MMA Sarawak urges Putrajaya to reinstate BIW, provide transfer allowance

KUCHING (Dec 21): The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) Sarawak Branch fully backs the MMA’s call to reinstate the Regional Incentive Allowance (BIW) for government doctors serving in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan.

MMA Sarawak chairman Dr Ong Eng Joe said a new scheme like the Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA) should be progressive and not retrogressive.

“SSPA should increase the BIW and not decrease it. We fully support MMA president Datuk Dr Thirunavukarasu Rajoo’s call not to cut the BIW for government doctors serving in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan,” he said in a statement.

Dr Ong further called on the federal government to provide the transfer allowances for contract doctors reporting for duty in East Malaysia due to the high costs involved.

According to him, transferring from Peninsular Malaysia to East Malaysia is more complicated and expensive compared to transfers within Peninsular Malaysia.

He pointed out that there are flight tickets and forwarding agents to be paid, with costs amounting to thousands of ringgit.

“Young doctors at the lower end of the pay scale, possibly with loans to repay and parents or younger siblings to support financially, would face an additional financial burden if they were to finance their own transfer costs from Peninsular Malaysia to East Malaysia.

“The absence of this transfer allowance would further disincentivise doctors from Peninsular Malaysia from accepting postings to East Malaysia,” he explained.

Dr Ong reiterated his call for these crucial allowances to be provided and increased in tandem with the spirit of the Madani government.

Dr Ong Eng Joe lead Malaysian Medical Association Sarawak Branch Regional Incentive Allowance