The health think tank’s CEO, Azrul Khalib, said that regardless of whether there is compensation, no one should be working 18-hour shifts.

“It’s inhumane, unsafe for the worker, and very likely will lead to patient harm. It is also exploitative,” Azrul said in a post on X.

He said that even garment sweatshop workers in Bangladesh clock in 14 to 16 hours a day.

“Are we a sweatshop?” he asked.

The proposed system, called “Waktu Bekerja Berlainan” or WBB, limits doctors and dentists in the public health service to 18 consecutive work hours, lower than the current 24 to 33 hours straight from on-call duties.

Yesterday, the Malaysian Medical Association raised concerns over the proposal, warning that it might strain the already overburdened public healthcare system.

MMA president Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira said the income of public medical officers and specialists would be affected under this system, as on-call allowances would only apply to those on call during weekends and public holidays.

Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh also raised concerns over the WBB today, warning that its implementation may chase away the few doctors remaining in public service.

He said even for security guards who work 12 hours, eight of these hours are considered their base hours with the remaining considered as overtime.

Earlier today, health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said he has not been briefed on, or given his approval to the proposed shift system. Thus, he said, it remained only a “recommendation” that is still being fine-tuned.