PERKASA has issued a legal notice against the Health Ministry’s move to loosen regulations on Bahasa qualifications, starting a push back against the directive that allows more doctors in the service.

Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali said he views the issue seriously and had appointed a lawyer to manage the case against the Health Ministry.

Ibrahim said the notice, submitted to ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, demanded that it retract a press statement which announced that the Public Service Department (PSD) had relaxed the SPM-level Bahasa Melayu requirement for contract medical officers.

The notice also demanded that the Health Ministry does not enforce the easing of requirement.

The Health Ministry waived the need for a Bahasa Melayu pass at the SPM level for candidates applying as contract medical officers in the ministry.

Those applying for permanent positions will require a pass, or higher, depending on the seniority of the position.

While some have supported the move, there are those who feel it is essential for doctors to be able to effectively communicate with patients in the language.

Umno Overseas Club Alumni had said easing the requirement will hamper nation-building efforts.

Chief Secretary to the Government Dr Ali Hamsa said the matter is expected to be discussed in the Cabinet meeting tomorrow.

“BM is a compulsory requirement for a permanent post in the civil service. And we have many types of contract, we also have medical doctors who are on contract from various countries.

“Let’s wait for the decison tomorrow,” Ali said earlier today.

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has asked Health Minister Dr S. Subramaniam and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Joseph Entulu Belaun to explain to the Cabinet the decision to waive Bahasa Malaysia SPM qualification for medical graduates.

The Health Ministry had defended its decision to relax the minimum pass-requirement in Bahasa Malaysia.

The move was to facilitate medical graduates who had studied overseas, who sat for the O-Level examination at international schools or took the subject only in university. – July 4, 2017.