PETALING JAYA: The suggestion to use race and religious prejudices in influencing the selection of certain contract medical officers for permanent posts is discriminatory, says the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA).

       This is in reference to suggestions to the Health Ministry to review the intake of medical graduates as new appointments in the public sector.

       The suggestion, made by the Medic and Public Health Association of Malaysia and Muslim Doctors Association of Malaysia, was aimed at ensuring that such graduates, especially among the Bumiputra community, will be given permanent posts and reduce the unemployment rate of professionals in the country.

       Calling this suggestion discriminatory, MMA president Prof Datuk Dr Subramaniam Muniandy (pic) said it was also an insult to the efforts and contributions of all Malaysian doctors serving the people, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

       “MMA unequivocally rejects the notion that racial and religious prejudices should be used to influence the selection of certain contract officers for appointment to permanent service.

       “As professionals in the medical sector, we need the best and the brightest talents to serve the rakyat.

       “Such talents come in all races, religion, creeds, ethnicities, and gender,” Dr Subramaniam said in a statement on Saturday (June 26).

       He added that all doctors are trained to treat every patient equally, regardless of their race, religion, creed, ethnicity or socioeconomic status.

       “As such, we expect the Health Ministry to do so in the treatment of its staff as well,” Dr Subramaniam said.

       In response to the suggestion, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba had said on Wednesday (June 23) that the ministry had not stopped the intake of medical graduates for housemanship.

       Dr Adham said such intakes were made based on approval from the Public Service Department.

       However, since December 2016, the recruitment of such graduates are on contract basis to enable such intakes to continue despite the limited number of permanent posts available.

       Dr Subramaniam urged the government to lead the way in uniting the people and not to sow discord among its working professionals.

       “There is no place for such discriminatory practice in Malaysia, much less in the government and Health Ministry.

       “To prevent suspicion of such discriminatory practices, MMA calls on the ministry to make transparent the evaluation criteria for all contract doctors,” he added.