Issues related to the language used in healthcare appointment materials should not be politicised, but instead viewed in the context of patient safety and effective public health communication.
Jeremy Ang, Deputy Head of the Kepong PKR Branch, said he took note of objections raised by the Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa) regarding the use of a Chinese-language health appointment booklet at Klinik Kesihatan Sri Rampai.
He said that as someone directly involved in contributing to the National Health Literacy Policy alongside the Ministry of Health (KKM) and the World Health Organization (WHO), public health issues should not be politicised.
“The primary responsibility of the health sector is to save lives and deliver accurate, clear and effective medical information to the public, regardless of background,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.
He added that the KKM appointment booklet serves as an important tool to ensure continuity of patient care, particularly in community clinics such as Klinik Kesihatan Sri Rampai, where such an approach supports at-risk groups.
Perkasa had previously objected to the use of such language without Malay translation, claiming it was contrary to the Federal Constitution and undermined equal access to public services.
Responding to this, Jeremy said Malaysia is not alone in adopting multilingual approaches in healthcare.
He noted that many developed countries have long implemented multilingual policies in the health sector to ensure patient safety and system efficiency.
He cited Singapore’s use of four official languages in public health campaigns and hospital materials to bridge ethnic communication gaps, while Australia provides comprehensive translation services and multilingual health materials to ensure equitable access.
He also pointed out that the United States, under its Civil Rights Act, requires federally funded healthcare facilities to provide language access services to prevent potentially life-threatening medical misunderstandings.
“If other countries can adapt communication to save lives, Malaysia should not take a step backwards due to narrow political considerations,” he said.
He added that diseases, viruses and medical emergencies do not recognise race, religion or political beliefs, and that missed appointments due to language confusion could have serious consequences, including increased strain on the healthcare system.
Jeremy urged Perkasa to stop politicising technical issues under the Ministry of Health.
“Public health is not a space for political polemics. Let health professionals and policymakers carry out their responsibilities for the well-being and safety of all Malaysians,” he said.
