A group of contract government doctors today engaged Suhakam ahead of their planned nationwide strike this Monday, seeking for the human rights body to help observe the protest in case of rights infringement.
In a virtual meeting today, several representatives of the Hartal Doktor Kontrak movement, who are represented by lawyer Ambiga Sreenevasan, had a discussion with two Suhakam commissioners. The doctors also submitted a memorandum containing details of their struggle to Suhakam.
Ambiga told the meeting that involvement of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia is crucial so as to ensure that doctors who take part in the protest would not face intimidation from their superiors.
“There is ongoing intimidation of many contract doctors because they are speaking up and because they dare to say what is troubling them. And that is of concern.
“If they want to exercise their rights on Monday, it is in the hope that there would be no intimidation.
“We invite Suhakam, if it is possible, to monitor the situation to ensure there is no infringement of the human rights of the doctors,” Ambiga said.
She also suggested that Suhakam holds a public inquiry into the plight of contract government doctors.
A spokesperson for Hartal Doktor Kontrak, Dr Mustapha Kamal A Aziz, told the meeting that between 1,500 and 2,000 contract doctors have agreed to participate in the strike at 11am on Monday, July 26, where they would perform a walkout and then head to their homes as a show of protest.
However, Mustapha believes that 80 to 90 percent of the current 23,000 contract doctors would show up, but have chosen not to register as they have been receiving threats from their superiors.
“I believe there are still many more to come. Because of the threats they received from the government, from the superiors... that is why they chose not to fill up our data form.
“So, I do believe that is about 80 to 90 percent of the doctors who are willing to join because this is about their future,” he said.
Yesterday, the group announced that they would proceed with a strike on July 26 as Putrajaya had yet to offer a resolution to their woes.
They claimed contract government doctors have allegedly been subjected to unfair treatment, including unequal opportunity for career advancement, despite shouldering the same amount of responsibilities and workload with doctors who are hired permanently.
On July 12, Health Minister Dr Adham Baba said that a resolution would be announced that week but none was made following the cabinet meeting on July 14.
Following the discussion, Suhakam commissioner Mah Weng Kwai said that they would take the matter for a discussion with the other commissioners, before arriving at a decision.
“I would have to get back to my other colleagues and have a discussion whether we will be there at your ‘hartal’ (strike) as observers,” Mah said during the meeting.
He added that they would also discuss whether Suhakam is to issue a press statement and whether a public inquiry should be held.
Mustapha added that doctors who participate in the strike would ensure that patient care will not be jeopardised.
According to him, the movement has sent letters to hospitals and state health administrators in advance, telling them of the strike plan and urged the health administrators to make the necessary adjustments.
Contract doctors have also arranged with their superiors and permanent doctors to ensure that the patients would not be neglected.
“In certain cases, if patients need urgent attention, we recommend the doctors to return to work for the day,” Mustapha said. - Mkini
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