QUESTIONING doctors in the wee hours of the morning at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park (Maeps) low-risk quarantine and treatment centre is against the law, said a lawyer representing the doctors.

Lawyer Asheeq Ali Sethi Alivi today said the action cannot be condoned for whatever reason.

Selangor police chief Arjunaidi Mohamed earlier said police went to meet the 12 doctors at midnight because it was their working shift and they had permission from the management.

Arjunaidi had also said police were not investigating the doctors about the strike on Monday but were probing an alleged intrusion or trespass by media personnel into Maeps.

Asheeq, however, said recording statements at midnight and in the wee hours of the morning cannot be justified as it is against the law.

“I was informed that the contract doctors were not given a choice and were ordered to give their statements as soon as police arrived early in the morning,” he said in a statement.

Asheeq said if it was true police cared about the doctors, they would have allowed the doctors to choose the time to have their statements recorded.

“Any statement must be recorded at the appropriate time to prevent it being taken under duress or pressure,” he said, adding this was a form of intimidation against the doctors.

He also said that both the Health Ministry and police should be mindful of the workload and the pressure the doctors are already facing.

Earlier today Asheeq alleged that police recorded the statement of 12 doctors in Maeps for allegedly taking part in the Hartal Doktor Kontrak strike on Monday morning.

On Monday hundreds of medical officers in Malaysia had walked out of government hospitals to demand permanent employment.

Health Minister Dr Adham Baba told Parliament yesterday that no action will be taken against the doctors for staging a nationwide protest. – July 28, 2021.