KUALA LUMPUR — The Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) will only be able to decide on further action against a local medical doctor sentenced in an Ireland court for grooming and sexual abuse if it receives a report against the man, said former health director-general Tan Sri Noor Hisham Abdullah.
Malaysia does not have a reciprocal policy with overseas medical councils regarding decisions made against healthcare personnel, the retired civil servant said, adding that MMC will undertake an independent assessment if a report is filed with it.
“Somebody has to lodge a report. If nobody makes a report then it’s difficult for MMC to (take action), which can only be initiated based on a complaint here, not action taken overseas.
“Investigation (processes) differ from one country to another, which is why we need to kickstart investigations locally and start the (investigation) process all over again so that action can be taken based on our own laws,” Noor Hisham told Scoop.
He was commenting on Dublin-based child psychiatrist Amirul Arif Mohd Yunos, 38, who was earlier this month sentenced to eight and a half years imprisonment, backdated to when he was taken into custody 14 months ago, after he was found guilty of grooming and sexually abusing a teenage girl.
The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told that he was practicing at a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) centre in Clonskeagh when he committed the offences between May and September 2023 against the victim when she was 15.
The health practitioner pleaded guilty to six counts of engaging in a sexual act with a child under 17, one count of sexual exploitation of a child, and one count of meeting a child for the purpose of sexual exploitation.
Following the case gaining traction online, netizens have expressed concern over the possibility of Amirul Arif returning to Malaysia after serving his prison sentence. Many urged the Health Ministry to bar him from practicing in the healthcare sector here.
Noor Hisham also said that once MMC receives a report, it will “look into” the case to eliminate elements of hearsay, adding that allegations will be treated as accusations until they are proven to be true so as to prevent “injustices”.
Additionally, he stressed that whether or not a person under investigation is “well connected” will not impact MMC’s inquiry processes, adding that the council will take action if it finds valid reasons to do so.
Media in Ireland reported the court being told of testimonials from Amirul Arif’s “influential” family in Malaysia, including his wife, mother, sister, father and father-in-law. His Ireland-based sister and brother-in-law also supported him in court.
In delivering the court’s verdict, judge Orla Crowe highlighted that Amirul Arif’s psychological report mentioned he had a “promising career”, but due to his crimes, he will not be able to work in the medical field in Ireland in the future.
The Irish Independent also reported that Amirul Arif, through his legal team, had offered his victim €2,000 (RM9,320.40) in compensation for the crimes he was being tried for. The act was seen as “the greatest insult” by the victim’s parents, who rejected the offer. – December 15, 2024
