By: By Alyaa Alhadjri (Sun, 06 Jun 2010)
KUALA LUMPUR (June 6, 2010): The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has broken its
silence and come out in support of the doctor who exposed the plight of orang asli patients at
Orang Asli Affairs Department (JHEOA) hospital in Gombak.
MMA president Dr David Quek said the MMA views with "grave concern" the fact that Dr Selvaa Vathany Pillai (pix) continues to face personal inquiries following her allegations against the hospital's management.
"We recognise the right of Dr Selvaa to act as a responsible and caring doctor. She has shown great personal conviction and concern about her role as doctor to an often marginalised minority group in the country, the orang asli," he said in a statement yesterday.
"That she should place herself in possible jeopardy with regards to her position is to say the least, humanitarian and selfless," he added.
theSun previously reported that Selvaa was transfered by the Health Ministry to a hospital in Kedah in March.
She was also investigated by the Rural and Regional Development Ministry and subsequently, received a show-cause letter from JHEOA on April 19.
These occurred in the wake of a press conference held at Bar Council office on Feb 11 at which she made public the allegations agiant the hospital's management.
Quek said that both the show-cause letter and transfer order is a sign that Dr Selvaa has possibly been "victimised and punished unfairly" for her actions.
"Her whistle-blowing regarding possible mismanagement and procedural opacities in the JHEOA hospital must be seen in the light of her noble intentions and empathy to help improve the plight and healthcare of the orang asli," he said.
Quek said that Selvaa's allegations should spur JHEOA and Health Ministry to initiate a full investigation and find a solution for problems.
He said by resolving such problems, the various departments involved would dispel misgivings related to the inefficiency and possible corruption in the healthcare system.
"Such transparency would enhance the image of the government, especially in this era of wanting to transform the economy and the country," he said.
Quek also called upon the authorities to stop using the civil service general orders as a tool to intimidate government officers who exposed shortcomings within the service.
"This is important because such perceived actions would thwart potential whistle-blowers and others from doing the ethical thing in the medical profession," he said. -- theSun
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Original Press Release:
Dr Selvaa Vathany & JHEOA
MMA Press Release 4 June 2010
The MMA views with grave concern that Dr Selvaa Vathany continues to be facing more personal inquiries/investigations, with the latest being a show-cause letter from the JHEOA.
We recognise the right of Dr Selvaa Vathany to act as a responsible and caring doctor. She has shown great personal conviction and concern about her role as a doctor to a group of often marginalised minority in our country, the Orang Asli.
That she should place herself in possible jeopardy with regards her position and work in the Ministry of Health is to say the least, humanitarian and selfless.
Her whistle-blowing regarding possible mismanagement and procedural opacities in the JHEOA hospital where she had previously been working, must be seen in the light of her noble intentions and empathy to help improve the plight and healthcare of the Orang Asli. This is particularly ironic because just in January this year, we have passed the Whistleblower Protection Act in Parliament.
As Dr Selvaa has rightfully obtained statutory declarations (SDs) to add weight to her convictions of possible wrongdoings of the many issues raised, this should not be used as a pretext to find fault with her noble actions.
Instead, this should spur the JHEOA and the MOH to fully investigate her complaints and quickly resolve whichever problems that have been long-ingrained in the system, which had caused such a systemic failure for the Orang Asli community (as fully documented by SUHAKAM previously).
By quickly resolving such possible problems, the various departments involved would be helping to dispel serious misgivings as to the inefficiency and possible corruption of the ground-level practices.
Such transparency would enhance the image of the government especially in this era of wanting to transform the economy and the country, as so strongly propounded by the Prime Minister, YAB Dato' Sri Najib Razak. The MMA fully supports the GTP (government transformation plans) initiatives, which must be seen to be more of a paradigm shift in practice rather than mere sloganeering.
Therefore, the MMA is seriously concerned that Dr Selvaa has been possibly victimised and punished unfairly, by
1) being swiftly transferred off to another state by the MOH; and
2) the show-cause demand letter to explain her actions by the JHEOA;
just because she had taken the trouble and had staked her personal courage of conviction to pursue some causes which have raised concerns for some of the possibly errant authorities/officers.
Instead, we urge the Minister of Health and the government, to help resolve this issue quickly, by instituting a full inquiry and investigations into these allegations. We also urge the authorities not to use the general orders of civil service to possibly intimidate officers who mean well by their humanitarian and caring actions.
This is important because, such perceived actions would thwart potential whistle-blowers and well-wishers from doing the right and ethical thing when practising their medical professionalism vis-a-vis their charges, i.e. their patients.
Doctors are exhorted to be the patients' most ardent advocate, and we continue to believe that Dr Selvaa Vathany has shown just such an example.
Dr David KL Quek
MMA President
MMA Press Release 4 June 2010
The MMA views with grave concern that Dr Selvaa Vathany continues to be facing more personal inquiries/investigations, with the latest being a show-cause letter from the JHEOA.
We recognise the right of Dr Selvaa Vathany to act as a responsible and caring doctor. She has shown great personal conviction and concern about her role as a doctor to a group of often marginalised minority in our country, the Orang Asli.
That she should place herself in possible jeopardy with regards her position and work in the Ministry of Health is to say the least, humanitarian and selfless.
Her whistle-blowing regarding possible mismanagement and procedural opacities in the JHEOA hospital where she had previously been working, must be seen in the light of her noble intentions and empathy to help improve the plight and healthcare of the Orang Asli. This is particularly ironic because just in January this year, we have passed the Whistleblower Protection Act in Parliament.
As Dr Selvaa has rightfully obtained statutory declarations (SDs) to add weight to her convictions of possible wrongdoings of the many issues raised, this should not be used as a pretext to find fault with her noble actions.
Instead, this should spur the JHEOA and the MOH to fully investigate her complaints and quickly resolve whichever problems that have been long-ingrained in the system, which had caused such a systemic failure for the Orang Asli community (as fully documented by SUHAKAM previously).
By quickly resolving such possible problems, the various departments involved would be helping to dispel serious misgivings as to the inefficiency and possible corruption of the ground-level practices.
Such transparency would enhance the image of the government especially in this era of wanting to transform the economy and the country, as so strongly propounded by the Prime Minister, YAB Dato' Sri Najib Razak. The MMA fully supports the GTP (government transformation plans) initiatives, which must be seen to be more of a paradigm shift in practice rather than mere sloganeering.
Therefore, the MMA is seriously concerned that Dr Selvaa has been possibly victimised and punished unfairly, by
1) being swiftly transferred off to another state by the MOH; and
2) the show-cause demand letter to explain her actions by the JHEOA;
just because she had taken the trouble and had staked her personal courage of conviction to pursue some causes which have raised concerns for some of the possibly errant authorities/officers.
Instead, we urge the Minister of Health and the government, to help resolve this issue quickly, by instituting a full inquiry and investigations into these allegations. We also urge the authorities not to use the general orders of civil service to possibly intimidate officers who mean well by their humanitarian and caring actions.
This is important because, such perceived actions would thwart potential whistle-blowers and well-wishers from doing the right and ethical thing when practising their medical professionalism vis-a-vis their charges, i.e. their patients.
Doctors are exhorted to be the patients' most ardent advocate, and we continue to believe that Dr Selvaa Vathany has shown just such an example.
Dr David KL Quek
MMA President
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