Badannya susut, muka lonjongnya cengkung, dahi makin berkedut dan berkemeja pendek. Jasad sudah dimamah dan dicakup masa. Suaranya bernada rendah. Aku terpaksa menumpukan pendengaran ku di tengah kesibukan jalan raya di pinggir rerumput basah yang menghijau itu. Beberapa kereta menegur kami dengan lengguk nyanyian hon. Mungkin mengenali kami ataupun kami menggangu perjalanan mereka. Wallahualam. Kami mengangkat tangan dan terus bersembang. Ingin mengorek sejarah yang lalu.

Aku menyindir. Kerana sudah lama tak menemuinya. Mungkin dia merajuk panjang, agaknya. Dia tidak mengaku. Terlalu sibuk membawa teksi sewa, katanya. Pejuang-pejuang yang lain pula menjual kain baju dan baju-T. Ada bekerja di gerai-gerai makan dan buah-buahan. Wang lebihan menjadi bekalan untuk perjuangan nanti. Begitu kental semangat mereka.

Dia berkata ada juga yang menjadi ‘blogger’ untuk melepaskan geram. Menghentam semua termasuklah pucuk pimpinan yang baru. Tetap kecewa. Ada yang sudah mencadangkan untuk membina Kuasa Ketiga atau ‘Third Force’. Ada geng yang telah dibuang kerja kerana melibatkan diri dalam reformasi. Masih mencari-cari kerja yang kekal. Ada yang masih terikat dengan kes-kes rayuan mahkamah. Tetap mencari nafkah sekeluarga. Hidup, kais pagi dan petang mencari secebis kehidupan di dalam dunia yang penuh kesempitan dan hasakan. Ramai yang tahu dan ramai pula yang tidak peduli. Kawan ku masih bertahan dengan semangat yang semakin pudar.

Aku bertanya tentang perjuangan. Dia mencebik bibir dan membeliakkan mata yang ketandusan cahaya, lantas memandang ke arah lain. Sebak. Cukup sebak. Mencari sesuatu di bawah capalnya. Menarik nafas panjang. Semangat masih ada, dia berkata dengan perlahan. Sudah tak ramai lagi yang ingin bersama, dia menyambung lagi. Kami bukan ketagihkan habuan dari sesiapa. Sekadar dapat bertemu dan bertukar pandangan. Pada kami perjuangan belum selesai lagi. Aku menghormati pandangan dan kematangannya. Inilah pejuang kami yang telah dipinggirkan dalam arus merebut kuasa dan harta.

Aku ingat lagi laungannya bersama kawan-kawan di jalanraya. Begitu lantang dan sungguh nyaring sedkali. Reformasi…Reformasi…REFORMASI. Menggegarkan jiwa dan raga. Menyentuh hati sanubari yang dahagakan demokrasi dan keadilan. Pernah menggelecek benteng polis dan FRU. Kena belasah, kena terajang, hilang kasut. Hilang kaca mata. Tetap mara ke depan. Kepala berdarah dibalut tuala dan badan terkapai dibalut baju. Komrad lain tetap mara ke depan. Kena belasah lagi dari pelbagai penjuru. Tetap berdegil. Begitulah setiakawan yang menghargai kebebasan.

Sesak nafas terhidu gas kimia. Nyonyot garam dan mandi air mineral sebagai pendinding diri, perisai abadi. Mata tetap dalam kepedihan dan air mata menitis dalam kebutaan. Air kimia membasahi diri, menembusi baju dan menghiris diri. Begitulah sumbangan dan semangat pejuang-pejuang reformasi. Baik lelaki, perempuan, tua, anak muda, berjambul warna warni, berlilitan kepala dan telinga bercincin. Berbilang kaum sebagai satu keluarga yang besar. Semua turun ke padang kerana ingin menegakkan kebenaran dan demokrasi. Gelombang reformasi membanjiri jalanraya dan pilihanraya. Kini kesunyian menghambat perjuangan. Kerana ada yang mengistiharkan bahawasanya perjuangan sudah tamat.

Kawan karib ku ini, ‘slow’ sedikit, mengambil masa menjawab pertanyaan. Aku bertanya samada dia sakit. Dia kata tidak. Aku rasa sebaliknya. Mungkin memandu teksi sepanjang hari meletihkan diri, memakan diri. Maklum sajalah ada mulut-mulut di rumah yang sedang menunggu untuk menikmati bersama sesuap nasi dan ikan kembung rebus. Begitulah nasib seorang pejuang. Bukan semua mengerti dan bukan semua yang peduli tentang liku-liku hidup yang terpaksa diharungi dalam penderitaan dan kesepian.

