03/05/2026

NATIONAL 4 theSun on Sunday MAY 3, 2026

MMA stands with hospital amid congestion complaints

Ű BY ANDREW SAGAYAM newsdesk@thesundaily.com

KUALA The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has backed Kuala Lumpur Hospital’s (KLH) response to complaints over congestion at its Ophthalmology Specialist Clinic. MMA president Datuk Dr Thirunavukarasu Rajoo (pic) said the situation reflects a healthcare system operating beyond safe capacity, with workforce shortages and underinvestment requiring urgent attention. “MMA supports KLH for its transparent and timely response to public concerns on the congestion at its Ophthalmology Specialist Clinic. “We stand firmly with KLH and all public healthcare workers who continue to serve under immense and sustained pressure. “We must confront an uncomfortable national truth, we have normalised what should never be acceptable. “Our public hospitals are underfunded. Our wards and clinics are understaffed. Our healthcare workers are overextended, yet expectations for world-class outcomes remain unchanged. This is not resilience, this is systemic strain, and it is no LUMPUR:

decisions on funding and workforce planning are made. “If underinvestment and

through staff rotation during lunch hours, optimising appointment scheduling and improving patient flow. However, while

similar conditions at specialist clinics nationwide. KLH director Datuk Dr Harikrishna K.R. Nair said the Ophthalmology Specialist Clinic is a major referral centre handling complex eye cases. “There are 480 patient appointments and an average of 70 new referrals daily. To manage patient flow, we have implemented a staggered appointment system. “If patients arrive according to their designated slots, the average waiting time after registration is 30 to 45 minutes before undergoing further procedures such as examinations and pupil dilation,” he said. Harikrishna added that total treatment time may take between four and six hours, depending on clinical needs. He added that measures to ease congestion include continuous clinic operations

Staff working under pressure as demand outpaces capacity, says association longer sustainable. “The viral image is not an anomaly. Without decisive intervention, such situations will become the norm, not the exception,” he said in a statement yesterday. On Thursday, KLH responded to a social media post that was widely shared a day earlier, showing about 200 people, many of them senior citizens, crowding the clinic hallway. The post received more than 2,000 likes and over 100 comments, with many expressing concern over overcrowding at public healthcare facilities and claiming

workforce shortage persist, we must be prepared to face the consequences. Healthcare workers are already experiencing burnout, moral injury and psychological distress. When the system fails, it is the rakyat who will bear the greatest cost. “We must move

KLH noted delays may occur when patients do not follow appointment times, it did not directly address concerns raised online over staffing levels or long-term strain on healthcare workers. Meanwhile,

beyond acknowledgement to action. What is required now is structural commitment — increased funding, expanded workforce capacity and fair remuneration. Delay will only deepen the crisis. “The time for incremental adjustments has passed. What we need now is decisive reform,” he said.

Thirunavukarasu urged the public, particularly those reliant on government healthcare, to speak up. “This is no longer just a healthcare issue. It is a national priority that demands attention from the federal government, particularly the Finance Ministry and the Public Service Department, where key

‘Harmless play’ by children in lifts poses real risks

He said all lifts used by the public must comply with safety regulations, undergo monthly maintenance, quarterly inspections and periodic certification renewals. “Whether in apartments, offices or shopping centres, if it is for public use, it must comply with safety requirements and be inspected regularly,” he said. Despite strict regulations, Wong stressed that user behaviour remains a critical factor in safety, as overcrowding, forcing doors and playful movement inside the cabin could interfere with built-in safety systems. He added that high-rise buildings are equipped with additional safety features, including designated fire lifts for use by firefighters under strict protocols. Wong said modern lifts are fitted with multiple safety mechanisms designed to prevent serious incidents. As high-rise developments continue to grow in Malaysia, he said lift safety remains a shared responsibility among engineers, authorities, building owners and users, including children who may not fully understand the risks. On career opportunities, Wong said those interested in lift maintenance engineering could begin with Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia or vocational qualifications before progressing through competency certification levels, including SKM and the Lift Competent Person course, depending on experience and examinations.

KUALA LUMPUR: What may seem like harmless fun when children jump or play inside a lift can quickly turn into an emergency, a lift industry expert has warned. Malaysian Lift and Escalator Association secretary Wong Weng Sum said such behaviour could disrupt normal lift operations, potentially causing it to stop abruptly, lock or break down. “If children are moving around or jumping while the lift is in operation, it could cause abnormal movement and disrupt its normal function. “It may trigger entrapment, and if that happens, authorised technical personnel will have to carry out a rescue,” he told Bernama when met at the Hari Pekerja 2026 Carnival at Unifi Arena. He also advised that children under 12 should not be left alone in a lift as they may not be tall enough to reach the control buttons, particularly the alarm bell, during emergencies. “If they cannot reach the alarm button, how will they call for help? Nowadays, some lifts are equipped with CCTV and audio systems, so operators can communicate with them. But what if a lift does not have CCTV? The children will be at risk.” Meanwhile, Wong said lifts and escalators are now essential in urban living, with an estimated 106,000 to 110,000 units in operation nationwide, all regulated by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health.

INDUSTRY SHOWCASE ... Visitors gathering at the Cendana Auto Sdn Bhd exhibition booth during the Bumiputera Education Congress, held in conjunction with Umno’s 80th anniversary celebration at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur yesterday. – ADIB RAWI YAHYA/THESUN Nightclub ordered to shut over licence breaches

the explanation is deemed unsatisfactory, the business and advertisement licences will be revoked based on the offences committed,” he said. Earlier, the issue was widely shared online following public complaints over the nightclub operations, including allegations that it remained open until the early hours and was located next to a tahfiz learning centre, a female tahfiz hostel and an elderly care centre. – Bernama

liquor without a licence, displaying advertisements without a permit and placing additional tables and chairs without approval. “A further inspection on April 29 also found unauthorised structures at the premises,” he said when contacted yesterday. He added that the council has instructed the owner to submit a show-cause letter within seven days. “If the owner fails to respond within the stipulated period or

KEPALA BATAS: The Seberang Perai City Council has ordered a business operating as a nightclub in Bandar Setia Utara Fontaines, Bertam, to close for failing to comply with licensing regulations. Mayor Datuk Baderul Amin Abdul Hamid said the action followed monitoring and inspections conducted on April 23 and 28. “Inspections found the business failed to comply with several requirements, including selling