KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Medical Association’s (MMA) Section Concerning House Officers, Medical Officers, and Specialists (Schomos) – which represents government doctors in Malaysia – has opted to launch its Code Black week from Thursday onwards as a mark of solidarity with contract doctors.
In a directive issued by MMA Schomos and sighted by The Vibes last night, the peaceful protest will be divided into two phases, the first being dubbed “Code Black” and running from July 1 to July 12.
Under the first phase of Code Black, which involves 12 days of online solidarity, doctors nationwide are encouraged to make their social media profile pictures and company or institution logos black or monochrome as a sign of support for the affected doctors.
In the second phase, declared as “Black Monday”, participants are asked to go to work as usual and wear black as a common theme.
“Hold a placard saying ‘we stand with contract healthcare workers’ only. Post pictures on social media with the hashtags #saveMYcontractHCW, #CodeBlackMY and #BlackMondayMY only.”
According to the MMA section, the black-themed protest mourns the bright young talents Malaysia has lost to other countries, and recognises the injustice faced by all contract healthcare workers in Malaysia.
Following the show of solidarity, MMA Schomos is expected to call for an urgent town hall session with the prime minister and stakeholders soon.
Among the various demands addressed to the government from the MMA section include:
- clear and available career/postgraduate pathways to specialisation for our contract doctors
- detailed and transparent criteria for permanent posts
- equal and fair treatment between contract and permanent staff
- job security for all healthcare workers.
On Friday, the MMA Schomos exco stated that it will not condone any attempts by certain groups of doctors to lodge a work strike in protest against the government due to the present contract system.
In a statement, the MMA Schomos exco said they had discussed various issues faced by house officers, medical officers, and specialists with Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz during an online meeting recently, in an effort to resolve issues plaguing the group for years despite plenty of discussions in the past.
The MMA section also reminded the medical fraternity that as doctors, their first and foremost guiding principle is to do no harm.
The statement comes after a certain group of doctors believed to be house officers are planning to conduct a one-day nationwide strike.
Dubbed #HartalDoktorKontrak, the disgruntled group of contract doctors are inviting their peers, media, and the public to participate in their protest.
Calling all doctors, HO/MO/Specialists, media, and rakyat Malaysia to join #HartalDoktorKontrak.
— ανєη △⃒⃘ (@avenfauzi) June 26, 2021
We will do this in 3 phases starting from 1st July (memorandum,pc, lastly strike-26th July)
Lets make this happen for future healthcare in Malaysia! pic.twitter.com/b6h6PFPi6H
It is learnt the group, in opposition to MMA Schomos, will conduct the protest in three phases from July 1 onwards with a handover of a memorandum, followed by a press conference, and lastly a work-strike proposed on July 26. – The Vibes, June 28, 2021
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