Yang berjaya leka dan lelan bergelumang dalam kesenangan hingga terlupa bahawa pejuang-pejuang dan kuasa rakyat inilah yang meletakkan mereka ke takhta pemerintahan. Pernahkah mereka ini bertanya tentang kehidupan pejuang-pejuang ini, tentang kebajikan mereka. ‘Shoru’ ada tak. Ada ‘miss’ tak. Ada kerja tak.

Aku bersedih. Kerana rakan seperjuangan tetap terhempit. Aku melontarkan soalan sumbang tentang kawan-kawannya yang menyandang tampuk pemerintahan. Aku sebutkan beberapa nama. Dia tersenyum sinis. Susah nak jumpa mereka lagi, dia berkata dengan nada yang tenang tapi mengetapkan bibirnya. Kami serik naik tangga turun tangga, tetap tak dapat berjumpa pemimpin-pemimpin sakti ini. Walaupun pertemuan itu sudah pun dijanjikan. Mungkin mereka terlalu sibuk. Sangkut entah ke mana. Bukanlah kami meminta bantuan wang. Sekadar ingin bertemu kawan lama, rindu kepada mereka, cuba mendapat nasihat untuk menerokai hidup baru, perjuangan baru. Kami mahu berdikari, bukan meminta-minta seperti pengemis. Tetap hampa. Pertemuan tidak kesampaian. Terpaksa mengharungi lapisan pegawai yang mempunyai agenda yang tersendiri. Muka-muka baru yang mengatur langkah, menenggelami diri dan perjuangan reformasi. Walhal satu masa dulu kita tidak pernah membezakan peribadi, mudah bertemu, berseloka di sepanjang kedai-kedai teh tarik di pinggir jalan dan di celah lorong-lorong yang sempit. Masa tidak pernah menjadi penghalang. Kesemuanya ini hangus begitu saja. Bukan mereka tidak kenal muka-muka kami ini. Bukan kami berkehendakkan projek-projek mewah. Dulu pernah berganding bahu. Sama berjuang. Sama tekad. Masa sudah berlalu. Keadaan sudah berubah. Nampaknya sudah tak ada masa lagi bagi orang-orang macam kita ini. Manisan disedut hampas dibuang. Seperti kacang lupakan kulit. Mengharapkan pagar, pagar makan padi. Perjuangan dikhianati …….. Keluhannya diulangi lagi.

Pernah mereka berjanji hendak bertemu kumpulan reformasi dan NGO. Udahlah datang lambat. Memberi seribu satu sebab yang menonjolkan kehebatan diri. Balik cepat pulak. Tak menghargai pertemuan ini. Macam mana hendak berbincang dalam 20 minit, tentang perjuangan dan tindakan masa depan. Lebih baik tak payah datang. Buat sakit hati aje. Mungkin kawan-kawan reformasi yang memegang jawatan tinggi ini terlalu sibuk merasmikan bangunan, kegiatan dan entah apa lagi. Mungkin kerusi empuk yang diduduki sudah menumpulkan semangat perjuangan. Mungkin percaturan politik membujukkan hipokrasi.

Pada hemat kawan ku ini, kita boleh kira dengan sebelah tangan berapa ramai yang sanggup bersama kami lagi (Aku percaya lebih sedikit dari itu !!!). Seribu satu alasan akan diatur rapi supaya melemahkan semangat perjuangan dan diiringi dengan dialog-dialog yang menjanjikan seribu satu kebuntuan. Semua menjanjikan sesuatu sebelum pilihanraya. Selepas berjaya, hendak mendapatkan appointmen cukup susah sekali. Senyuman, sengihan dan janji manis aje yang boleh diharapkan dari mereka ini. Lepas itu tak dengar berita. Panggilan tak berjawab. Appointmen ditunda-tunda. Aku sudah tua saudara ku (dia berkata) dan di manakah pelapis golongan muda. Hendak petik di atas angin ke. Dia mengulangi keluhannya lagi.

Padanya, pemimpin-pemimpin ini tetap bergerak dan bernafas pada takuk lama. Hala tuju entah kemana, ideology entah kemana dan perjuangan entah kemana. Mengukur kecemerlangan dengan sejumlah sedekah yang diberi. Walhal struktur dalaman dan luaran yang merangsangkan penindasan tetap tidak berubah. Malangnya sekali tindakan memperkasakan rakyat tidak lagi menjadi agenda utama dan makin dikebumikan tanpa liang lahad.

