Ding (centre) is flanked by Lau (second left) and Wong at the press conference.
SIBU: Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Education Bureau is appealing to Sarawakian medical officers (MOs) who have passed part of their postgraduate courses and are facing discontinuation of their contracts in the near future to approach them.
In making the call, SUPP Education Bureau chairman Datuk Ding Kuong Hiing said his side is much obliged to help out.
“Do come and see us. We are happy to help,” he told a press conference held at the premises of SUPP Dudong Branch here yesterday.
Also present were Senator Lau Hui Yew and SUPP Dudong Branch chairman Wong Ching Yong.
Yesterday’s press conference was the fifth conducted by the bureau concerning the predicaments and dilemma faced by MOs on contract who had passed part of the post graduate courses but their contracts were not renewed by the Ministry of Health (MOH).
Ding, who is also Meradong assemblyman, said the issue came to light in December last year.
He said in January this year, then Health Minister Datuk Dr Zulkifly Ahmed agreed to extend the contracts of the MOs in Sarawak.
The present Minister of Health Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba announced on April 15 that a
six-month contract was offered to 79 MOs, 853 Dental Officers and 1,139 pharmacists on a one-off basis.
He said parents of the Sarawakian MOs on contract then approached the bureau for assistance to extend the six-month contract to permanent posts.
Later, he stated a protem committee of Malaysian Junior Doctors Association which was formed in May wrote twice to the Prime Minister and 222 members of Parliament respectively on June 30 and July 23.
“On July 28, I, on behalf of the parents, wrote a letter to Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, asking for his support that the four MOs be given permanent posts.
“This is the first time the parents asked for help from the chief minister. I am happy that the chief minister on Aug 3 wrote a letter to Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang, the Deputy Minister of Health, expressing his support that the four MOs be given permanent posts. A copy of the letter was extended to me.
“In that letter, the chief minister supported the application of the four MOs on contract to be permanent MOs.
“I would like to thank the chief minister for his sympathetic concern and kind support given to the four MOs.
“The chief minister is truly a chief minister for all Sarawakians irrespective of race, religion and culture. This is the leader that Sarawak needs,” he said.
Ding also pointed out that the reason SUPP Education Bureau could only supply the four names to the chief minister for his support was that these four MOs were the only MOs who have approached the Bureau for help.
“In the last press conference held on July 22, there were three fathers present too, whose children are facing the same problems as the four MOs but names were not given to the us because the parents were worried that their children would be victimised by the relevant authority,” Ding added.