A recent report of an Australian doctor requesting for a reward in return for treatment rendered to a fellow passenger is a revelation on the true mindset of doctors today. Even the Australian Medical Association(AMA) agrees that doctors should be compensated by airlines for services rendered. How greedy and calculative can one get?

Being a doctor is unique in a sense that we are bound to bump into a medical emergency in the least expected of places. It is not about being on call round the clock as was argued but rather a sense of duty, as a doctor. A sense of satisfaction when we are available at another’s time of need, will usually suffice.

When a doctor decides to treat another, for example in an airline, it would be considered volunteering. One could decline to act but then it would only bear down on one’s conscience. It is such conscience that makes doctors unique. It should be a reaction rather than a conscious decision.

I am ashamed that the AMA has defended a fellow doctor when all it has done is to reveal a decaying moral value of doctors today. Are we blood thirsty vampires out for more blood? Do we no longer accept a simple thank you as a sufficient gesture? Or are we becoming like lawyers, forever deceiving a gullible public?

Perhaps we should include in the Hippocratic Oath that one should treat without any pre conditions. But which doctor actually remembers the full content of the Hippocratic Oath anyway!!

The military junta remains defiant and today continues to quash pro-democracy demonstrations in the capital Yangon. It’s military rulers appear immune to international prosecution when it comes to crimes against humanity. Despite decades of political pressure, the military junta appears firmly in control of the country.

Despite being part of ASEAN, other ASEAN nations are notoriously silent, preferring not to break a spirit of non-interference in internal affairs of another member country. In addition, countries like China and India continue to focus on economic gains through their investments, throwing a lifeline to the Burmese rulers.

Malaysia is seeing an influx of Burmese workers which on most occasions is a blessing as they are renowned for being hardworking. Nevertheless, it will no doubt worsen the refugee crisis in neighbouring countries including Malaysia. A nation of 54 million Burmese, a paucity of jobs and a hardline ruler are warnings for an impending refugee crisis.

Malaysia and similarly ASEAN nations should be more aggressive in their stance against the military junta in Myanmar. ASEAN nations should be based on democracy despite a non interfering role amongst member countries. Admitting a country like Myanmar into ASEAN is hypocritical and defies a logical political move. Arguments that ASEAN does not wish to seclude Myanmar to enable subtle political negotiations, is baseless and proven ineffective. If the military junta feels that they are immune to international opinions and rule of law, then the time for talk is over.

Delaying economic sanctions and political isolation will only fuel delusional beliefs of the military junta. Malaysia is paralysed into inaction when it’s record too is hardly pristine, lest they be termed hypocrites.