Aku tetap bersemangat. Tetap bersama rakan-rakan seperjuangan. Kembali mengatur langkah-langkah perjuangan. Mencari haluan baru, ideology baru dan kepimpinan baru. Patah tumbuh tetap berganti.

Salut kepada pejuang-pejuang reformasi. Pada hati kami …. kaulah yang sungguh teristimewa sekali. Amin

Ditulis oleh Dr. Nasir setelah bersembang dengan seorang reformis 1998

Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael D Jeyakumar is seriously considering taking the federal government to court for withholding the annual grant for constituency development.

He said he has appointed a lawyer to study the matter and has given himself two months to decide whether or not to proceed with the suit.

“We want to make sure the case is watertight,” he said when contacted today. “The federal government has no right to withhold the money. This is the people’s money, not Barisan Nasional’s money. Who is using the money? Where is the accountability and transparency to ensure the money is well spent for the benefit of the people?”

Each parliamentary constituency is allocated RM1 million as an annual grant for development projects.

Jeyakumar – the sole MP from Parti Sosialis Malaysia – said that, to the best of his knowledge, opposition MPs have not received the allocation.

Two demands

If he proceeds with filing legal action, Jeyakumar indicated that he would seek two declarations from the court:

• that it should be left to the MP to choose the projects; and
• that the allocation should be disbursed in a transparent manner so that there is no abuse of the process.

He reiterated that he is merely fighting for the rights of opposition MPs who now face unequal treatment compared to their BN counterparts

“The grant is not for me, it is for the people. Let us be transparent as to where it is allocated,” he said.

Jeyakumar caused a major upset in the 2008 general election when he defeated MIC president S Samy Vellu, who had held the Sungai Siput seat since 1974.

Starry-eyed from a recent visit to Venezuela, a Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) leader strongly recommended that Malaysia adopt that country’s pro-people policies where a whole range of services are provided free.

PSM deputy president M Saraswathy (left) said unlike our government which imposes burdensome taxes like the proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST) on the public, the social democracy practising Venezuelan government provide free necessities such as health and education for all citizens.

Education from kindergarten to university level is free and the students enjoy three free meals a day as well free transportation from their homes to educational centres, she added.

Also, Venezuelans are charged monthly minimum rates of only 50 sen each for water and electricity supplies and they enjoy an efficient and cheap transport system. Saraswathy was making a comparison between that oil producing country and Malaysia in her speech at a PSM’s GST forum at Jelapang, Perak, last night.

Other VIP speakers present were ousted Pakatan menteri besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, PSM Sungai Siput MP Dr D Jeyakumar and PKR state vice-chairman Chang Lih Kang.

Spirallig tax burden

Saraswathy expressed unhappiness at the way the BN government instead of sharing the oil wealth with the people had kept on imposing new taxes like the GST to further burden the man in the street.

In a lighter vein, she said even the police are aware of the hardships that will come with the imposition of the GST as they did nothing to stop the party’s the function for which police had refused a permit.

Meanwhile, Jeyakumar in his address said that former prime minister Abdul Razak had practised social economy in pumping the country’s wealth from tin and rubber back to the people.

However, the scenario changed drastically when former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad took over the country’s oil wealth and extensively imposed the privatisation programme that started to financially tax the people.

“Tun Abdul Razak had started social democracy but his son (Premier Najib Abdul Razak) and Mahathir started neo-liberalism which led to corruption and wastage of the country’s natural resources,” he added.

Robin Hood robbing the poor

“Our oil reserves are now drying up and the government is going to impose the GST which will snowball from the quoted 4% to 7% or 10% in the years to come and people will financially suffer,” Jeyakumar (right) warned.

Chang on his part, said that GST is like a modern-day Robin Hood robbing the poor to give the rich, unlike the folk hero who did the reverse.

He called on the government to abandon GST which can only increase the treasury’s coffers by another billion ringgit when compared to the present tax system and instead auction off the APs which can better boost the revenue to a higher level.

Nizar said that only the people’s power can stop the GST which will be bulldozed through Parliament on March 15.

PSM is arranging 10 buses carry Perakians to protest the tabling of GST bill in Parliament.

