Umno rep to answer over 'racist doctors' claim

PENANG ASSEMBLY Pinang Tunggal assemblyperson Roslan Saidin has been referred to the Penang legislative assembly's rights and privileges committee.

This is in relation to his refusal to apologise over his "racist doctors" claim, which sparked strong reactions from the state government.

Roslan was taken to task for his allegations during the state assembly proceedings on July 3, that several doctors in the state had "refused to treat Malay patients".

Jawi assemblyperson Soon Lip Chee (right) had moved a motion to censure Roslan for not apologising for the remarks, which the former described as "baseless and racist".

The motion was supported by all the Pakatan Rakyat representatives who stood up in a show of support.

Soon defended his proposal to punish Roslan, referring to the Health Ministry's admission that its probe into the matter did not detect any elements of racism.

Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam, in a written parliamentary reply to Tanjung MP Ng Wei Aik, conceded that there was an element of poor communication and incompetence as the doctors in question “did not communicate very well with the patients”.

Roslan had, in July, accused three Chinese Malaysian doctors - two from Seberang Jaya and the other from Kepala Batas - of being racist, saying their actions had affected six patients.

He then blamed the alleged doctors' attitude to the drop in support towards the BN from the Chinese community during the 13th general election.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak later dubbed this "the Chinese tsunami", blaming the community after the BN merely managed to garner 47 percent of the popular vote against Pakatan's 52 percent.

'Untrue and unfair'

Soon said he brought up the issue because it is of public importance and involves the good name of the state government.

"Roslan's allegations were untrue and unfair and could also can undermine the relationship between races, including making people feel less confident when they seek treatment from doctors of a different ethnic group. He should not bring in race but just base his arguments on facts."

Soon also said that Roslan (left) did not have to wait to raise the issue in the state assembly but could have done it as soon as he received the complaints, as the House sits only two or three times a year.

Roslan has refused to apologise in spite of the motion , saying "the word racist did not come from my mouth".

"This is a term brought up by Pakatan Rakyat until I was condemned widely in the media. I thought the issue would end at the Dewan, but it was brought outside, too," said Roslan.

"Since I was hit again and again, I brought the victims to be interviewed and they shared their experiences with the doctors, and this was also widely covered by the media.

"After the matter was taken up by the Health Ministry, the issue has been resolved, the doctors involved have been sent for a course and the Kepala Batas hospital director was even transferred out."

Roslan said he raised the issue as a people's representative and if the speaker wants to refer him to the special committee, he is welcome to do so.

"But I also want the speaker to forgive me because I also want to refer him to the special committee because my questions to the state assembly were not verbally answered," he alleged.

Roslan later said his 13 questions were not replied in the House but that he was given written answers.

Speaker Law Choo Kiang then decided to refer Roslan to the committee, saying: "You also have a chance to defend yourself there."

'Roslan is wrong'

Met outside the hall, state executive councillor on health Dr Afif Bahardin said Roslan was incorrect in saying that the Kepala Batas hospital director had been transfered because of the complaints.

"I've just got a report from the person. She has not been transfered due to this. She had earlier asked for transfer even before Roslan raised the issue. She is now upgraded in another post in the state health department," said Afif.

"I leave it to the public to judge whether Roslan is speaking the truth, after we see him twisting his words in the state assembly."

On the courses for the doctors, Afif (left) said they were sent for the normal "soft skills" programmes for all hospital personnel.

Afif said Roslan could have apologised in the five months since the issue was brought up but had been "stubborn" about not doing so.

He added that it is acceptable to criticise the hospital delivery of services but not to connect such matters to race.

"He tried to relate the treatment of doctors to the 'Chinese tsunami' as he obtained a lower majority of votes in the general election, and that is wrong," said Afif.