JOHOR BARU: The husband of a 29-year-old housewife who died after an alleged breast enhancement procedure gone wrong will be lodging an official complaint with the Johor Health Department.
The 35-year-old businessman, who only wanted to be known as Wong, said he had made an appointment to meet with the department on Aug 13.
The move was suggested by state health and unity committee chairman Ling Tian Soon, he said.
“He visited my home on Tuesday and made the suggestion so that the health authorities could look into the matter.
“After my wife’s death, I lodged a police report against the unlicensed beautician who conducted the procedure,” he said in an interview.
His wife, Tan Wei Shan (pic), reportedly died on Aug 2 after undergoing a breast enhancement procedure at a double-storey house in Taman Mutiara Rini, Skudai, on July 29 evening.
Wong said his wife began feeling dizzy and unwell at home after the procedure.
Tan also complained of pain and swelling on her chest, so the following afternoon, she sought help at a clinic and was rushed to a private hospital at around 7pm.
Initially, Tan had wanted to get a facelift and got to know the beautician through a friend, said Wong, adding that the beautician later convinced her to go for a breast enhancement procedure as well.
However, the beautician did not tell Tan that she was unlicensed.
Wong said after his wife’s passing, the hospital’s first post-mortem result showed that her breast area had a bacterial infection.
“I was told that a more in-depth report will only be out in another three months after her blood samples were sent for lab tests,” said Wong, adding that he planned to take legal action against the beautician.
Tan was cremated on Aug 6, leaving behind two sons, aged nine and 12.
“We were supposed to celebrate our elder son’s birthday on Aug 15. It was heartbreaking to see our children crying by her altar,” said Wong.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has called for stricter regulations and enforcement of the beauty and aesthetics industry following the latest incident.
Its president, Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai, said this was not the first time such deaths had been reported.
He said that in 2020, Coco Siew, 23, died after liposuction was illegally performed at a beauty salon in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.
“Several other incidents involving unlicensed or unregistered beauty and aesthetics centres were reported in recent years, and this can only mean that there is a lack of enforcement by the authorities,” he said.
