KUALA LUMPUR: Several members of parliament have urged the government to abstain from taking legal or disciplinary action against contract doctors who participated in the Hartal Doktor Kontrak (HDK) walkout yesterday.
Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (PH-Kuala Selangor) said apart from being summoned by the police, the group also faced disciplinary action by the respective hospitals they were attached to.
"Please don't take action against them. They're exercising their rights to protest as a last resort (to secure permanent positions)," he said during the Dewan Rakyat special sitting today.
He said the issue needed urgent attention by the government, following shortage of medical staff as highlighted by Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
This, Dr Dzulkefly said, was particularly crucial during the Covid-19 pandemic, with staggering number of cases reported in the third wave.
Kasthuriraani Patto (PH-Batu Kawan) interjected, saying the director of Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah, Dr Zulkarnain Mohd Rawi reportedly confirmed possible action against those who participated in the HDK strike.
The MPs have joined a chorus of voices defending the contract doctors, including the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) president Adnan Mat who said the walkout was done during their break and did not affect the health service operations.
Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Datuk Dr Subramaniam Muniandy said it viewed seriously threats made to contract healthcare workers who participated in the HDK walkout, saying it only lasted a short period and there were no reported disruptions to healthcare services at government healthcare facilities.
Contract doctors staged a walkout at hospitals nationwide yesterday, appealing for their case to secure permanent positions, following a three-week ultimatum given to the government.