KUALA LUMPUR – Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi slammed Health Ministry officials for allegedly threatening to take action against contract doctors should they opt to participate in the possible one-day nationwide strike dubbed #HartalDoktorKontrak at the end of next month.
In a Facebook post supporting their cause today, Puad said there are about 23,000 contract doctors at present.
“They are demanding justice in getting appointed to permanent positions. If dentists, teachers, police, and administrative, diplomatic, and immigration officers, and others, can be appointed to permanent positions, why can’t they?
"This issue has been around for years. There has been no solution. For more than a year, they have been frontliners without getting a proper break. Therefore, the work strike is justified if the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government continues to turn a deaf ear to them,” he said.
The PN administration, he said, should not use “timing” and “the pandemic” as an excuse, as the contract doctors are not demanding to be made rich.
Puad pointed out that as contract officers, they are denied rights such as scholarships to become specialists, EPF, housing loans, and career advancement opportunities.
He added that the PN government should open the door to negotiations instead of threatening to take disciplinary action.
“At least provide them EPF facilities first. Contract doctors are part of our frontliners who work tirelessly. Let’s support their struggles,” he added.
His statement comes after two groups – the Malaysian Medical Association’s (MMA) Section Concerning House Officers, Medical Officers, and Specialists (Schomos), which represents government doctors in Malaysia, and another group of disgruntled contract doctors – are organising separate forms of protest against the government demanding better treatment for contract doctors nationwide.
It is learnt that health officials at several hospitals have issued written directives barring any medical personnel from participating in such protests. Any participation by any medical personnel would result in serious disciplinary action by the authorities.
In a directive issued by MMA Schomos on Sunday night, the section has opted to launch its “Code Black” week from Thursday onwards as a mark of solidarity with contract doctors.
Their 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.
Those joining can hold a placard saying “we stand with contract healthcare workers” only and post pictures on social media with the hashtags #saveMYcontractHCW, #CodeBlackMY, and #BlackMondayMY.
Running contrary to MMA Schomos, 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.
It is learnt the group will conduct the protest in three phases from July 1 onwards with the handover of a memorandum, followed by a press conference, and lastly a work-strike proposed on July 26. – The Vibes, June 29, 2021
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