NGOs slam move, promise ‘serious’ protests
(Malay Mail) – CONSUMER groups reacted furiously over allegations to privatise the National Heart Institute (IJN), slamming the government and hospital for the alleged move.
They promised to organise “serious” protests and signature campaigns if the plan went through. Yesterday’s Malay Mail front-paged claims over the bloggersphere that the nation’s leading heart specialist centre might be privatised and it had already received the “greenlight” from the Economic Planning Unit (EPU), under the Finance Ministry.
Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) secretary-general Datuk Dr Ma’amor Osman disagreed completely with such a move.
“I do not see why they have to privatise IJN. There are only two reasons to do so. First, if IJN is not efficient and secondly if the government does not have the funds to carry on with its operations,” he said.
“I was admitted to IJN last June and was truly happy with the service I got. They have a fabulous team there and they are good at what they do,” said Ma’amor.
He added: “If IJN is privatised, the poor will be denied treatment. This is not in line with the prime minister’s plan for 1Malaysia,” he said.
Ma’moor also warned there would be serious protests if IJN went ahead with the plan. National Consumer Complaints Centre (NCCC) chief executive officer Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah said he would be disappointed if the plan went ahead.
“From those days, we have always been against privatisation of government companies especially when it comes to health care. IJN is the rakyat’s property. I don’t agree with IJN’s Board of Directors (BOD) to privatise it. Why is the government allowing such a move?” said Sha’ani.
“If the BOD follows through with the plan, they will face serious protests from us (NCCC),” Muhammad Sha’ani said.
He added that the government should play a more pivotal role in this and clarify the matter immediately.
Jacob George, president of the Consumers Association of Subang Jaya and Shah Alam (CASSA), said: “The notion to privatise IJN is very vulgar. If such a thing takes place, it is very condemning to its founding fathers.
“CASSA will not hesitate to start a signature campaign against the privatisation of IJN,” he said.
