No healthcare personnel under probe over 'Hartal Doktor Kontrak', say police

KUALA LUMPUR: Police did not open any investigation papers on healthcare personnel who participated in 'Hartal Doktor Kontrak' protests at various hospitals here and in Selangor on Monday.

Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Azmi Abu Kassim said no healthcare personnel were under investigation in connection with the protests at several hospitals, including Hospital Kuala Lumpur.

"So far no investigation has been initiated," he said when contacted today.

In a similar development, Selangor police chief Datuk Arjunaidi Mohamed said no investigation papers had been opened in connection with the gatherings, which involved contract doctors.

However, he said police had taken statements from some healthcare personnel in connection with alleged trespassing by media practitioners at the Integrated COVID-19 Quarantine and Treatment Centre (PKRCB) at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park (MAEPS) Serdang.

Arjunaidi said police launched the investigation after receiving a report on the alleged trespassing.

Elaborating on the matter, Sepang police district deputy chief Supt Md Noor Aehawan Mohamed said the MAEPS hall was gazetted as a PKRCB, which is out of bounds to people not authorised to enter the place.

"One of the journalists has made a live coverage while inside the hall. So far police have recorded statements from 17 healthcare personnel comprising doctors and nurses who were on duty at the time of the incident to help in investigation to confirm the presence of the media practitioner," he said in a statement.

He said the case was being investigated under Section 448 of the Penal Code for trespassing.

Police are also investigating the case under Regulation 17(1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Regulations 2021 for violating standard operating procedure and under Section 233 of the Communication and Multimedia Act 1998 for making a live recording in a prohibited area and showing patients receiving treatment.

On Monday, police received a report that six media practitioners from various agencies had allegedly trespassed into PKRCB MAEPS.

-- BERNAMA