JOHOR BARU, MALAYSIA - The Public Complaints Bureau (PCB) is investigating complaints of alleged negligence by the Sultan Ismail Hospital following the deaths of two men recently.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk T. Murugiah, who heads the bureau, said he received two reports from the families of C. Anand, 30, and Kamarjit Ranjit Singh, 32, who were admitted to the hospital after being involved in separate accidents.

"Officials of the Johor PCB have already completed initial investigations and have also spoken to the state health department on the matter," he said.

He said that anyone with complaints of negligence or other problems relating to the hospital should report the incidents immediately to Johor PCB at 07-223-0900.

Without son: Anand's parents S. Chandrasagaran (left) and S. Ammarathavalli (centre) showing Anand's hospital admission slip which states that he had been admitted to the hospital since Aug 19

Anand's family members, who brought the case to Murugiah's attention, also claimed that the hospital took 16 days to operate on the patient, by which time the infection on his wounds had spread to other areas.

Anand's cousin sister S. Nages?wary, 35, claimed that his condition was so bad that his wounds were fly-infested.

"I begged the doctor to treat him but the hospital authorities said there were other more critical cases to be looked at," she said. Anand was admitted on Aug 19 and died on Sept 6 while Kamarjit was admitted on Aug 27 and died on Sept 5.