeying the smoking ban.