Racist Doctors in Penang

Here's another example of politicians playing up racism... this time it's doctors. I don't need to go into details about this controversy because a search on google would provide countless reports. What I want to do in this post, is to highlight the actions of politicians and leaders who play up the people's sentiments.

I noticed a lot of racial and religious issues being played up lately. Most of these leaders are eager to portray themselves as champions of a particular community or religion. All are self-serving. The timing and frequency certainly looks suspicious.

Anyway, politicians and leaders should be very careful of their conduct. Today, it is no longer possible to absolve yourselves easily like the past. All your deeds, good or bad, will stay with you through life. 

It is about time the people took note and hold them accountable.

Datuk Roslan Saidin (BN - Pinang Tunggal) - Pix Source

This is the guy who first raised this issue. Later, a press conference was held to present the witnesses, or rather the patients who made those complaints. Frankly, this is the first time I've heard of his name. But he has managed to get his 5 minutes of fame... he must be very pleased with himself.

The 'victims' who claimed to have been racially insulted and discriminated. - Pix Source

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng & Health Minister Dr S. Subramaniam - Pix Source

.....On July 3, Roslan told Penang Assembly sitting that the incidents involved six patients, two doctors from the Kepala Batas Hospital and one from the Seberang Jaya Hospital.

However, Roslan did not provide any evidence nor officially complained to the ministry.

Lim said he has urged Subramaniam to sack and bar the doctors from practising medicine if the allegation of racism is true as the doctors have violated the Hippocratic oath of treating all humanity regardless of race, gender and religion.

He said Subramaniam had now informed that there was no racism involving doctors......

- SOURCE

.... Datuk Roslan Saidin, Umno’s Pinang Tunggal assembly member, had during a recently concluded state assembly meeting earlier this month alleged that some Chinese doctors in government hospitals in the state were discriminating against non-Chinese patients while meting out medical treatment.

Roslan however, did not give any details when pressed by Pakatan Rakyat executive councillors and backbenchers for information on the hospitals and the doctors that were supposedly involved. Following pressure in the media to back up his claim, Roslan held a press conference on Monday where he produced a few patients who claimed they had been ill-treated at two government hospitals in the state, without specifying racism in the alleged treatment....

- SOURCE

So far, the Health Minister has found no evidence to substantiate the claims. The real issue here is the professionalism of doctors, but it has been portrayed as a racial issue. However, if indeed their claim is true, then action must be taken. Racism has no place in the medical profession. If the doctors were found to be unprofessional, they should be punished as well.

Patients who encounter such unprofessional and unethical conduct from doctors should lodge reports with the medical board or relevant authorities. There are indeed many doctors who are unprofessional and unethical. These black sheeps of the medical profession should be dealt with sternly. It would also send a clear message to aspiring and junior doctors to be mindful of their conduct.

If one does not have passion for the job and lacking compassion, they should not become doctors. Don't waste public resources and public trust by betraying the Hippocratic oath.