Hari ini satu sidang akhbar yang dipanggil oleh Sekretariat PROTES dan dihadiri oleh PSM, PAS, PKR, JERIT, SUARAM  dan DEMA  telah diadakan di Pejabat PAS Pusat. Dr. Hatta Ramli Pengerusi PROTES mengumumkan pelancaran PROTES GST. Turut hadir Setiausaha Agung PSM Sdr. S.Arutchelvan dan Ahli Majlis Tertinggi PKR, Sdr Tian Chua

Tarikh: 15 Mac 2010 (Hari Pertama Sesi Parlimen)
Masa: 9 pagi Sehingga Konvoi Diraja Memasuki Pintu Masuk Parlimem
Tempat: Perkarangan Parlimen

PERHIMPUNAN AMAN MEMBANTAH GST
GST – CUKAI YANG MISKINKAN LAGI RAKYAT
GST = GAGALKAN SEBELUM TERLAMBAT

A coalition of rights groups and opposition parties are rallying “thousands” to protest the impending Goods and Services Tax (GST) implementation when the Dewan Rakyat convenes on March 15.

The group, who refers to themselves as Protes, hopes to draw the attention of Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Mizan Zainal Abidin, who is expected to arrive at Parliament at 9am.

The much criticised Goods and Services Tax Bill will be tabled for second reading during the upcoming sitting of the Dewan Rakyat.

According to coordinator Dr Hatta Ramli, the group are protesting against the implementation of GST as it will burden the poor.

“We want the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to understand and see that the rakyat is against the GST,” he explained in a press conference at the PAS headquarters today.

The protest, he said will be conducted peacefully and would not disrupt traffic.

“We expect it to be the most peaceful protest in Malaysian history because we do not want to interrupt Parliament’s sitting,” he continued.

Therefore, the Kuala Krai parliamentarian explained that the group will not be applying for a permit.

“According to a survey done by an independent body, it shows that the majority of Malaysians has rejected the GST,” he said.

He said that based on research conducted by consultants for the government, the cost of education, recreational activities, healthcare, foodstuff, and eating out will increase.

He also unveiled their new tagline for the protest – ‘Cukai yang memiskinkan rakyat, Gagalkan sebelum terlambat’ – which means ‘GST causes poverty, stop it before too late’.

Not the best system

Hatta claimed that GST is not the best system available and does not understand the government’s rationale in selecting it.

He said that the Finance Ministry claimed that GST will increase the country’s income to up to RM1 billion.

“But if we were to sell Approved Permits through open tenders, the government can make RM2.4 billion. ” he said.

Also present was Parti Socialist Malaysia (PSM) secretary-general S Arutchelvan who claimed that many non-governmental organisations and consumers groups were also against the GST.

“Before, only the rich are taxed but with GST everyone would be taxed even the poor, disabled and the elderly,” he said calling GST the real 1Malaysia tax.

PKR strategy director Tian Chua (left) who is also one of the coordinators for the protest said even the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers have rejected GST for fear of a massive inflation triggered by this new tax.

“It was proven that countries that implement GST will go through a sudden surge of inflation,” he said, adding that this tax is not practical.

Reform a source of income

He further said reform of the government sectors can be a source of income rather than implementing GST which will only transfer the cost to the people.

“We could save money by reducing corruption and mega projects but the government needs the political will to transform.”

The protest is a joint effort of Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas, PAS, Suaram, PSM, DAP, PKR and GMI and are they are encouraging interested parties to join the protest.

Dr Hatta told reporters that they are hoping that former Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo would be present as well.

“We heard that he is unhappy with this GST as well, so he is welcome to join us,” he said with a laugh.

The much criticised Goods and Services Tax Bill will be tabled for second reading during the upcoming sitting of the Dewan Rakyat.

VIDEO | 5 mins

If we don’t save our public health care now, don’t expect it to save us tomorrow.

Download a sample of the memorandum (PDF).

PSM activists took time off on a working day to protest, leaflet, express frustration and call for the Government to immediately halt the proposed FPP (Full Paying Patient’s Scheme) scheme in four hospitals – SG. BULOH, SERDANG, ALOR SETAR & JOHOR BHARU.

PSM leaders led the protest in the four Hospitals. PSM’s sole MP, Dr. Jeyakumar led around 70 protesters in Alor Setar , while PSM’s National Chairperson Dr. Nasir Hashim held a protest at the Sungai Buloh Hospital. PSM Secretary General held a similar protest in Serdang while Mohan led the PSM assault in Johor Bharu. Besides PSM, members from the Islamic Party PAS, JERIT, SUARAM and other PSM-friendly organisations participated in the protest.

Not many members of the public are aware of such a scheme (FPP) though the scheme had already been practiced in Putrajaya and Selayang. From day one, PSM has been against any privatization of basic needs. In fact, when the government decided to implement the scheme in 2007, PSM along with other political parties and NGOs formed a Coalition against Privatization of Health Services and carried out a nationwide campaign.

