12 Malaysian doctors in Selangor were allegedly held and questioned by police from around 11:30pm till 3.45am on July 28, Malaysiakini reported. 

This occurred after a nationwide hour-long walkout on July 26 afternoon by contract doctors over a lack of career opportunities and progression.

The doctors in question were among those stationed at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS), which had been turned into a Covid-19 quarantine centre. 

The doctors were held despite not taking part in the walkout, having canceled their initial plans to do so following threats of arrest. 

Health Minister promised no retaliation against walkout

The midnight questioning had taken place allegedly despite a promise from the Malaysian government that there would be no retaliation over the walkout.

The Malaysian Ministry of Health had earlier promised that the doctors who took part in the strike would not face disciplinary actions, reported Free Malaysia Today.

In a parliament sitting on July 27, Health Minister Adham Baba said, “No action will be taken against them, even though they held a demonstration yesterday. They have the right to do so”.

Police: No probe targeted at doctors' walkout

The police have since stated that the investigation at MAEPS is due to allegations of trespassing by six media personnel, according to Malaysiakini.

Selangor Police Chief Arjunaidi Mohamed denied allegations that the questioning infringed on the doctors' rights, or that it as an act of intimidation, Malay Mail reported.

When asked how the trespass happened when police were guarding the outer perimeter, he said it would require further investigation.

“We were being considerate. We questioned them one at a time during their shift with permission from the Maeps management team,” he said.

He further clarified that no medical personnel are under investigation for their participation in the walkout protest.

Furthermore, he said that the midnight investigations were to accommodate those who are on night shift from 8pm to 8am.

The reason the police chief offered was the same as the one given by the Sepang police earlier when the doctors were brought in for questioning.

The police had earlier said outsiders are not allowed on the premises as the hospital had been designated as a Covid-19 quarantine centre, and added that the doctors questioned had assisted with investigations by confirming the presence of these personnel in the area, The Star reported.

Why the walkout was held

The nationwide walkout was held to protest the current system for contract doctors, a measure that was implemented in 2016 to handle the influx of medical graduates in Malaysia.

The doctors were given four-year housemanship contracts with public hospitals, but instead of absorbing them as full-time doctors after the tenure, they were only offered contract extensions. 

According to the New Straits Times, only 789 out of 23,077 contract doctors appointed from December 2016 to May 2021 secured full-time employment. 

This means that over 96 per cent of the contract doctors newly-appointed during this period are not receiving the same benefits and salary as their full-time counterparts.

The contract is also an obstacle for those who plan to undergo training to be a specialist, which can take up to four years.

Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yasin tried to appease the doctors before the walkout by offering 4-year contract extensions, but it was not well received as it did not address the salary and benefit gaps between contract and full-time doctors, as per The Star. 

Top image via George Gerald/Twitter & Hartal Doktor Kontrak/Twitter