Monthly Archives: February 2018

Press Releases

Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia (GBM): Call to all Political Parties to Commit to Inclusive National Unity

7 February 2018

 

Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia (GBM):  Call to all Political Parties to Commit to Inclusive National Unity

 

Introduction

We are a coalition of NGOs comprising various ethnic, religious, lingual, profession and socio-economic backgrounds from all states of Malaysia. Our diversity is our strength that allows us to work together on a common platform for a “Better Malaysia”, a place we all call home.

The history of GBM echoes the birth of our country and its quest for sovereignty when our past leaders successfully won independence by struggling as one united nation against British colonial rule.

However, GBM is saddened by the withering of this spirit of togetherness and muhibbah as exemplified by our forefathers.  In recent times, our national public space has been defiled with racial and religious hate speeches, with hardly any censure from the authorities and if left unchecked, threatens our national unity and social cohesion.

This is expected to deteriorate with the upcoming 14th General Elections (GE14). The run up to GE14 is already suggesting that the 2018 polls will be the most hostile ever.

It is with this concern that we call upon all political parties:

  • to cease all forms of gutter politics which abuses race and religion and incites bigotry, hatred and discord
  • to reject all forms of fear politics which instigate anxiety, insecurity, distrust and animosity
  • to reject all forms of corrupt practices; including vote buying and phantom voting

There is a myriad of national issues which begs immediate attention and prompt solutions. GBM calls upon all political parties to address these national issues in their election manifesto.  The pivotal aim of these socio-economic and political deliberations is the pursuit of authentic national unity inclusive of all Malaysians as enshrined in the Rukun Negara. To achieve this much cherished goal, GBM opines that the following policy considerations are crucial:

  • To review the blueprint of action for national unity
  • To table the National Harmony Act to Parliament
  • To form a National Unity Committee at Ministerial level to oversee the implementation of national unity programs nationwide
  • To establish an independent National Unity Fund to enable the funding of projects promoting and protecting national unity, racial and religious understanding
  • To revise school and university curriculum and co-curriculum to integrate activities and programs that foster the spirit of national unity and early bonding of children of different ethnicities and religions.
  • To establish an independent Equality Commission which deals with complaints of discrimination, with the power to mediate disputes, mete out disciplinary actions and provide recommendations to the government.
  •  To commission an independent review of the Biro Tata Negara (BTN) to ensures its operation is transparent, accountable and in harmony with the objective of promoting national unity and racial harmony.
  •  To ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and undertake an action plan to implement its recommendations.

Notwithstanding the political contestations in GE14, we invite all our fellow Malaysians to come together in mutual respect and love and to embrace and celebrate the diversity of our ethnic, religious, linguistic, cultural, gender, lifestyle and political persuasions.

Let us stand hand in hand, in racial and religious harmony, bonded by national unity. Let us embody the eternal values of justice, equity, mutual benefit, brotherhood and dignity of humanity.

With this at our core, we can together build a “Better Malaysia”.

Issued by:

Zaid Kamaruddin,

Chair, Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia

on behalf of the Executive Council of Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia

Press Releases

#IAmHadiza (Press Release)

Press Release
4 Feb 2018
ISLAMIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATION OF MALAYSIA (IMAM)
#IAmHadiza
The Islamic Medical Association of Malaysia (IMAM) views with utmost concern and consternation over the improprieties in the case involving a colleague doctor and trainee paediatrician, Dr Hadiza Bawa Garba in the current UK medico-legal debacle.
A UK jury on 4 Nov 2015, after 25 hours deliberation, convicted her of “gross negligence manslaughter” for the avoidable death of a six year old Down’s Syndrome child.
And apparently it seems, to restore public confidence in the medical profession, the General Medical Council (GMC) of the UK recently, permanently struck Bawa Garba off the medical register.
This gross mismanagement of Bawa Garba’s case has convulsed the medical fraternity globally and thousands have tweeted their support with #IAmHadiza.
The working conditions on that unfortunate day was exceptionally bad, which is not all that uncommon in many hospital scenarios worldwide, Malaysia included.
Bawa Garba, apart from her own clinical work had to cover the patient load of two other doctors and a third doctor, her consultant in charge who was away teaching. She was looking after six wards, spanning four floors, covering paediatric patients in two surgical wards and providing clinical consult to midwives and GP calls. And to complicate clinical decision making, the hospital IT system had broken down.
If this is not hospital chaos and clinical disaster waiting to happen, we are not sure what is!
A 14-person investigation team into this serious untoward incident did not identify any single root cause for the death. The report highlighted 23 recommendations and 79 remedial actions to be immediately undertaken by the Leicester Royal Infirmary.
Bawa Garba who has an unblemished clinical record, had done work for various charitable causes and had just returned from 13 months maternity leave, has been made the scapegoat of the endemic failures of the UK National Health Service (NHS) to ensure patient safety as one of the pivotal goals of the healthcare industry.
Doctors in the UK have raised more than £275,000 to cover her legal expenses. And 1,500 Australian and New Zealand doctors have petitioned an open letter which describes the case as “gross injustice (was) an understatement”.
The Islamic Medical Association of Malaysia (IMAM) hereby urge:
1.     all Malaysian doctors to demonstrate our solidarity for Bawa Garba by mainstreaming her appeal and innocence in social media and tweeting #IAmHadiza
2.    colleagues to contribute generously towards the cost of funding  for her expert legal counsel https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/help-dr-bawa-garba/
3.     all hospital authorities in Malaysia to ensure that the clinical ambience is optimal to protect patient safety
4.     the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) to take full cognizance of the mishandling of the case by the GMC and its potential ramifications upon our local doctors working within a highly stressed healthcare system.
Dr Jeffrey Abu Hassan
President IMAM