Ministers must explain decision to relax BM pass requirement – DPM

KUCHING: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun and Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S.Subramaniam will be asked to explain the decision to relax the minimum pass-requirement in Bahasa Melayu (BM) at the SPMlevel for the appointment of a Grade UD41 Medical Officer on contract.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the two ministers would be asked to do so at the Cabinet meeting scheduled for Wednesday.

“I will ask Datuk (Seri Dr) Subramaniam to expain about the controversy, and the minister in charge of Public Service Department (PSD) Datuk Joseph Entulu to provide information about it from PSD’s perspective.”

Ahmad Zahid said this to reporters during a “Gawai Dayak” visit to the residence of Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas at Taman BDC, Stampin yesterday.

Also present were Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg and State Cabinet ministers.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the explanation was necessary to enlighten the people and pacify the disputes at the grass roots, especially among the champions of the national language.

“For me, this issue should be addressed with an open mind and we have to hear the explanation from the two ministers so that it will not remain as a controversial or polemical issue, which can be manipulated by the antiestablishment group, in view with the upcoming ‘big day’ (general election),” Ahmad Zahid said.

“In this case, I view the decision made by the PSD and the Health Department as not affecting the permanent civil servants, but only those on contract, and that is why I want some enlightenment from the two ministers,” he added.

On Sunday, the Health directorgeneral Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah in a statement said that the PSD has relaxed the BM requirement for qualified medical graduates to be appointed as Grade UD41 contract medical officers and that those who had been accepted would have to undergo graduate training for two years and serve two years with the Health Ministry. - Bernama