UMNO vice-president Mohamed Khaled Nordin wants Putrajaya to allow the Hartal Doktor Kontrak protest to go on tomorrow as a sign of respect for freedom of speech.
 
In a statement, Khaled also said that negotiations between doctors on strike with the government must be brought forward in order to find a solution.
 
“Doctors are our frontliners and they should be treated with respect and given proper recognition. Let them go on strike as it is part of our freedom of speech but a solution must be reached immediately,” he said.
 
Khaled stressed that Putrajaya must come up with a comprehensive plan with a long-term agenda.
 
“It must include our national healthcare system and a long-term solution as the country is battling a deadly pandemic. This situation must not be allowed to carry on,” he added.
 
Some 4,000 to 5,000 doctors nationwide are expected to take part in the Hartal Doktor Kontrak strike which is slated for tomorrow.
  
Claiming that there is no other choice, the group’s representative, Dr Umar Baraka, said doctors from Sungai Buloh hospital, one of the main treatment centres for Covid-19 patients, will also take part in the strike.
 
This will throw the public healthcare system into chaos as currently there are more than 145,000 active Covid-19 patients.
 
The strike will take place at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Kedah, Hospital Taiping and Ipoh, Hospital Sultanah Aminah and Hospital Sultan Ismail in Johor and Sungai Buloh Hospital, among others.
 
The strike will start with a walkout by junior doctors at 11am.
 
Data from Ministry of Health showed that a total of 23,077 UD41 grade contract medical officers were picked to undergo graduate training and compulsory service between December 2016 and May 2021.
 
However, only 789 of them were offered permanent positions, leaving many in limbo while many others have applied for jobs overseas. – July 25, 2021.