CM wants Health Ministry to verify 'racist' docs claim

The Penang government has written to the Health Ministry to verify allegation that three Chinese Malaysian doctors serving in two general hospitals have refused to treat their Malay patients.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (left) described theallegations hurled against these doctors by Pinang Tunggal assemblyperson Roslan Saidin at the just-concluded state legislative assembly on July 3 as serious.

He wants Health Minister S Subramaniam to either verify the allegations or come out publicly to defend the doctors and medical profession.

Roslan had accused three doctors, one attached with the Seberang Jaya Hospital while two are allegedly with the Kepala Batas Hospital, of "being racist" for not attending to their Malay patients.

The Umno representative had tried to tie-in this alleged racist attitude to the 'Chinese tsunami' which reportedly took place during the May 5 polls, which saw the community voting in large numbers against the BN, resulting in the coalition garnering only 48 percent of the popular votes compared to Pakatan Rakyat's 52 percent.

"I am raising the issue because I received complaints not only from doctors but patients who were unhappy about this dangerous racist game," said Lim in an official letter sent to Subramaniam today.

"Some Malay patients have expressed their disappointment over the racial controversy because they had experience with Chinese Malaysian doctors in public and private hospitals who have treated them and saved their lives.

"Malay doctors have also expressed their dissatisfaction that such wild allegations could also be hurled against them (doctors)."

Lim said the minister (right) should be aware that doctors worked as a team and usually spent long hours on their jobs.

He added that neither the Penang General Hospital or the state Health Department had received such complaints.

Lim also queried is if the complaint has been made to the highest level in Putrajaya?

"If the allegations are true, the three doctors should not only be sacked but their practising license should be revoked for violating their Hippocratic Oath.

"However if the allegations are untrue, please defend the professional and moral ethics of the doctors and the medical profession," he stressed.