HEALTH Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad has come under fire for sharing details of Tan Sri Hadi Awang’s post-op condition on social media.
While paying a courtesy call on the PAS supremo who is recovering after a heart procedure at the National Heath Institute (IJN), the vice-president of Amanah – a splinter party of PAS – must have thought that he had done some goodwill by publicising his visit,
Salam Malaysia MADANI
❤️🇲🇾❤️AlhamdulilLah, saya berkesempatan untuk menziarah Tan Sri Tuan Guru Haji Abdul Hadi Awang yang kini sedang menerima rawatan di Institut Jantung Negara (IJN).
Saya dimaklumkan bahawa walau pun prosedur yang kompleks, semuanya telah… pic.twitter.com/7axRdECDy9
— Dzulkefly Ahmad (@DrDzul) June 18, 2025
Not only did Dr Dzulkefly name the entire line-up of top-notch specialists dedicated to taking care of the 77-year-old seven-term Marang MP but there were also photos of the patient recuperating post-op.
The Kuala Selangor MP who is a medical expert himself gladly reported that the heart procedure went well and that the revered Tok Guru is expected to make a full recovery.
Nothing wrong, correct?
Except that the MP for Marang’s family were far from pleased with this bit of opportunistic propaganda.
Keluarga Abdul Hadi Awang menyatakan rasa kesal dengan penyebaran gambar lawatan Menteri Kesihatan Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad yang menziarahi presiden PAS itu di Institut Jantung Negara (IJN), Kuala Lumpur, hari ini.
Anaknya Muhammad Khalil berkata, pihaknya kecewa dengan sikap… pic.twitter.com/1hTHXI5nmK
— Malaysiakini (BM) (@mkini_bm) June 18, 2025
Hadi’s son Muhammad Khalil claimed that it was extremely unprofessional in sharing images of his father convalescing without the family’s express consent. As the Health Minister, Dr Dzulkefly is expected to be well-versed with hospital protocols.
Make absolutely no mistake that this hospital visit and subsequent social media post were very much about political point scoring.
Firstly, such a post very subtly and indirectly paints a picture of a sick, old man who is no longer capable of public office.
Secondly, it creates the perception that PAS by extension is a weak party as it is being led by an ailing leader who simply refused to step down despite his deteriorating health condition.
Thirdly, the post identifies a whole host of surgeons, specialists and medical professionals, many of whom are non-Muslims.
The ploy here is clearly to show that Hadi – despite his many incendiary pronouncements on minority Malaysians – has received the best medical treatment possible from specialists of different ethnicities.
It must be noted that it is crucial to obtain explicit and informed consent from the patient before taking any photos or videos of them in a hospital setting. This is essential for upholding patient privacy, confidentiality and ethical medical practice. Failure to do so may lead to legal action by the patient.
As such, Hadi’s family has expressed its unhappiness and disappointment at Dr Dzukefly’s actions as have many netizens who pointed out that this was simply wrong (some presumably pro-opposition commenters had even mooted legal action).
But as highlighted by some commenters, there had been previous instances when such hospital visits were publicised.
Whatever the case is, it would appear that Hadi’s family did not provide the required permission and there are other ramifications to this being put out for public consumption.
It does appear that there has been a serious lapse of judgement on the part of Dr Dzulkefly despite couching his post in well-wishes and prayers of a speedy recovery. Or does he think the political mileage gained is worth it?
In Malaysia, nothing it seems is sacred, especially patient privacy and confidentiality. – June 19, 2025
Main image credit: Dzulkefly Ahmad (@DrDzul)/X
