GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Health Department has urged people not to speculate about the death of a houseman attached to the Penang Hospital recently.
"Since the case is still pending police investigation and out of respect for the deceased's family, we urged for cooperation from all quarters not to make any speculation and spread unverified information.
"The state Health Department and the Penang Hospital will render our fullest cooperation to the police in the course of its investigation into the incident.
"We also extend our deepest condolences to the deceased's family and friends," state Health Department director Dr Maarof Sudin said today.
Earlier today, lawmakers in the state urged the Health Ministry and the state Health Department to explain the death of the houseman, who had just been posted to the hospital three weeks ago.
The houseman had apparently fallen from a building along Jalan Datuk Keramat here.
For now, police are probing the incident as sudden death.
Elaborating, Dr Maarof confirmed that the deceased had reported for duty as a houseman in the state and was placed at the Penang Hospital on April 4.
He said the deceased died in a fall at his residence on April 17.
He added that police had ordered for a post-mortem to be conducted.
"The post-mortem was conducted at the Forensic Department of the Penang Hospital.
"The full report is still awaiting the results of several lab tests.
"The final report will be handed to the police to assist in their probe into the matter," he added.