Usually, such a feature on a fellow countrymen who is doing well in their chosen field would make other Malaysians happy but not this time.
Not that anybody is unhappy with her success but rather people are upset over a statement she made to the magazine.
Teh, whose team use tabacco to create antibodies for drug development, claimed that she's from Malaysia where there is no state healthcare and families were going bankrupt paying for medical bills.
What??
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Dr Noor Hisham responds
Her statement raised the ire of many Malaysians.Even Health DG Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah responded and released a statement on the matter.
He said that Teh statement claiming Malaysia didn't have a state healthcare system was "incorrect and a gross misrepresentation of the national health system".
Wrong trespassing information on Malaysian Health Care System by molecular immunologist at University College London https://t.co/dvnMKw3VS4
— Noor Hisham Abdullah (@DGHisham) November 1, 2020
"The country is always proud when Malaysians are involved in worthy evidence-creation.
"However, we voice our deep concern about erroneous statements on the Malaysian health system, whether from the interviewee, the interviewer/writer or due to inadequate fact-checking by the editors," he said in his statement.
Dr Noor Hisham went on to give evidence to refute the inaccuracies, with citations.
"Malaysia achieved effective universal health coverage (UHC) in the 1990’s, through tax funded public provision of health care services (Savedoff and Smith, 2011).
"The Government of Malaysia provides highly subsidised healthcare for all residents through its extensive network of public hospitals and clinics," he clarified.
Interestingly, neither Nature magazine which carried the article nor St George University of London who reshared the news seem to be bothered by the inaccuracies.
Both have been getting many negative responses mostly from Malaysians pertaining to the matter via Twitter.
What? Malaysia has almost free health care in its Public Health Service. What are you smoking Ms @audreyyteh?
— Dr Jemilah Mahmood (@JemilahMahmood) October 29, 2020
The article is still on their Twitter feed and they have not apologised or even responded to the outcry in any way.
Malaysians are unhappy, of course
Since Nature magazine first Tweeted the article on Oct 22, Malaysians have been lambasting them.What? Malaysia has almost free health care in its Public Health Service. What are you smoking Ms @audreyyteh?
— Dr Jemilah Mahmood (@JemilahMahmood) October 29, 2020
My mom goes for monthly check up for free every month and gets free medicine. I think she only paid 1 ringgit occasionally. I only paid 24 ringgit when I deliver my son, I stayed 2 nights in the hospital with 4 meals daily. Here, I still kept the receipt. pic.twitter.com/ef8dYDGibW
— Syazalia Razali (@RazaliSyazalia) November 3, 2020
I am a foreigner living in Malaysia. I work in Public University, and all my family members receive free medical healthcare in government hospitals. I don't know what is she talking about. Such a disgrace. Hope to see her clarification on the issue.
— anvar (@anvar) November 2, 2020
It is very wrong to say we don’t have a good healthcare system. On the contrary we have an excellent and robust healthcare system that is subsidized by the government @audreyyhteh.
— Sayyed Alif Khan (@sayyedalifkhan) November 1, 2020
It's quite surprising that someone who claims to be a Malaysian does not know that we have a good state healthcare system.
It is also disappointing that a magazine like Nature did not fact check before publishing the article.
We hope that those involved will correct their statements soon.
