I am deeply disappointed with the article by Chan Chee Khoon who has levied much wild accusations against the government and the MMA. I would like to take this opportunity to refute his accusations accordingly:

1) Chan has accused the Health Ministry of using semantics of tackling Sars. As far as I am concerned, there is no splitting of hairs in the terminology used. The terms "suspected Sars" and "probable Sars" are not terms coined by our Health Ministry but are set out by WHO so that the world medical committee can speak the same language when they communicate with each other. Clearly, these definitions by WHO have been carried daily in the local press and I see no reason fro any confusion arising from their usage.

2) As for his accusation of gag orders o­n the Sars issues, I must remind him that in order to ensure accuracy in the reporting of the Sars situation in the country, it is important that relevant information and data should be well coordinated and centralised before being released by the respective designated authorities in the various ministries involved. This will prevent rumour-mongering and confusion that can arise if information comes from different sources.

3) o­n his accusation that MMA is not providing the professional leadership in the combat of Sars, I would like to point our that MMA, as a member of the National Committee for Sars, has given invaluable input. It has distributed thousands of pamphlets regarding the prevention and handling of Sars patients to all its members in the medical profession and they have in turn passed o­n the relevant information to their patients and to the public. In addition, to avoid any misconception, MMA has also come out with a timely statement that Chinese herbal medicine does not provide a cure for Sars as believed by some quarters. I believe in all sincerity that this statement by MMA was meant to clarify and not to "run down" Chinese herbal medicine.

The key to a rapid control of this deadly disease is the ability to identify the causative agent. Laboratories from the Center for Disease Control of Atlanta, United States, and from nine other countries are working feverishly to establish the causative agent so that a definitive diagnosis can be made. Along with it, proper diagnostic test can be created and the epidemiology of the disease can be studied. Prof Dr Chua Kow Bin of the Nipah virus fame, together with Prof Lam Sai Kit of the Virology department of the Medical Faculty of the University of Malaysia, are working hand in hand with these world bodies to identify the causative agent.

We, as responsible citizens of this country, are duty bound to supposed the government's efforts in the fight and control of Sars. Our acting prime minister (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) has already announced that the life and safety of our citizens are of paramount importance even at the expense of having to sacrifice our economic growth. In view of this, we must continue to give our undivided support and encouragement to the Health Ministry to soldier o­n in the fight against this imported illness.

Chan has not in any way contributed to help the country and its people in the fight against this deadly unknown biological agent. Let it be reminded that no o­ne should behave like an "armchair physician" and act like a "loose cannon" in his criticism against the country's efforts in tackling Sars.