For decades, the backbone of Malaysia’s public health care system — the House Officer (HO) — has operated under a cloud of exhaustion, ambiguity, and systemic neglect. Today, we stand at a crossroads.
While we celebrate the courageous leadership of Dr Fakhruddin Amran, the new director of Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun (HRPB), who has begun addressing long-standing grievances, a new wave of confusion threatens to undermine our basic rights.
A circular recently distributed by the Malaysian Medical Association’s Schomos has sparked a national debate among junior doctors. This document, intended to illustrate leave entitlements, appears to directly contradict the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) own official guidelines.
The Leave Calculation Controversy
At the heart of the dispute is a fundamental question of math and law. According to the MOH Training Guidelines (Buku Panduan Program Pegawai Perubatan Siswazah), Chapter 10:1, Page 30:
“The maximum number of leave days that can be taken without extending a posting is 10 days. This does not include weekends (Cuti Hujung Minggu) and Public Holidays (Cuti Pelepasan Am).”
Contradictorily, the new MMA circular suggests that public holidays are included in this count.
This is not a mere clerical error; it is a policy shift that could force hundreds of doctors into mandatory extensions, further straining an already burnt-out workforce.
We demand answers to three critical questions:
- Why does the MMA circular contradict the official KKM Training Handbook?
- On what legal framework or administrative guideline was this circular based?
- Is this circular legally binding, and does it have the formal endorsement of the MOH?
The ‘Five-Day’ Mirage
Beyond the leave dispute lies a deeper, more systemic failure. The MOH’s own regulations mandate a five-day working week with two days off. Yet, in hospitals across the country, this is treated as a suggestion rather than a rule.
Why is the MOH turning a blind eye to our plea for basic adherence to their own regulations? When the system fails to protect the protector, the quality of care for the patient inevitably suffers.
We are not asking for special treatment; we are asking for the rule of law to be applied within our hospital walls.
A Message To The Prime Minister
As stated in our recent letter to the Prime Minister’s Office, we have placed our trust in the leadership of our nation.
While this may seem like a “minuscule” administrative issue to some, it represents the first step toward preventing the demise of proper health care in Malaysia.
A doctor who is overworked, denied leave, and confused by conflicting regulations cannot provide the standard of care that Malaysians deserve.
We are willing to speak with the Prime Minister to ensure that the “Madani” spirit of justice and fair governance reaches the corridors of our public hospitals.
The fate of Malaysia’s future specialists rests in this moment. We will no longer accept a system that thrives on the abuse of its most junior members.
This letter was written by a group of Perak house officers.
- This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of CodeBlue.
