To the Malaysian public,
You may have recently heard that doctors received a supposed 40 per cent increase in on-call allowances, and that this was supposedly effective immediately.
You may have read headlines praising this government for finally recognising the sacrifices of health care workers.
Unfortunately, the reality on the ground tells a very different story.
Today, doctors across Malaysia are still submitting on-call claims using the old forms with the same decade-old rates — RM200 for weekdays and RM220 for weekends.
There is no updated system, there are no updated forms, and there is no practical mechanism to claim this so-called increase.
The government has proudly announced the allowance hike. But it forgot one critical step — implementing it.
This is not administration. This is performance.
A Promise Is Not An Achievement Until It Reaches The People Concerned
At first, the Prime Minister told the nation the new rate could be claimed beginning October. Now, the health minister says it will only be implemented in November.
October or November — does it matter, some may ask? Yes. It does.
Because if the people leading this country cannot even agree on a date, update a form, or execute a basic payroll adjustment, then their announcements do not reflect policy. They reflect public relations.
When a promise does not materialise in practice, it is not a reform. It is a headline.
Why Should Malaysians Care?
Some may say, “Doctors still get an increase, be grateful.” Let me remind Malaysians why this matters to you:
- When health care workers are undervalued, they leave.
- When they leave, hospitals become understaffed.
- When hospitals are understaffed, you wait longer, you receive less attention, and your outcomes worsen.
- When talent is not retained, the system collapses — not for us alone, but for you, your parents, your children.
Malaysia already faces a severe doctor shortage. Our system is losing trained professionals every month.
If this country continues rewarding health care workers with ceremonial promises instead of real action, the exodus will accelerate, and eventually, there will be no one left to care for you.
This is not a threat. It is a trajectory.
The Illusion Of 40%
The public hears of the 40 per cent increase, and assumes something substantial has changed. But the truth is as follows:
- RM9.16/hour → RM12.83/hour. This is an increase of only ~RM3/hour after 13 years
That is not a victory. That is an insult delivered with a ribbon.
Yet, when judges were granted a 30 per cent salary increase, it was implemented swiftly and clearly. No confusion. No delays. No inconsistency.
So, ask yourself honestly — who matters more to this government?
Malaysia, Please Stop Rewarding Speeches Over Solutions
We urge the Malaysian public to do the following:
- Do not celebrate announcements.
- Do not applaud promises that have not reached the ground.
- Do not let the government use your goodwill to avoid accountability.
- Demand results. Demand execution.
- Demand truth, and not theatre.
Health care workers are not asking for praise. We are asking for functionality, respect, and sincerity.
Because when politicians receive applause for unfinished work, nothing improves.
And what remains unfinished today becomes a crisis tomorrow — one that will not spare you simply because you clapped.
A final appeal to every Malaysian reading this: You deserve a health care system that functions. We deserve a government that honours its word.
The next time you hear an announcement, ask, “Has it truly been implemented?”
If not, refuse to be satisfied. Your health depends on it. Our dignity depends on it. Malaysia’s future depends on it.
The author is a medical officer at a public hospital. CodeBlue is providing the author anonymity because civil servants are prohibited from writing to the press.
- This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of CodeBlue.
