30/05/2025

FRIDAY | MAY 30, 2025

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Medical personnel raise concerns over strained system

M’sia nears final lap in bid for

UN-Habitat presidency

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is in the final stage of its bid for the presidency of the United Nations Human Settlements (UN-Habitat) Assembly for the term 2025-2029. Leading the high-level delegation in Nairobi, Kenya, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said they held bilateral meetings on Wednesday at the UN-Habitat Headquarters with representatives from Mexico to strengthen support and exchange insights related to its candidacy. During a key meeting with Mexico’s Under-Secretary for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights Enrique Javier Ochoa Martinez, the delegation sought to learn from Mexico’s experience as the outgoing UN-Habitat Assembly President (2019–present). “Malaysia remains committed to continuing the momentum of excellent work and positive impacts achieved during the previous presidency. “We remain steadfast in strengthening multilateral partnerships through this platform for constructive dialogues and meaningful outcomes. “Malaysia’s engagement in Nairobi is a strategic step forward in advancing its vision for inclusive, sustainable and innovative urban development through leadership in the UN-Habitat platform,” Nga said in a Facebook post, adding that Malaysia is also set to have bilateral meetings with Azerbaijan, Iran and Brazil. Housing and Local Government Ministry secretary-general Datuk M. Noor Azman Taib and the Malaysian High Commissioner to Kenya Ruzaimi Mohamad were also part of the delegation. The UN-Habitat Assembly is the highest-level decision-making body on sustainable urbanisation and human settlements within the UN system. The presidency applies a rotation system among regional groups within the UN. The assembly convenes every four years. If Malaysia succeeds in its bid, it would be the first time in 15 years that a Malaysian has chaired a UN body since Tan Sri Hamidon Ali served as president of the UN Economic and Social Council in 2010. – Bernama

Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA Ű MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com

o Open letter to PM and health minister requests reforms for burnout relief, better staffing and real recognition beyond hashtags

with Africa’,” he added. Africa Day is celebrated by 19 missions in Malaysia which include Algeria, Egypt, Eswatini, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Libya, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is an annual commemoration of the foundation of the Organisation of African Unity formed on May 25 1963. It was later transformed into the African Union on July 9, 2002. The theme for this year is “The Year of Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Repatriations”. – Bernama Another issue is the family reunification policy, particularly for civil servants posted in different states. Many couples have endured prolonged separations, with some marriages strained by long-distance arrangements. “They are not robots. They are also fathers, mothers, husbands and wives.” Ahmad Fadhzil also proposed flexible shifts and work-from home options for administrative, pharmacy and records staff, as not all roles are frontline critical. “The traditional 8am to 5pm work schedule is too rigid, which could operate more efficiently with flexible or staggered hours. “Lastly, we proposed that National Frontliners’ Day be meaningfully celebrated beyond posters and hashtags,” he said, suggesting that a special public holiday, awards and nationwide activities such as fun runs or appreciation events to truly honour the sacrifices of medical personnel. Ahmad Fadhzil said certain departments within the public healthcare system are in critical condition, with the most severely affected being emergency, medical and surgical units in major hospitals. He said in smaller hospitals, the situation is even more dire, as they are often operated by only a handful of doctors, while Klinik Kesihatan facilities are also overwhelmed, struggling to cope with a high volume of patients despite having too few medical officers. “Although medical staff have voiced such concerns over the years, little has changed. “Responses have often come in the form of powerless committees or prolonged delays, resulting in little or no progress. Symbolic gestures are no longer sufficient,” he said. Ahmad Fadhzil warned that without urgent reforms, Malaysia risks the collapse of its public healthcare system where doctors are overworked, underpaid and many are walking away, some permanently.

PETALING Healthcare frontliners are urgently calling on the government to implement changes to improve their working conditions, protect their mental well-being and rebuild lasting morale. After years of neglect, burnout and emotional exhaustion, they are demanding dignity, recognition and concrete action. In an open letter addressed to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, hospital workers stressed that their demands are not for luxury but for respect and tangible improvements. They emphasised the urgent need for policies that address chronic staff shortages, overwhelming workloads and insufficient support systems that have pushed many healthcare professionals to the brink. Amanah Youth national health bureau chief Dr Ahmad Fadhzil JAYA:

Mohamad told theSun that medical staff, especially those in government hospitals and clinics, are experiencing burnout due to overwhelming workloads and systemic failings. “Among the causes are staff shortages, which leave too few personnel managing too many patients, low wages despite long and demanding hours, burdensome administrative paperwork and lack of clear pathways for career progression. “Meanwhile, as healthcare professionals are stretched to their limits, new policies are being introduced that unfairly affect private general practitioners, such as the proposals for the separating, prescribing and dispensing of medicines, and the increasing

influence of large pharmaceutical corporations.” Ahmad Fadhzil also pointed out the double standards in healthcare regulation, noting that unlicensed traditional healers and bomoh (shaman) continue to operate unchecked. He said one of the key demands is the establishment of a special frontliners’ commission to enable direct communication with policymakers. “The introduction of two automatic ‘mental health days’ annually for healthcare workers, without the need for medical certificates or justifications, is also crucial. Just those days to breathe. “Healthcare is not a luxury, it’s a basic right. We are not a threat. We are the backbone, but even backbones can break.”

Ahmad Fadhzil said healthcare workers, especially those in government hospitals and clinics, are experiencing burnout due to overwhelming workloads and systemic failings. – ADIB RAWI YAHYA/THESUN

‘Africa a rising hub of global growth and inspiration’ KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia sees Africa as a continent of the future, a strategic partner, and a rising hub of global growth and inspiration, Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Mohamad Alamin said. promote a more just and equitable international order. than 16,800 African students as of March this year. Under the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme, the country has also successfully hosted 10,343 participants from Africa. indicating continued growth and strong potential to surpass last year’s total, he said.

“As Asean Chair this year, Malaysia recognises the vast potential for enhanced cooperation with Africa, not only bilaterally, but through interregional platforms. “As regional organisations with shared principles of peace, sustainable development and inclusivity, the potential of an Asean AU (African Union) future collaboration offers fertile ground for mutual growth and capacity building.” In the education sector, Mohamad said Malaysia’s higher learning institutions have welcomed more

Meanwhile, the Dean of African Heads of Mission who is also the High Commissioner of Namibia to Malaysia, Herman Pule Diamonds said Africa is the next growth frontier, boasting innovative financing solutions to strategic responses to international market volatility, as occasioned by the onset of the current tariff wars. “Africa’s continued momentum in its efforts at pioneering food security is there for everyone to see. As the saying goes: ‘Asean, you will never walk in solitude if you walk

This, coupled with the high number of African tourists visiting Malaysia – reportedly reaching 167,000 last year – reflects the vibrancy and deepening of people-to people connections, he added. Total bilateral trade between Malaysia and Africa grew steadily to reach US$14.41 billion last year. For the first quarter of this year trade has already reached US$2.19 billion,

Speaking at the reception of the 62nd Africa Day celebration on Wednesday, he said over the decades, Malaysia’s ties with African nations have steadily strengthened through trade, investment, education and cultural exchanges. He reaffirmed Malaysia’s solidarity with Africa in advancing constructive, inclusive and practical efforts to address historical legacies and