"I Am Sorry, I Can't Stay Anymore" — Here's Why I'm Leaving MOH As A Medical Officer

Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Telegram for the latest stories and breaking news.

Maybe many of you don't understand. I can hear it already:

"Why the fuss? You guys are paid well. Every job has its difficulties. Suck it up, man. If you don't want to serve the nation, then just quit as many out there are still waiting for a job."

Well, it is really hard to explain to you. I'm a doctor who has been patient enough to stay and work in MOH until now. But I can't anymore, I have to vent it out.

Many of my competent colleagues and seniors left a long time ago. But here I am, still stuck in this sh-thole.

I passed high school and SPM with flying colours, and yet, I was not offered any scholarships or even a seat in our local matriculation programme.

Through many tears and much effort, I tried my very best to appeal before I was lucky enough to be given an opportunity to study in a matriculation college.

However, again, after passing my pre-university course with a 4.0 CGPA, I had to fight with blood, sweat, and tears for a local scholarship to study medicine in a private university.

I completed my housemanship training with flying colours and without any unnecessary extension beyond two years.

If you personally know me, you know I would put in effort and extra care into my work and patients, even my bosses have praised me for that. I would not mind going home late if my patients were not stable or if I did not hand over my patient cases properly to my colleague on night shift.

I find joy when I get to help patients and when their family members thank me.

After housemanship, I took external examination papers and was involved in many departmental projects in the hospital. I also went for the Public Services Commission interview and thought it went quite well. But yet, I was not chosen.

I never took any emergency leave or sick leave. I had zero disciplinary problems at work. But yet, I was not chosen.

Meanwhile, I had peers who contributed less effort, took unnecessary leave, and had attitude problems, yet they were offered permanent positions.

Am I the clown? Is the process for permanent posts really by random selection? But why would the government organise an interview for us then?

It makes me think going the extra mile in my work last year was not worth the effort.

My friends who have quit have asked me to do the same. But I still find joy in my work. I still enjoy counselling my patients and making sure they take care of their health the right way.

However, now, even with the permanent post, I still feel unappreciated by MOH.

I still have to work as a UD43 medical officer for three years before they will confirm me as a UD47 or UD48 officer. Why? Can someone explain? How am I expected to live as a UD43 officer with the same pay for seven years?

Also, to the haters trying to depict medical officers are well paid, read this: I have never been paid a RM5,000 basic salary a month or even RM80 an hour for locum work.

As far as I can remember, my pay has always been lower than a houseman's, and I'm only paid RM9 per hour for on-calls.

All my previous years of service were not taken into account when I accepted this post.

To my patients, I am sorry, I can't stay anymore. I hope you would remember me as the doctor who once helped save you. I have tried my very best to have faith but it is really hard.

I break down in tears almost every week. I don't have a reason to stay in MOH anymore.

To my fellow colleagues in the system, please stand up for your rights. If you don't speak up for yourself, no one will.

Dear deputy prime minister, you can't stop the brain drain? Well, I also think I am done.

God bless Malaysia's public healthcare.