Hartal Doktor Kontrak 2.0: Symbolic Mass Resignation Strike Set for December

By Jasmine Qistina  •  16 Nov 2021 in News

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The Hartal Doktor Kontrak (HDK) movement is planning a symbolic “mass resignation” strike if the government fails to give permanent posts to the remaining 22,288 contract doctors by December. 

HDK spokesman, Dr Muhammad Yassin told Utusan Malaysia that the movement will organise a press conference sometime this week to reveal the exact date of their second protest. 

The movement said they will continue to hold talks with government agencies and ministries regarding their demands until the protest date arrives.

Yesterday, HDK teased their mass resignation via twitter in response to Health Minister, Khairy Jamaluddin’s tweet regarding a table top exercise on government’s crisis preparations. 

Wonder if they factored in HCW quitting en masse https://t.co/mHaiej2cb5

— HartalDoktorKontrak (@HKontrak) November 15, 2021

Dr Muhammad Yassin said, “In my opinion, if we continue to work with the Health Ministry but still hold the contract doctors status, it’s hard for us to move forward (get the same opportunities as permanent doctors).”

After their short hiatus following their first strike, HDK announced an expected second strike after little was done by the government in addressing the contract doctor issue in the recently tabled Budget 2022. 

According to the movement, the government has still failed to ensure permanent job posts and fairer working opportunities to junior doctors who are working on contract, despite being valuable and respected front-liners to the nation.

In July, HDK saw success in ensuring healthcare services at government hospitals were undisrupted despite conducting a nationwide walkout.

The plan this time around seems to be similar as Dr Muhammad Yassin said that “it is our (doctors) responsibility to take care of the patients so that nothing will be affected no matter what we do.”

Hartal Doktor Kontrak 2.0’s protest is set to run between 30 minutes to an hour. 

Follow the #HartalDoktorKontrak on Twitter for more insight on the plight of junior doctors.