KOTA KINABALU, Aug 24 — The former director of Hospital Wanita dan Kanak-Kanak Sabah (HWKKS) has sued two senior state healthcare officials, including his successor, claiming he was ousted from his post through an improper process following sexual harassment allegations.

Dr Yogendra Panchalingam filed the suit at the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak in Kota Kinabalu on August 21. He named Sabah Health Department deputy director Datuk Dr Abd Kahar Abd Asis and his former deputy turned successor, Dr Christine Lu Shin Yeen, as defendants.

Alongside the civil suit, Dr Yogendra is pursuing a separate judicial review against the Ministry of Health challenging what he describes as an unlawful removal.

In his statement of claim, Dr Yogendra alleges that the defendants acted individually or in concert to orchestrate his removal as hospital director, severely damaging his career, professional reputation, and financial standing.

Appointed as hospital director in March 2025, Dr Yogendra denied all allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him, including complaints lodged by Dr Lu and the hospital’s corporate communications unit head, Elleyvianna Murang.

He alleged that Dr Lu pressured Elleyvianna into making claims before lodging a police report in January that alleged sexual harassment, emotional pressure, and psychological manipulation. Police subsequently classified the investigation as requiring no further action.

Dr Lu later brought a complaint before the Tribunal for Anti-Sexual Harassment (TAGS) in April, demanding a formal apology and RM250,000 in compensation.

The complaint cited an alleged incident the previous October where she claimed Dr Yogendra touched her forearm and wrist, blew her a “flying kiss”, and made a suggestive remark later that day.

According to court filings, the TAGS proceedings were held on July 23 and 24. However, Dr Yogendra noted that he was summarily transferred on July 24 before the tribunal had concluded its findings or established any wrongdoing on his part.

He claimed that prior to his transfer, he was never served a show-cause letter, given a disciplinary hearing, or provided with the internal investigation report cited by the department.

The Sabah Health Department directed Dr Yogendra to report to its Medical Division on July 27, later assigning him as a Grade UD14 medical officer.

The transfer stripped him of his executive responsibilities and cost him his RM250 monthly hospital administrator allowance, paving the way for Dr Lu to assume the directorship.

Dr Yogendra is seeking general, aggravated, and exemplary damages against both defendants for alleged conspiracy. He is also claiming special damages for the loss of his administrator allowance, financial compensation for derailed career progression, 5 per cent annual interest on all awarded sums, and legal costs.