Amendment to be referred to A-G, says Dr Subramaniam
PUTRAJAYA: Amendments to the Medical Act 1971, to include a clause on the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia Bahasa Melayu prerequisite for hiring of medical officers, will be referred to the Attorney-General’s Chambers soon.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said the ministry had proposed a minimum pass in the SPM Bahasa Melayu paper for medical officers since 2015.
“We realised that to strengthen such a requirement, there is a need to amend the act.
“The act states that those with recognised medical degree will be eligible to undergo housemanship in the government hospitals.
“Now we want to add more conditions by making it mandatory for medical graduates to pass the Bahasa Melayu subject in SPM,” he said after launching the new Obstetric and Neonatal wing at Putrajaya Hospital yesterday.
Dr Subramaniam said as a start, the ministry would implement the move administratively through the Public Service Department as an employing agency.
“The act just needs to have a minor amendment.
“It won’t take long. We will bring the proposal to the AttorneyGeneral before it is tabled in Parliament,” he said.
On the issue of 23 doctors who did not take the Bahasa Melayu subject at SPM level, Dr Subramaniam said it was expected to be resolved within a year.
He said these medical graduates could sit for the paper this November.
“They must obtain a minimum pass in Bahasa Melayu. If they fail, then they need to repeat the paper until they pass.”
Dr Subramniam said among the 4,500 contract appointments last year, only 23 medical graduates were faced with the predicament.
“The number is small, so we can solve this issue promptly.”
Dr Subramaniam said the government had spent RM26 million to modify the nurses’ hostel into a new Obstetric and Neonatal block at Putrajaya Hospital.