MMA Sarawak Branch fully supports the call to the federal government by Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Dr R. Arasu not to cut the Regional Incentive Payment allowance [Bayaran Insentif Wilayah] (BIW) for government doctors serving in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan.
A new scheme like the Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA) should be progressive and not retrogressive by increasing the BIW and not decreasing it for the reasons alluded to in MMA’s press statement on December 19.
MMA Sarawak also calls on the federal government to provide the transfer allowance for contract doctors reporting for duty in East Malaysia due to the high costs involved.
Transferring from Peninsular Malaysia to East Malaysia is more complicated and expensive compared to transferring within Peninsular Malaysia.
There are flight tickets and forwarding agents to be paid, which cost thousands of ringgit. Young doctors at the lower end of the pay scale (with possibly loans to repay, parents/younger siblings to be supported financially) would be imposed an additional financial burden if they were to finance their own transfer costs from Peninsular Malaysia to East Malaysia.
The absence of this transfer allowance would further disincentivise doctors from Peninsular Malaysia to accept being posted to East Malaysia.
To be consistent with the spirit of the Madani government, MMA Sarawak calls for these crucial allowances to be provided and increased.
This statement was issued by MMA Sarawak chairman Dr Ong Eng-Joe.
- This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of CodeBlue.
