PKR STARTS TO WISE UP TO ‘BOOBY TRAPS’ SPRUNG BY DEEP STATE OR PN-PAS OR ‘KETUANAN’ ULTRA GROUPS – HEALTH MINISTER DR ZALIHA ANNOUNCES PROBE INTO KAMPAR HOSPITAL’S REFUSAL TO TREAT PATIENT WHO WORE SHORTS – EVEN AS ULTRAS ‘IMPLORE’ HER TO STAY ‘STRONG’ AGAINST ALLOWING SHORT PANTS, WHICH HAVE SINCE BEEN SPUN INTO ‘INDECENT ATTIRE’ – WHAT IF PATIENT DENIED TREATMENT HAD DIED? WHY SHOULD NOT HER FAMILY SUE THE GOVT, THE HOSPITAL & THE STAFF FOR HEARTLESSLY & STUPIDLY PUTTING ATTIRE OVER HUMAN LIFE – WHILE HOME MINISTER SAIFUDDIN DIGS IN ON BODYCAMS FOR COPS – A MOVE THAT WILL HELP CUT DOWN CORRUPTION & ABUSE OF POWER – SAIFUDDIN EVEN TELLS IGP TO ‘HOLD REGULAR PRESS CONFERENCES’ – INDEED CIVIL SERVANTS MUST REMEMBER THEY ARE THERE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE & NOT TO COMMAND FROM THEIR IVORY TOWERS OR POKE RACIAL FIRE TO KEEP THEIR JOBS

Business, Politics | February 16, 2023 3:08 pm by | 0 Comments

Health minister announces probe into Kampar Hospital’s refusal to treat patient who wore shorts

Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said a detailed investigation will be conducted over the claim that a medical officer denied a woman emergency treatment at Kampar Hospital for not meeting the dress code.

KUALA LUMPUR – Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said a detailed investigation will be conducted over the claim that a medical officer denied a woman emergency treatment at Kampar Hospital for not meeting the dress code.

In the Facebook message announcing the investigation, the minister said every patient was entitled to receive priority for treatment without regard to their race, nationality or any dress code.

“Regarding the claim on social media that medical officer told a female patient was told to leave Kampar Hospital for dressing indecently.

“Detailed investigations will be conducted on this,” she said.

On Monday, it was reported that the woman had gone to Kampar Hospital to seek emergency treatment for abdominal pains.

There, she was allegedly admonished by a medical officer for arriving in a pair of shorts, and was then told she would have to comply with the hospital’s supposed dress code before he would allow her to seek treatment there.

The incident came after an earlier controversy over a similar official dress code at a police station, where an officer turned away a person trying to report a traffic accident. MALAY MAIL

Netizens rue Dr Zaliha fails to ‘back-up’ hospital staff in indecent dressing incident

AS the Kampar Hospital reprimanded the medical officer in the kerfuffle over dress codes, netizens have seemingly given Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa a tongue lashing for taking a moderate stance in the matter instead of backing up the staff involved in the incident.

This comes about as the Sekijang MP who is herself a medical practitioner is perceived to be ‘siding’ the female patient who was barred from entering the Kampar Hospital in her social media comment of the incident.

“I would like to reaffirm that in principle, every patient deserves treatment priority regardless of race, race or dress code of ethics,” Dr Zaliha penned in her Facebook page yesterday (Feb 15) evening.

“Every medical practitioner needs to care fot their ethics after taking oath. The Hippocratic Oath sworn by doctors and medical practitioners includes a willingness to help patients to the best of their ability.”

Netizen Abu Raed fired the first salvo, describing the Health Minister as “powerless” in her handling of the matter.

“The dress code is nothing new. There is also an oath in the Rukun Negara (National Principles) – Kesopanan dan Kesusilaan (Courtesy and Morality) – henceforth, the dress code is important at all government department premises,” he berated in a reply to Dr Zaliha’s post. “Don’t be weak YBMK! (YB Health Minister).”

Mohd Firdaus Mohd Yusof wished to know if the minister was trying to secure her “political mileage” with her stance in the matter.

“There is a need to be careful as YB is both a politician and a Health Minister now. Research the issue and understand the matter fully,” suggested the netizen.

“This kind of issue kills the morale of public medical staff. MOH (Health Ministry) staff are not stupid to reject treatment when lives are at stake. Understand the issue. If it’s because of the existing law, then remove the formal dress code (from the law). This will prevent hospital staff from being ‘sacrificed’ for complying with (workplace) ethics.”

Appealing to Dr Zaliha to look at the matter holistically, Hidayah Adnan agreed that while leniency is “absolutely necessary” during an emergency situation, this should not become a norm.

