KLANG: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has condemned an assemblyman for accusing several doctors in Penang of being racist in their practice at a recent state assembly meeting.
MMA president Datuk Dr N.K.S. Tharmaseelan said using privilege of the office to hurl unproven accusations was cowardly and a misuse of power.
He was referring to Pinang Tunggal assemblyman Datuk Roslan Saidin’s allegations on four Chinese doctors who refused to treat patients in Penang.
Roslan, who raised the issue during the state assembly meeting, said he had received six complaints since May this year.
Dr Tharmaseelan said Roslan, being an educated assemblyman, should have brought the issue straight to the authorities rather than raise it at the assembly.
Penang state health director Datuk Dr Lailanor Ibrahim, meanwhile, was reported as saying that the department received a formal complaint from Roslan on July 15 while a team had been set up by the Health Ministry to investigate the matter.
Roslan has come under criticism for the allegations involving two hospitals on the mainland that were first made at the recent state assembly sitting.
Since then, four former patients have come forward in support of Roslan.
While Dr Tharmaseelan welcomed the action by the ministry in forming the team, he urged Roslan and other quarters to refrain from spreading more allegations on the matter.
“If the four doctors are caught condoning such racist practice, then the MMA will also support the action that would be taken against them. Until then, it is best to let the ministry do its work.
“The law says one is not guilty unless proven to be so. Such matters should not be tried over the media. It is immoral to judge someone prematurely before ascertaining the facts,” said the doctor who also has a law degree.
In Butterworth, one of the two hospitals in Penang implicated in the allegations that Chinese doctors refused to treat Malay patients acknowledged being informed of the official complaint.
A hospital spokesman said they were informed by the state Health Department that a complaint had been lodged on the matter.
However, she declined to elaborate further on the matter.
The Star was unable to contact the other hospital involved in the controversial allegations.
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