The Grand Illusion of Care: Soul-Searching Amid a Culture of Bullying in Medicine

By The Insight Circle, 31st August 2025

“You judge a society by the decency of living of the weakest.” - Zygmunt Bauman

A Less-Than-Caring Society

Let us be honest and transparent with ourselves—while Malaysia may excel in interpersonal care, its support for institutional care remains markedly weak, exposing the nation’s inability to demonstrate a genuine commitment to nation-building. In contrast, countries with robust social safety nets—such as Sweden, Australia, and Germany—integrate strong institutional frameworks with comparable levels of community care, producing a far more comprehensive “caring profile”. Yet, without deeper reflection—hindered largely by our limited understanding of our own circumstances—many of us may, at best, dismiss such conclusions as a failure to appreciate Malaysian culture, or, at worst, denounce them as a narrow, Eurocentric view misaligned with our national context.

Be that as it may, the echoes of this disconnect continue to leave an indelible mark on our society. Facts do not lie: in just the past year, we have witnessed its devastating consequences in the form of bullying and neglect, culminating in tragic deaths. These tragedies bear the names of Zara, Tay, and Rusyaidi—to name only a few. Against this backdrop, medical students and newly qualified doctors—the supposed crusaders of a fair and equitable society—find themselves thrust into a reality they would never wish upon anyone. In their earnest attempts to uphold the ideals of a caring society, they too become victims of bullying, often at the hands of those who are themselves products of a toxic environment and systemic decay. Such is the sobering reality of our nation today.

The Fall from Grace: Demagogues Turned Social Outcast

Where, then, lie the uncomfortable truths that expose the fault lines which, consciously or unconsciously, have steered our society away from genuine compassion and mutual respect? A case in point—a microcosm of a far deeper malaise, with far-reaching explanatory power—can be found in the medical profession of this country, a telling example through which we can begin to unpack and dissect the anatomy of this institutional failure.

From the very moment they enter medical school, students’ noble aspirations of serving vulnerable communities stand in sharp contrast to a teaching environment that ought to nurture and shape their moral compass. Time and again, their rational voices of dissent are silenced—voices seeking nothing more than open, collaborative dialogue between educators and students (Shikofski & Shields, 2016). Little do they know that the fabric of societal interaction in Malaysia has been rigged from the very start. Here, a deeply entrenched power distance between leaders and subordinates only serves to widen the divide, allowing heavy-handed emotional tactics to triumph over the very values of compassion and trust that educators should embody (Swarna Nantha, 2016; Hofstede Insights, 2025).

To Stay Silent Is to Be Complicit

It is little surprise, then, that cracks soon emerge beneath the thin veneer of flippant promises of equity and dignity, within a system whose true rules remain concealed beneath rigid hierarchy and a passive learning culture (Shikofski & Shields, 2016). Such an environment does more than merely stifle curiosity; it steadily undermines intrinsic motivation—the very foundation of competence, autonomy, and relatedness in students, young doctors, and healthcare personnel alike (Swarna Nantha, 2013). To make matters worse, in the pursuit of a “lean business enterprise”, hiring practices for educators have rapidly deteriorated over the years (Quek, 2011). The decline in organizational citizenship is evident: many educators now serve as part-time or casual tutors, displaying little zeal—or even minimal allegiance to the institution—to devote meaningful time to the pastoral care of students, as their primary income and attention are drawn elsewhere (Quek, 2011).

But the truth has long been an open secret. Academic misconduct is pervasive in Malaysia—more prevalent among healthcare academics than their non-healthcare counterparts (Tiong et al., 2018). Low levels of self-discipline and integrity have been identified as key drivers of these misdeeds, creating fertile ground for systemic academic decay. When complaints are raised—whether by educators or students—they are too often met with reprisals, indifference, or institutional apathy (Tiong et al., 2018). The result is a profound trust deficit between tutors and students—a far cry from the role models educators are meant to be. Ultimately, students are victimized, only to perpetuate the cycle as victims themselves (Swarna Nantha, 2021).

So it is no real surprise when the very educators entrusted with shaping our brightest talents reveal themselves as self-serving in their own right. For some of them, teaching becomes transactional—devoid of personal meaning, pride in doing what is right, or concern for posterity. In many ways, their actions reveal a character profile that betrays much about their core beliefs—beliefs that appear to contradict the very principles that justified their appointment in academia from the outset.

The Fragile Dance of Shiva: Chaos and Creation

What, then, does this bode for the future of our medical students and young doctors? Bleak as it may seem, adversity often brings opportunities for decisive action. The way forward lies in immediate steps that students and young doctors, together with the few right-minded academics, can take collectively to begin breaking this impasse

1.       Take control of the narrative – Establish an organized movement of students and young doctors across campuses and healthcare facilities. Foster a unified voice advocating for enhanced pastoral care, mentoring, academic fairness, and robust teaching oversight. Champion the creation of an Ombudsman mechanism empowered to review and overturn unfair decisions, safeguarding the student experience and ensuring accountability. Insist on the highest moral and ethical standards, and be the change you wish to see in your system.

2.       Promote leadership intelligence – Advocate for a shift away from traditional hierarchical and overly bureaucratic leadership structures that perpetuate governance rooted in power distance. Leverage a collective movement to push for decentralization of authority, shared responsibility, and transparent decision-making. Cultivate a culture of empowerment and respect for autonomy, ensuring that leadership models the values it expects from the community.

3.       Use Social Media, Wisely – Build a coordinated coalition (e.g., #TeachUsWisely) with outreach across all affected institutions to collect, verify, and document the grievances of students and young doctors navigating the current system in Malaysia. Avoid personal attacks or character assassination; instead, focus on highlighting systemic failures and proposing constructive solutions that can drive meaningful change.

4.       One Responsible Adult Platform – Ensure that every student and young doctor has access to a vetted, full-time, institution-affiliated mentor, rather than part-time or casual staff who may lack a comprehensive understanding of the institution’s inner workings. This trustworthy mentor acts as a bridge for transformation, guiding students and young doctors through a system fraught with challenges while the broader reforms outlined above are implemented, ensuring meaningful and lasting change for future generations.

Young Warriors Of Destiny, Tread Lightly

This article serves as a timely reminder as we celebrate Independence Day. All is not lost, but it is time for deeper introspection—freedom carries a meaning far greater than mere political sovereignty. Yet, still shackled by the remnants of a bygone feudal culture, inconsistent with contemporary progress, our shared destiny remains constrained—not by a lack of opportunity, but by a subtle, insidious form of enslavement that stands diametrically opposed to true progress and reconciliation. It is time for our current generation, guided by resourceful ideals, to grasp the bull by the horns and shape the landscape of health, forging a shared set of values that underpin the very fabric of citizenship in this country. Assert yourself, claim your rights, and refuse anything less than what is just.