KUALA LUMPUR – Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has slammed the Perikatan Nasional government for allegedly threatening contract doctors over their planned walkout from hospitals nationwide today.
During the post-briefing session at the Dewan Rakyat, the Port Dickson MP urged PN not to treat the situation lightly, and to ensure that the promises made to medical practitioners on contract are fulfilled.
“Contract doctors work relentlessly like normal doctors do.
“The Health Ministry and prime minister have made promises to them. However, those (promises) have been postponed, and so many doctors have died.
“Don’t wait till the doctors go on a protest, and then you take action against them and threaten them.
“There must be something wrong that has forced the doctors to go on strike. They must be really disappointed.”
The PKR president also urged Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to take the initiative to complete national health programmes as soon as possible.
Pandan MP Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail rapped Muhyiddin’s administration over its treatment of junior doctors that led to the protest today.
The former deputy prime minister stressed that these doctors want to serve the government, but are not given the opportunity to do so.
She questioned PN’s lack of attention towards health institutions, given that Muhyiddin, earlier in the proceedings, said he cares for the people.
“Why are we not looking after the doctors who have served us, to the point that they’ve decided to go on strike?” said Dr Wan Azizah, who is also Anwar’s wife.
“We should look after our frontliners. They are ready to serve, but the government has not given them an ounce of sympathy.”
Today, the #HartalDoktorKontrak movement initiated a walkout at 11am at several public hospitals, including Covid-19 treatment facilities like Sg Buloh Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu, and Sarawak General Hospital in Kuching.
By early afternoon, dozens of doctors at Sg Buloh Hospital were seen coming out of the main premises to join the protest, but plainclothes policemen prevented them from speaking to the press.
Another group walked out 30 minutes after the first.
A medical officer, who asked to remain anonymous, told reporters that they are performing their duty and enforcing their rights without violating their oath.
“We have not breached the oath we have taken, as our patients are still cared for and not neglected.”
Immediately after the second group walked out, a police patrol car arrived with sirens blaring, and officers instructed the doctors to disperse or face a compound. – The Vibes, July 26, 2021
