Hartal Doktor Kontrak plans second rally in December

PETALING JAYA: The Hartal Doktor Kontrak movement will stage a “symbolic” mass resignation in December, if the government does not hire 22,288 contract doctors on a permanent basis.

The movement’s spokesman Dr Muhammad Yassin said the group’s next planned protest will see affected contract doctors march while carrying placards with the message “Mass Resignation” as a symbolic protest gesture.

This will be followed by a mass resignation in the same month, Dr Muhammad Yassin told Utusan Malaysia.

In the Malay daily’s report, Dr Muhammad said the protest will be similar to the one that the movement organised on July 26.

The planned protest will last about 30 minutes to an hour.

“We will be having a press conference this week to give more details on the protest,” said Dr Muhammad.

He said the movement is disappointed with the government’s treatment towards contract doctors in the country.

“I feel that if we remain in the Health Ministry but are still on contract, it is difficult for us to move forward and to receive the same opportunities that permanent staff get.

“Our future becomes uncertain. So it is better for us to go away,” said Dr Muhammad.

Dr Muhammad also said the planned protest is unlikely to disrupt the healthcare system at government hospitals, as shown during the first rally.

“It is our responsibility to look after patients and ensure their treatments are not disrupted. Nothing untoward happened during our previous protest,” he said.

The movement is organising a second protest, as it felt that the government did not address the contract doctor issue in Budget 2022.

Under Budget 2022, the government had allocated RM100mil to sponsor 3,000 contract medical and dental officers to pursue specialist training, as well as extending their contracts from two to four years.

Dr Muhammad said the group will continue engaging with the Health Ministry, Finance Ministry, Public Service Department and Public Service Commission to seek a solution to the issue until the date of the protest arrives.