KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has condemned a police investigation against doctors who participated in the Code Black and Black Monday campaigns yesterday.
Its president, Datuk Dr Subramaniam Muniandy, said he was made aware that police had called up some healthcare workers who supported the solidarity campaign for questioning.
He said such actions by the authorities can be seen as a form of harassment, to intimidate the doctors for supporting the group.
"Don't harass the doctors. Pending further information, we feel this is unnecessary and can be seen as a form of harassment simply because they too championed the campaign.
"Although MMA is aware police are allowed to investigate the gathering, we strongly condemn the nature of this exercise targeting doctors who have supported it. Those involved had also carried out their duties diligently while displaying their solidarity for healthcare workers," he said.
Medical officers, he said, like any other Malaysian, have the right to stand up, even at the very least by a show of colour.
"The doctors involved are afraid and traumatised by the incident and have reported the details to us through our representatives. MMA has many times reiterated that the Code Black and Black Monday campaigns have nothing to do with other similarly colour-coded campaigns.
"We had briefed the Health Ministry regarding our campaign and its demands in our last meeting," he said.
Dr Subramaniam said MMA is engaging independent legal advice over the matter and will provide all support and assistance needed in addressing it.
"We are in the midst of reaching out to the chairman of the Kuala Lumpur Bar for help and we will inform members of the outcome, accordingly. We urge all doctors with similar experience to report the matter to the state SCHOMOS representatives," he said.
Dr Subramaniam added that MMA also aims to collaborate with the relevant parties to organise a virtual event to disseminate information regarding their rights and the legal perspectives of the issues faced by government doctors in due time.