Yet the government not only adamantly pursued the pilot project in the said 2 hospitals, they were also intensifying health tourism! More and more private hospitals (about 45 new hospitals) are to be approved and licenses were issued. The new initiatives definitely are attracting more doctors to become private practitioners, leaving the government hospitals with scarce number of specialists. The Government move ultimately kills and undermines public health care.

The neoliberal approach of the Barisan government is seriously undermining the public health sector. To add salt to the wound, the new 1Malaysia clinic too is tabbing human resources from government hospitals. While health tourism sucks the specialist out of the Government sector, the 1Malaysia clinic further takes away money and human resources out of these Government hospital living the staff as well as the people high and dry.

Our only Socialist MP, Dr. Jeyakumar, who led the campaign since 2007 raised a question at the Parliament in Dec 2008 on the impact of FPP found in the pilot projects. The government’s reply, “the evaluation would be carried out after the completion period (2009) and it would be shared with the public”. The government forgot about their promise (as usual!) and so the MP asked them again for the evaluation report in December 2009. The shocking reply was, “both the patients and the doctors involved in the FPP are satisfied and the Health Ministry decided that this is a good scheme and it would be expanded to other government hospitals”.

What does that Government answer mean? It means the patients who are rich enough to pay the doctor are happy with the service and so are the doctors who have received the ‘payment money’ from! . But no feedback was asked on the 70% of Malaysian population who are made up of lower and middle income groups who go to these Government Hospitals. No queries were asked to non-specialist Doctors on the impact of FPP on them.

And it also does not mean that 100% of Malaysian population who wishes for efficient and more facilities at government hospitals can afford to be fully paying patient. This is why we need to have the evaluation report, for feedback from the majority who did not take part in the FPP scheme. We also need feedback from the trainees and the doctors as well.

PSM felt that the Minister’s revelation in Parliament need to be countered. Not in the Parliament where the majorities are right wing politicians promoting neo-liberalism and capitalism. It need to be brought to the streets, to the hospitals and to the open. With this in focus, PSM called on others to come and join the protest.

• Serdang Hospital – the serene protest was led by Comrade Arutchelvan, Secretary General of PSM. About 50 members of PSM, JERIT and PAS join hands in distributing about 2,000 leaflets about FPP and submitted memorandum to one of the Director’s assistant, Dr. Dinesh Raj who refuse to say anything except to collect the memorandum.
• Hospital Sultan Ismail Pandan Johor – protest was led by Mohan of PSM. About 50 people from PSM, PAS, PKR, Suaram and Hindu Human Rights Party attended. 1,000 leaflets were distributed and their memorandum was accepted by Khadijah Abu Bakar, Deputy Director of the hospital who had nothing much to say either.
• Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Setar – Member of Parliament for Sg. Siput and CC member of PSM, Dr Kumar led the protest. About 100 people from PSM, PAS, Aliran & Suaram turned up. About 2,000 leaflets were distributed at the Hospital premises. Memorandum was received by the hospital Director, Dr. Juita and she was kind enough to say that she has already received instruction from the Health Ministry to implement the private wing in their hospital.
• Hospital Sg. Buloh – the peaceful protest was led by Dr. Nasir, the chairperson of PSM and ADUN Kota Damansara. About 40 people participated and the memorandum was handed over to the Deputy Director, Dr. Aminuddin bin Tauhid. Here too about 1000 leaflets were distributed.

PSM has been consistent in protecting the people’s basic right and the BN government too has been persistent in following the neo-liberal agenda – PSM is a small party and will do its best. Pakatan Rakyat with 4 states in their ‘control’ could probably do more to protect the people from being ’sold off’ to private owners. We can look at the US who are practically the masters at neo-liberalism currently debating health reform because medicines and health treatments are so expensive that one can go bankrupt if any member of the family fell ill. It is already happening in Malaysia.

PSM is not against doctors and specialist being paid more. We have called the government to use the IJN scheme for specialists. We are merely calling for Government Hospitals be kept in the best shape to cater for the majority of the people. We are calling for more money to be pumped in the public health care.

We have to save ourselves from the disaster being dumped on us by the government of the day. It is time to fight back. Our public health care is fighting for its life and it is in its critical stages. If we don’t save it now, don’t expect it will save you tomorrow.

By Letchimi Devi

SUNGAI BULOH – Kementerian Kesihatan digesa membekukan pelaksanaan Skim Perkhidmatan Pesakit Bayar Penuh (FPP) di hospital-hospital kerajaan.

Presiden Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), Dr Mohd Nasir Hashim berkata, skim berkenaan dilihat akan memberi kesan negatif terutamanya kepada golongan miskin.

