Deputy Health Minister Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad sparked a furore in the Dewan Rakyat today over the alleged sexual innuendo in his reply to a supplementary question by Chong Eng (DAP-Bukit Mertajam).

Abdul Latiff, who has since denied this, had initially been asked by Jawah Gerang (BN-Lubok Antu) about the government's ongoing efforts to combat Aids.

In a supplementary question, Chong Eng asked if the government has plans to curb needle-sharing among intravenous drug users, who make up the highest proportion of addicts and people living with HIV/Aids.

She cited statistics by the Malaysian AIDS Council which revealed that needle-sharing accounted for nearly 80 percent of Aids cases last year.

Chong, who is the DAP women's chief, also asked how the government plans to sustain its participation in the Asian Harm Reduction Network, which is working to stop the spread of HIV/Aids among injecting drug users.

Responding, Abdul Latiff said: "I don't understand what kind of needle you mean..."

At this juncture, a few vocal backbenchers immediately broke into laughter and said "there are big needles and small needles" (jarum ada besar, ada kecil) which could lead to Aids.

Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timor) protested to deputy speaker Lim Si Cheng about these remarks.

Chong also criticised Abdul Latiff for not replying to her question. The deputy speaker, however did not issue a ruling on the matter.

'Poor performance'

At a press conference later, Chong urged Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to give the matter his attention.

"I hope the PM will make sure that government leaders do not make such jokes in Parliament any more," she said.

She blamed the deputy minister for having contributed to the situation with an inappropriate response to her question.

Chong also took Abdul Latiff to task over his ignorance of Aids prevention measures and suggested that he "be sent for training" before assuming office.

"He has shown very poor performance and (continues to) give wrong answers even after five months in office. It is apparent he is not too sure about what's going on in his ministry...he should buck up or be sent for training," she said.

"This is not the first time. The last time was when he wrongly accused malaysiakini of lying on a report concerning the health ministry."

Chong was referring to Abdul Latiff's allegation during the Dewan Rakyat session in June that malaysiakini had posted a false report about the ministry's instruction to cut back its expenditure on healthcare.

His reply was proven wrong the same day by the ministry's parliamentary secretary, Lee Kah Choon, who conceded that a cutback had indeed been ordered.

At a separate press conference, Abdul Latiff defended himself, saying he had not intended any sexual innuendo in his remark.

He said that, as a medical professional, he needed to know the kind of needle used because different kinds of needles are used for injections.

Meanwhile, to a supplementary question by Dr Junaidy Abdul Wahab (BN-Batu Pahat), Abdul Latiff said there were 19 new cases of HIV reported and three deaths due to Aids-related diseases in the country each day.