KUALA LUMPUR – The war of words continues between Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P. Ramasamy and the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) over response to allegations of bullying in the medical fraternity.
Despite MMA’s statement describing the criticism as “unfair”, Ramasamy called on the association to identify the “underpinnings of bullying” and the effects of cultural hierarchy.
He also accused MMA of wanting to be in the good books of the Health Ministry, likening it to a Tamil proverb of “burying the pumpkin under a heap of cooked rice”.
“What I am surprised about is that Koh wants a definition of what constitutes bullying before taking a deeper look at the prevalence of the bullying phenomenon.
“In my opinion, such a move is basically an attempt to obfuscate the phenomenon. The meaning of the term bullying is commonly accepted without even a definition,” he said, referring to MMA president Dr Koh Kar Chai.
As for the “hierarchy” in the medical fraternity, Ramasamy said housemen are subjected to a power relationship with senior doctors as their careers depend on it.
“Bullying takes place because of this hierarchy where there is no sensible or rational communication between the juniors and seniors.”
He also claimed that there is no mechanism that allows housemen to communicate to the authorities about their anxieties and fears.
He then shared an example of the UK, where there are mechanisms available to housemen to register their complaints, which will be seriously investigated and action taken.
Yesterday, Koh said the comments made by Hartal Doktor Kontrak (HDK) movement and Ramasamy suggested they did not scrutinise the association’s full statement and additional comments made during a press conference at the headquarters in Jalan Pahang on Tuesday.
“The MMA reiterates its stand that it does not condone any form of bullying. Period.”
Ramasamy had accused Koh of missing “the elephant in the room” while HDK said Koh appeared to downplay the severity of the situation, invalidating the trauma suffered by victims.
MMA’s statement said Koh had during his press conference called for proper definitions on the act of bullying to allow appropriate action to be taken against culprits and those affected.
Talk of bullying running rampant among healthcare workers resurfaced after a Penang houseman died after allegedly falling from his apartment building.
The houseman was posted to the hospital just three weeks before his sudden demise here. This is believed to be the second death to involve a junior doctor in the span of two years.
In December 2020, The Vibes reported that another doctor who had resigned from the same hospital had died suddenly.
Following the incidents, there was an outcry from NGOs and the public for the Health Ministry to set up an investigation committee to probe into the allegations. – The Vibes, May 12, 2022
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