Recruitment Of SV In Johor To Be Tightened After Woman Arrested For Soliciting Wad Deposits - Exco

JOHOR BAHRU, April 25 (Bernama) -- The Johor State Government will tighten the recruitment process of Southern Volunteers (SV) following the arrest of a former volunteer who was detained for soliciting ward deposits from the public at the Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) here on April 21.

Johor Youth, Sports, Entrepreneur Development, and Cooperatives Committee Chairman Mohd Hairi Mad Shah said that the individual's service had been terminated last month due to inactivity, however, she is believed to have used the SV name to carry out activities at the hospital.

He added that the individual, who has been detained by the police, was also reported to have impersonated a hospital staff member.

Following this incident, several criteria will be assessed before anyone is recruited as an SV volunteer.

"SV is a symbol and image of Johor. I will not compromise on matters like this," he told reporters when met at the Raya Sekampung Bangsa Johor event for the Larkin State Constituency here today.

He said this when asked to comment on the arrest of the woman, believed to be an SV volunteer and Mohd Hairi stated that he is leaving it to the police to take action in accordance with existing legal provisions.

In the meantime, he noted that the state government has been conducting a "cleansing" process since last January by terminating inactive volunteers and to date, only 34,000 out of more than 62,000 volunteers have been retained following the exercise.

According to him, SV volunteers are stationed at HSA to assist with smooth operations in the hospital foyer due to congestion, including tasks such as pushing patients' wheelchairs.

Meanwhile, the Johor State Health Department (JKNJ) announced in a statement that security measures will be tightened, including checking staff identification cards, especially at the main entrance routes of hospital buildings.

JKNJ also requested the public to immediately report any suspicious incidents to hospital security and advised people to remain vigilant, ensuring payments are only made at the official revenue counters and that valid receipts are received for every transaction.

The department explained that hospital security detained the individual on April 21 around 6:30 pm and handed her over to the police for further action. The victim involved has also been asked to lodge a police report.

The incident previously went viral on Threads when a woman posted a query questioning whether the hospital charged a deposit for ward registration.

She claimed that her mother had to pay RM30 to the individual - a woman - while registering her father for admission, without being issued a receipt.

--BERNAMA