“The dress code is draw in accordance with the five principles of Rukun Negara, namely Kesopanan dan Kesusilaan. What is the point of creating a code of ethics if it is not implemented properly?” asked Hidayah.

“Matters like these shouldn’t be resolved casually. In addition to holding the responsibility as a medical practitioner, the government doctor is also a civil servant.”

Hilariously, netizen Brian L S Ong shared that nowadays many people – even among the elderly – have the tendency to wear skimpy clothing.

“But do keep the boundaries no matter where you are. It’s not that you can immediately become a beauty queen if you dress like one,” he suggested.

“Do prioritise modest clothing in public places regardless of race and ethnicity. You are welcome to wear as you wish at home. I used to always hear parents say ‘Don’t wear short clothing when dealing (with a chore) outside for mosquitoes will bite’. Short is OK but don’t be overly short.”

Aaron Kong suggested that MOH instructs hospital matrons to prepare “full surgical scrubs” for patients who dress indecently.

“Let them feel the heat that they are unable to feel by wearing over-exposed and eye-popping clothing,” he noted.

“Even if the patient is Puiyi (referring to scantily dressed social media darling Siew Pui Yi), her way of dressing should not be condoned. Hippocratic oath should not be used to disregard our national culture and ethics. This YB (Dr Zaliha) needs a better PR admin.” – FOCUS MALAYSIA

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has said his instructions are simple when it comes to body cameras for members of the police force: As soon as possible, with no compromises.

At this stage, however, the required specifications for the cameras to be procured are still being determined.

“My instructions are simple, it needs to be done as soon as possible without compromising any principle of transparency in the procurement.

“No procurement yet for now, it is still in the stage of setting specifications that suit our needs,” Saifuddin told reporters at a media engagement session in Putrajaya last night.

He said this when asked to comment on Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng’s poser on the implementation of body cameras for the police force, which was announced in 2021.

Lim raised the issue following a raid at an ‘underground’ music gig in George Town, Penang, that purportedly did not have an entertainment licence.

Of the four people arrested, three were detained for filming the police raid.

According to the venue’s co-owner Shaik Fitri, the police told the trio that photographing raids was not allowed and asked them to delete the photos. The three were released, an hour after they were arrested.

Elaborating, Saifuddin said the issue with procuring the body cameras is not funding.

“The budget is there. The procurement division is still finalising the specifications, and when that is implemented, the police will start using the gadgets and I believe it would improve the efficiency of the police force,” he said.

He said the use of police body cameras will confer several advantages.

“First of all, it can be (a tool) for gathering evidence.

“And, it can improve the police’s integrity when they are aware that they are being watched by the gadget and any manipulation by whichever party can be kept in check,” he said.

In 2021, the government under then prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin approved an allocation of RM30 million under the 12th Malaysia Plan to purchase body cameras for the police force.

The police welcomed the announcement and asked for the procurement to be expedited. MKINI

Hold regular press conferences, home minister urges IGP

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has asked Inspector-General of Police Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani to consider the proposal to hold regular press conferences as has been done before.

The PKR lawmaker said this is to allow the media to get the latest updates on cases being investigated by the police, and for the Home Ministry to build a more conducive relationship with the press.

According to him, the ministry has heard feedback from the media that the lack of press conferences is making it difficult for them to get the latest developments on cases, and found the concerns to be reasonable.

“Since the ministry is now hoping to build a conducive relationship with the media as a strategic partner, I suggested to the IGP for the press conferences to be held more frequently.

On another matter, Saifuddin (photo above, left) said the ministry is in the process of shifting children detained at Immigration Detention depots to place them under the care of NGOs specialising in children’s welfare.

According to him, he has identified the profile of the children, their numbers, and where they are detained, and is liaising with the NGOs on this matter.

International spotlight

Saifuddin assured that his ministry is serious about handling the matter, especially after it gained the international spotlight.

Commenting on the case of a Bangladeshi child who was found in a container at West Port in Klang on Jan 17, the minister said the latter would be sent home next week.

“We have identified the child’s family and my counterparty in Bangladesh has been notified of the child’s repatriation process. The Bangladeshi embassy has sorted all the necessary documents.”

It was reported that the eight-year-old from Chittagong, Bangladesh, had wandered into a container while playing with his friends, before getting himself locked in it. The authorities found him in a weak state in the container, six days later.

The boy was then treated at the Tuanku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang, before being put under the care of an NGO, pending his repatriation. MKINI

MALAY MAIL / FCUS MALAYSIA / MKINI

Netizens rue Dr Zaliha fails to ‘back-up’ hospital staff in indecent dressing incident

‘My orders are simple: Bodycams ASAP, no compromises’

Hold regular press conferences, home minister urges IGP