“Apabila skim ini dilancarkan pada tahun 2007, ramai pihak telah membantah pelaksanaannya kerana ia dibuat tanpa menjalankan sebarang kajian mengenainya.

“Pendekatan yang digunakan oleh kementerian mencerminkan kerajaan tidak serius terhadap tanggungjawab murni menjaga dan memupuk kualiti rawatan untuk pesakit biasa yang bergantung pada hospital-hospital awam,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas menghantar memorandum bantahan kepada Timbalan Pengarah Hospital Sungai Buloh, Aminuddin Tauhid di sini semalam.

Penyerahan memorandum setebal dua muka surat itu hadir diserahkan bersama kira-kira 15 ahli serta penyokong Gabungan Membantah Penswastaan Perkhidmatan Kesihatan (GMPPK).

Mohd Nasir yang juga Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Kota Damansara berkata, kementerian perlu menjalankan kajian terhadap kesan skim berkenaan terutamanya terhadap prestasi doktor-doktor pakar yang mengambil bahagian dalam skim terbabit.

“Ada sebahagian daripada pakar yang menumpukan terlalu banyak masa dan tenaga merawat pesakit swasta sehingga mengabaikan tanggungjawab mereka terhadap pesakit biasa yang tidak membayar penuh.

“Malah, beberapa doktor pakar yang tidak mahu menyertai skim ini terasa tidak puas kerana mereka terpaksa menanggung kerja-kerja yang diabaikan oleh pakar yang melibatkan diri dalam skim terbabit dan ini membawa kepada kemerosotan semangat bekerja di kalangan doktor,” katanya.

“Kita juga meminta supaya pihak kerajaan agar meningkatkan bajet kewangan dan memperkasa untuk hospital kerajaan dan kita berharap pihak berkenaan akan mengambil berat serta tindakan sewajarnya untuk menangani perkara itu,” katanya.

Sementara itu di Serdang, GMPPK turut menyerahkan memorandum bantahan pelaksanaan skim itu di Hospital Serdang.

Bantahan yang dibuat melalui piket aman itu disertai beberapa pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) termasuk Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (JERIT) dan parti politik Pas.

Setiausaha Agung PSM, S Arutchelvan berkata, protes secara aman itu turut diadakan serentak di turut diadakan Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Setar dan Hospital Sultan Ismail, Pandan, Johor Bahru.

Arutchelvan berkata, protes berkenaan bertujuan meminta kerajaan membatalkan skim rawatan swasta berkenaan di hospital lain yang dicadangkan, namun pada masa yang sama mewujudkan skim gaji lebih baik untuk semua kakitangan kesihatan kerajaan.

“Kalau mereka mengamalkan skim berkenaan untuk mengelakkan doktor pakar berhijrah dari hospital kerajaan ke tempat lain, apa yang perlu dilakukan adalah menaikkan gaji mereka (doktor pakar) kepada tahap yang relevan bukannya mewujudkan rawatan swasta di hospital kerajaan.

“Kita tidak mahu kemudahan awam di hospital kerajaan digunakan untuk membuat kerja swasta semata-mata memberi keuntungan kepada doktor pakar, namun merugikan rakyat negara ini yang bergantung kepada perkhidmatan hospital,” katanya.

The government’s full-paying patient (FPP) scheme has again come under fire from the Coalition Against Health Service Privatisation, which held simultaneous pickets outside four public hospitals nationwide.

In the Klang Valley, short pickets by small groups were held at the Serdang and Sungai Buloh hospitals.

A similar protest took place outside the Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah Alor Setar, Kedah, and Hospital Sultan Ismail, Pandan, Johor.

At the Sungai Buloh hospital, Kota Damansara assemblyperson Dr Mohd Nasir Hasim led about a dozen people to denounce the scheme which the government had initiated in 2007.

According to Nasir, the FPP scheme pilot project in Hospital Selayang has proven detrimental to both doctors and patients.

“The specialists are keen on spending (time) and energy on treating private patients and neglect their responsibility to other patients who pay less. Some specialists are paid more through their involvement in FPP scheme,” he alleged.

Protest memorandum

After the picket, Mohd Nasir submitted a protest memorandum outlining the coalition’s concerns and demands to hospital deputy-director Dr Aminnudin Tauhid (left in blue).

Mohd Nasir said Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai failed to provide statistics to prove the benefits of the FPP scheme when quizzed on the matter in the Dewan Rakyat.

“He just said that the specialists and the patients are satisfied and therefore the Health Ministry had decided to expand the programme to other hospitals with specialists,” said Mohd Nasir.

