Contract termination: Plight of MOs not solved, says SUPP

SIBU: The number of medical officers (MOs) and dental officer (DOs) whose contracts were not renewed by the Health Ministry has risen to 11.

SUPP education bureau chairman Datuk Ding Kuong Hiing (pic) said on Sunday (Feb 9) that an MO from Kota Kinabalu sought their help after facing the same predicament.

In January, the bureau issued an open letter to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, exposing the plight of four medical officers (MOs) whose contracts were not renewed.

No reason was given in the letters of termination. Two were from Sarawak and two others were from Peninsular Malaysia.

That same month, SUPP sent a second open letter to the two leaders, claiming to have received six more similar cases throughout the country.

Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen had on Jan 23, said that all contracts of the MOs in Sarawak will be renewed.

According to Chong, the Finance Minister had a discussion with the Health Minister who had agreed to renew the contracts of the MOs in Sarawak.

However, until now, there was no black and white letters issued over the case.

"Now that the 'Chap Goh Meh' is over, the MOs in Sarawak have not received their new contracts. The people of Sarawak hope that the two ministers will honour their promise," said Ding on Sunday (Feb 9).

Ding claimed after the bureau exposed their predicament, a parent from Sibu informed them that when it came to the confirmation of permanent posts, those from Peninsular Malaysia were given priority.

"Yesterday (Feb 8), a father of a dental officer told us that in the latest list of confirmation of permanent posts of dental officers, only four were Sarawakians out of 150 permanent posts created," he said.

Meanwhile, the bureau encouraged young doctors and dentists in the state to form their own association.

Ding said all doctors and dentists who are not specialists are eligible

to become a member of the proposed association to fight for their benefits and welfare.

He said the new chairman of Malaysia Medical Association Sibu Chapter, Dr Wong Chya Wei, has agreed to be the adviser of the proposed association.

He said the proposed association is important because problems such as postings, confirmation of permanent posts which are faced by young doctors and dentists in Sarawak are different from the peninsula.

He said that rural areas in Sarawak are still facing a shortage of MOs, DOs and specialists.

"Many doctors and dentists from the peninsula are reluctant to serve in Sarawak. It is an undisputed fact that MOs from the peninsula, after completing their specialist training in Sarawak, will choose to go back," he claimed.