KUALA LUMPUR: Local medical professionals have to compete with their foreign counterparts when the services sector under the Asean Free Trade Area (Afta) is opened up by end of the year. Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said at least 70% of the equity will be opened to foreign participation by the period. This would lead to an increase of foreign professionals, particularly from disciplines which were in demand, those not available locally or facing a shortage, he said. “The locals will have a choice of seeking treatment locally instead of having to go overseas. “This is also a boost for medical tourism as foreigners will be attracted by good services and affordable rates in Malaysa,” Liow said in an interview. Liow however said that the foreign professionals must be registered with the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC). Malaysia has 23,738 doctors, 3,165 dentists and 4,571 pharmacists. They include 9,440 doctors, 1,625 dentists and 3,321 pharmacists in the private practice who may be directly affected by the move. Admitting that local professionals were initially quite hesitant in accepting the move, Liow said his ministry, via several briefings with them, managed to convince them that the move was inevitable and that they (local professionals) should be ready and able to compete with their foreign counterparts. “Like many other countries in the world, Malaysia is gearing up to make medical tourism more attractive to foreigners. “There are also a lot of requests from foreigners, many whom are Japanese and Koreans and residing in Malaysia, for treatment by doctors or specialists from their country,” Liow said.
Local docs to face foreign challenge
Crowded Selambau
KEPALA BATAS: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took a swipe at the large number of independent contestants vying for the Bukit Selambau seat.
Dr Mahathir to rejoin Umno
ormer prime minister and Umno president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Saturday he will rejoin Umno. He said he would announce the date of his return to the party at a suitable time “after (sorting out) several matters”. “I have to fill up a form. It takes some time. I will let you know later. I am waiting for certain events,” he told reporters after attending the Umno General Assembly at PWTC on Saturday as an observer. On May 19 last year, at a “ceramah” (talk) in Alor Setar, Kedah, Dr Mahathir announced his withdrawal from Umno, saying he had lost confidence in the party.Dr Mahathir, accompanied by his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, was seen entering the Dewan Merdeka at PWTC about 12.30pm, when Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was delivering his winding-up speech. Both of them were given a rousing welcome by the delegates, who stood up to show their appreciation. Dr Mahathir was seen nodding, as though in agreement, when Muhyiddin expressed the hope of seeing the former prime minister rejoin Umno. Muhyiddin said Dr Mahathir’s presence more or less reflected his recognition of the new Umno leadership line-up, to which the delegates responded with claps. At the end of the assembly, Dr Mahathir went down to the main stage and exchanged greetings with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and the Umno Supreme Council members and then he, Abdullah, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Muhyiddin together held up their hands. Asked why he decided to attend the assembly after having decided against doing so earlier, Dr Mahathir said Muhyiddin’s election as the deputy president gave him the confidence that the anticipated changes in Umno would take place after all. “I think there is hope for the future,” he said. Dr Mahathir had stated earlier in his blog, CheDet.com, that he would not attend the assembly as he felt that Umno Youth had openly condoned money politics. Dr Mahathir also said Umno should fight for the people and not for certain group of individuals if it wants regain the support of the people. “Without the people, Umno cannot win. Umno’s consolidation process depends very much on where the party is heading, whether it truly fights for the people or for certain group of people,” he said. Dr Mahathir also agreed to the suggestion that the party do away with the nomination quota which determines the eligibility of members to contest for party posts. But the most important, he said, was for the party to eliminate money politics because “even if we change the system 10 times, if money politics is still being practised, then Umno will be destroyed,” he said. Asked on the power transition from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to Najib, Dr Mahathir said: “The succession is from the Umno president (to his deputy) and I hope another transition from the prime minister will happen.” Denying that he would be appointed a Government adviser, he said: “If you ask for my advice, why not. Just like Pak Lah, he says he can give his advice, I also can give mine.” On the Umno line-up, Dr Mahathir said: “There are still certain things which I am not happy with.” Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein described Dr Mahathir’s presence at the general assembly as the openness in Umno, which did not exist in the Opposition. “I am overwhelmed because his presence will hasten our effort to close ranks. This differentiates us and as vice-president, I will help shoulder the responsibility entrusted to us to rebuild the party,” he said. Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir’s third son, Datuk Mukhriz, hoped that his father would return to Umno as soon as possible. “This is what we have been waiting for. My father has actually promised that on the day Datuk Seri Najib takes over the party presidency, he will submit his membership application form. “This (Najib’s presidency) has now become a reality and we are delighted at this new development. However, I’ve never influenced my father to make the decision,” Mukhriz told reporters.
Pak Lah Step Down On April 2
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will seek an audience with the Yang di Pertuan Agong on Thursday (April 2) to express his intention to step down as Prime Minister. He told delegates attending the Umno General Assembly on Saturday that he hoped the official ceremony for the handing over of power to Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak could be held the same day.
Other developments:
* Dr M to rejoin Umno.
* Najib: Judge me on my actions.
* Muhyiddin pledges to be a good and loyal No.2.
* Zahid rouses delegates with his oratory skills.
* Hishammuddin: Allow Grade A teachers to enter politics.
* Shafie: Listen to the younger generation.
PM to meet King on Thursday on power handover
KUALA LUMPUR, Sat: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced today that he will seek an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin this Thursday to convey his intention to relinquish his post as Prime Minister.He said this in his winding up speech at the 59th Umno General Assembly, at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur.