According to Mohd Nasir, 70 percent of Malaysians depend on public hospitals which house only 25 percent of the country’s specialist doctors and many inexperienced doctors are forced to fill in the gap.

Mohd Nasir suggested that the Health Ministry not to adopt the FPP scheme in other hospitals until a proper study is performed.

Leafletting at hospital

Mohd Nasir (left) was accompanied by representatives of Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (Jerit) and several municipal councillors.

The protest at Serdang hospital was led by PSM secretary-general S Arutchelvan.

Around 50 party members participated and gathered outside the hospital from noon to distribute flyers to public.

“We had distributed over 2,000 flyers to passersby,” Arutchelvan said.

Only about five police personnel were seen observing the protest.

After 40 minutes, five representatives were given permission to go into the hospital to meet the deputy director to hand over the memorandum.

“We were told that the hospital director were not around, so we met with Dr Dinesh Raj who assured us that he will bring this issue to the director,” Arutchelvan said, adding that the meeting took about 30 minutes.

Police personnel

Meanwhile Sungai Siput parliamentarian Dr D Michael Jeyakumar led 70 people to stage a protest at the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital, Alor Setar, Kedah.

“There were around 50 members of the special branch and police personnel at the scene,” Dr Michael said.

12 representatives were allowed to go into the hospital to hand over the memorandum to the hospital director Dr Juita Ghazalie.

“We also want doctors to be paid well, but such privatisation is not the way to go as the people will suffer,” Dr Michael explained.

Three other PAS MPs were also present. They were Jerai MP Mohd Firdaus Jaafar, Pendang MP Mohd Hayati Othman and Padang Terap MP Mohd Nasir Zakaria.

Finally in Sultan Ismail, Pandan Hospital in Johor, 50 protesters were led by PSM member E Silvarajah.

Only about four members of the police force were seen observing the group while they handed out leaflets and brochures to the public.

“We handed over the memorandum to deputy director Dr Khatijah Abu Bakar who came outside to meet us,” Silvarajah said. “We are not against the government but this privatisation will only further burden the public and that it is not just.”

VIDEO | 3 mins

Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah Alor Setar, Hospital Sg. Buloh, Hospital Serdang dan Hospital Sultan Ismail Pandan Johor

Skim Perkhidmatan Pesakit Bayar Penuh (SPPBP) akan diimplementasi di Empat Hospital ini dan ini bererti 70% rakyat Malaysia yang bergantung kepada hospital Kerajaan untuk rawatan kena bersaing dengan pesakit yang mampu bayar di hospital kerajaan dan ini akan mengakibatkan

• Doktor pakar tidak ada masa untuk merawat pesakit dengan kualiti
• Kemudahan Hospital Kerajaan sebahagian akan digunakan untuk Pesakit yang mampu bayar
• Kakitangan Hospital Kerajaan kena digunakan untuk kepentingan pesakit yang dapat bayar penuh
• Mutu perkhidmatan Hospital kerajaan dan sistem Hostipal awam akan terus merosot

Jom hentikan penubuhan suatu “klinik Swasta” dalam Hospital Kerajaan (Private wing) yang akan menyerap keluar lagi sumber tenaga kerja dari hospital Kerajaan.

Doktor yang berpengalaman akan menerima pendapatan yang lumayan di “klinik swasta” dengan adanya pesakit yang mampu bayar kadar konsultasi seiring dengan hospital swasta ‘medical centre’

Jadi jika Dr menghabiskan masa menjaga pesakit swasta di cawangan “klinik swasta” dlm Hospital Kerajaan, maka siapa pula yang akan memeriksa dan merawat kita , rakyat biasa yang sepenuhnya bergantung kpd perkhidmatan Hospital Kerajaan kerana berpendapatan rendah ?!

JOM HENTIKAN PEMBUKAAN “KLINIK SWASTA” DLM HOSPITAL KERAJAAN.

Sejak dua tahun yang lalu Kerajaan Pusat telah memulakan skim baru ini di dua buah Hospital iaitu, Hospital Selayang dan Hospital Putrajaya.

Kini, mereka akan mengembangkannya ke Hospital Kerajaan yang lain.

BANTAHAN SERENTAK DI 4 HOSPITAL DAN PENYERAHAN MEMORANDUM

12 tengahari – 2 petang
1 MAC 2010

Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah Alor Setar, Kedah
(019-5616807)

Hospital Sg. Buloh, Selangor
(016-6798005)

Hospital Serdang, Selangor
(019-2537791)

Hospital Sultan Ismail Pandan, Johor
(017-7540597)

ANJURAN

Gabungan Membantah Penswastaan Perkhidmatan Kesihatan (GMPPK)
& Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM)

Pada hari ini, sebanyak 50 orang telah mengambil bahagian di dalam Protes Berjalan ke Pejabat Daerah Cameron. Protes ini diadakan selepas Pegawai Daerah Cameron, Dato’ Mohammad Noor bin Abdul Rani, tidak mahu berjumpa rakyat untuk menyelesaikan masalah-masalah tanah, rumah dan gerai mereka. Sebelum ini, pelbagai langkah telah diambil untuk berjumpa dengan Dato’ Mohammad Noor. Di antaranya ialah:

1. Surat beserta 100 tandatangan untuk mendesak Pegawai Daerah berjumpa dengan rakyat.
2. 5 surat untuk menetapkan tarikh temujanji.
3. Berkumpul 2 kali di Pejabat Daerah Cameron untuk memaksa Dato’ Mohammad Noor berjumpa rakyat.
4. Laporan polis terhadap Dato’ Mohammad Noor yang gagal menjalankan tugas.
5. Aduan kepada SUHAKAM untuk memulakan ‘inquiry’ terhadap isu-isu ini.

Protes berjalan ini telah dimulakan sekitar 3.20 petang. 2 kumpulan telah dibuat dimana 1 kumpulan beredar dari Taman Royal Lily dan satu kumpulan lagi menunggu di persimpangan Jasar Valley, Tanah Rata. Sebaik sahaja tiba di persimpangan Jasar Valley, kami diberhentikan oleh Ketua Polis Trafik Cameron. Tidak jauh dari beliau ialah KPD Cameron, Deputi Supritendan Wan Mohd Zahari Wan Busu. Selepas menerangkan bahawa berjalan bukan salah di sisi undang-undang, kami meneruskan perjalanan.

Bilangan anggota polis terlalu banyak. Dianggarkan bahawa lebih kurang 100 orang polis berada di sepanjang perjalanan kami, siap dengan kereta dan motorsikal peronda. Sekumpulan polis juga mengekori kami sepanjang perjalanan. Di pertengahan perjalanan, kami membuka banner-banner yang bertulis “BERIKAN RUMAH KOS RENDAH & GERAI UNTUK YANG LAYAK”, “30 TAHUN BERTANI, MASIH TIADA HAK-MLIK”, “RAKYAT CAMERON MENUNTUT HAK”, “JANGAN TIPU RAKYAT”, “JANGAN TINDAS RAKYAT”, “2 TAHUN TUNGGU, D.O. TAK ADA MASA NAK JUMPA”, “PERJUANGAN RAKYAT SUDAH BERMULA” dan “D.O. JANGAN TUTUP TELINGA”.

Sebaik sahaja sampai di Pejabat Daerah Cameron, Deputi Supritendan Wan Mohd Zahari Wan Busu telah membenarkan 6 orang wakil untuk masuk dan menyerahkan memorandum. Wakil PSM, Sudha Chinasamy telah masuk bersama-sama peserta MPR yang lain. Di dalam Pejabat Daerah, mereka telah diminta bertemu dengan Penolong Pegawai Daerah, En.Shaffirul Amree Bin Awang Kechik. Walaupun telah diminta beberapa kali untuk memberikan tarikh perjumpaan dengan Dato’ Mohammad Noor, En.Shaffirul telah enggan. Beliau juga sentiasa mengulangi bahawa semua permohonan telah ditolak dan tiada apa-apa untuk dibincang. Akhirnya memorandum telah diserahkan kepada beliau dan Pejabat Daerah telah diberi seminggu untuk membalas memorandum yang telah dihantar.

Dalam perjalanan keluar dari Pejabat Daerah, seorang pegawai di situ dengan sengaja berteriak “balik India” untuk memprovokasi kumpulan kami. Walaupun ramai dalam kumpulan kami marah, kami mententeramkan keadaan dan tahu bahawa ini adalah satu perbuatan sengaja untuk mewujudkan masalah pada hari itu. Kami akan membuat laporan polis terhadap pegawai itu esok.

Selepas keluar dari Pejabat Daerah, kami telah mengadakan satu perbincangan dengan kumpulan kami. Semua berpendapat bahawa Protes Berjalan hari ini adalah satu permulaan terhadap langkah-langkah pengembalian kuasa kepada rakyat dalam menentukan nasib mereka.

Terima kasih juga diucapkan kepada komrad-komrad dari Ipoh dan Sungai Siput yang telah memberikan sokongan solidariti dengan menghadirkan diri di Cameron untuk protes ini.