In a Facebook post, its steering committee said the police and government should respect the freedom of speech and expression of these doctors.

“These campaigns voice the concerns of doctors who only demand a few things, particularly on the issue of contracts for doctors and the working conditions of those who do not receive allowances and leave as permanent doctors.

“The Code Black and Black Monday campaigns are a show of solidarity by doctors for their fellow doctors who are still on contract status without job security and welfare,” it said.

The committee added that these campaigns were launched on social media while doctors continued to carry out their responsibilities towards their patients.

It asked if it was wrong for contract doctors and their fellow colleagues to demand that the government meet their needs as well as to provide better welfare guarantees.

“The government, especially the police, needs to be more rational and mature in addressing the people’s demands. In fact, what the doctors are doing does not contravene Article 10 of the Federal Constitution which protects the freedom of speech and expression,” it said.

The committee reiterated that crackdowns on dissenters who were only exercising their constitutional rights to express their views and their situation were a symptom of a failed democracy.

It said the method of intimidation by investigating doctors was an outdated measure that does not solve problems but only denies existing ones.

“The government needs to be democratic and wiser, more so in crisis management during this pandemic period,” it said.