Zaliha Thanks Health Workers For Rejecting Mogok’s Strike

Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa thanks health care workers for not joining the strike organised by Mogok Doktor Malaysia last Monday, stressing that strike action isn’t the best solution and that problems should be resolved through the “right platform”.

KUALA LUMPUR, April 7 – Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa today expressed thanks to health care workers who refused to participate in strike action organised by an anonymous group called Mogok Doktor Malaysia.

She said Mogok Doktor Malaysia – which reportedly planned a three-day strike among contract doctors from last Monday to Wednesday – had failed to cripple the public health service, as allegedly planned by organisers.

“It was seen more as a threat and provocation with a certain agenda that was even willing to take advantage of public safety and people’s lives,” Dr Zaliha said in a statement.

“In line with that, I wish to stress that strike action is not the best solution to resolve every arising problem, but should instead be handled with greater prudence and professionalism through the right platform.

“I also wish to express my thanks to the top leadership at the Ministry of Health (MOH), state health directors, hospital directors, and heads of service for their preparations to deal with any possibilities that day.”

Mainstream media reported that Mogok Doktor Malaysia deactivated its social media accounts last Tuesday, the second day of its purported industrial action. 

Although the movement’s spokesman, known only as “Dr Jamal”, claimed that the strike had “successfully achieved its aim”, The Star reported that things ran smoothly in major public hospitals in the Klang Valley, as well as Penang and state capitals of Johor Baru, Ipoh, Seremban, and Kota Kinabalu last Monday.

Last Friday, amid press coverage of Mogok Doktor Kontrak’s purported three-day strike action from last April 3 to 5, Dr Zaliha said in a statement that the Cabinet has agreed to establish a high-level committee to deal with the issue of contract doctors. 

Hartal Doktor Kontrak, a contract doctors’ group that is not affiliated with Mogok Doktor Malaysia, has requested to join the high-level committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Last Tuesday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told Parliament that the government planned to absorb 12,800 contract medical officers into permanent service within three years.

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