Waiver of SPM’s BM requirement to be clarified
KUCHING: The federal cabinet will ask Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S Subramanian and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun to clarify during a cabinet meeting tomorrow the waiver of SPM-level Bahasa Malaysia ( BM) pass requirement for medical officers on contract.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he would ask both ministers to make clarification on the controversial issue that had become a polemic at the grassroots, especially among the national language advocates.
“I will ask Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam to clarify on the controversial issue that has become a concern relating to medical officers on contract be allowed to work without passing Bahasa Malaysia in SPM.
“I will also ask the minister in charge of Public Service Department (JPA) Datuk Joseph Entulu to give information through JPA’s perspective. This is to clarify on the issue that had become a polemic in the grassroots, especially among the national language advocates,” Zahid said at a press conference during his Gawai Dayak visit to Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas’ house here yesterday.
Zahid, who is also Home Minister, opined that both ministers must be given opportunity to explain on the issue so that it would not be controversial.
“What is important is that there is no controversial issue that becomes polemic come the ‘ big day’ that will be manipulated by the anti- establishment group,” he added.
In noting that the waiver of SPMlevel BM pass requirement for medical officers on contract had not been brought to the cabinet, Zahid believed that the decision was taken by the JPA after receiving a request by the Health Ministry as what was stated recently by Health directorgeneral Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
“However, we will get more details on this issue when both ministers make clarification during the cabinet meeting.”
Zahid said it had been the government’s standard operating procedure ( SOP) that it is mandatory for anyone wanting to work with the government to obtain credit in BM.
“But in this matter, I see the decision by JPA and Health Ministry is not for permanent government servants (medical officers) but for those on contract. So, that’s why I asked for both ministers to clarify.”
Among those at the Gawai Dayak visit were Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg and wife Datin Amar Dato Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang, Uggah’s wife Datin Amar Doreen Mayang, State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohd Morshidi Abdul Ghani, Tourism, Arts, Culture Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and former deputy chief minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang.