Police Question MAEPS Medics Over #HartalDoktorKontrak Despite Dr Adham Baba's Assurance
The investigation comes after the MAEPS director filed a report over the media's unauthorised presence during the strike on Monday, according to the lawyer representing the group.
By Sadho Ram — 28 Jul 2021, 12:14 PM — Updated over 3 years ago
Health Minister Dato' Sri Dr Adham Baba assured the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, 27 July, that medical officers who participated in Monday's #HartalDoktorKontrak strike will not face any disciplinary action
"No action will be taken against them, even though they held a demonstration yesterday. They have the right to do so," Adham Baba told the special parliamentary session on Tuesday.
The strike was held at 11am on Monday to call for better working conditions for contract doctors.
Despite that, police went to the COVID-19 quarantine centre at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) at midnight, 28 July
Malaysiakini reported lawyer Asheeq Ali, who represents the group, saying that police officers were taking full statements about the whole event and interviewing staff individually.
He said that 12 doctors were questioned by police for over four hours, from 11.30pm until 3.45am.
The investigation, however, is unexpected given the fact that doctors at MAEPS had decided to cancel the proposed walkout on Monday when they were threatened with police arrest.
Asheeq said that the investigation comes after the MAEPS director filed a report over the media's unauthorised presence during the strike
He called it an act of intimidation against those who had voiced out their concerns.
Asheeq also said that the Ministry of Health should not have allowed the investigation to happen.
"Taking statements at wee hours when the doctors are on duty is completely unacceptable. They are already overworked and exhausted, and you can still allow this?"
Meanwhile, in the Dewan Rakyat today, Lembah Pantai member of Parliament (MP) Fahmi Fadzil asked for clarification over the issue
He requested Dewan Rakyat Speaker to let Adham Baba answer on the action taken by the police.
