This is after Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced previously that the Cabinet will discuss the appeal by contract doctors to be appointed to permanent positions in the civil service.

In a statement, Cuepacs president Adnan Mat thanked the government for being willing to consider the doctors’ appeal but felt the focus should not only be on contract doctors.

He said there are thousands of staff at the health ministry and other ministries as well whose contracts will run out eventually.

Besides contract doctors, he said, in the health ministry alone, there are other contract staff with critical roles such as nurses, assistant medical officers, public health assistants, community nurses and medical lab technicians, among others.

The creation of additional positions for doctors must also take into account the need for other positions to support these doctors, he said.

“Cuepacs is of the opinion that the cost factor and financial constraints faced by the government should not prevent it from absorbing all these staff because it is a need now and for the future.

“The same goes for contract staff at other ministries. We are made to understand there are 1,200 price monitoring officers at the domestic trade and consumer affairs ministry whose contracts will end in December this year.

“The termination should not happen considering the current situation where the people are feeling pressured by the hike in prices of items,” Adnan said.

He urged the government not to be tied down with the long process of filling up the positions in the public service as this can be adjusted to fit the present situation in the country.

“Every year, the population will rise as well as the nation’s budget. The true test for the government is how far it is looking after the welfare of workers and its people,” he said.