Suspension a shameful act
Dr Jacob GeorgePublished: Jun 24, 2005 5:10 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
I refer to your report Sothinathan suspended as deputy minister. Allow me to state for the record that the suspension of the natural resources and environment deputy minister is a shameful act, more so in this age and time.
One may attempt to justify this punishment for 'political overzealousness' by citing codes of ethics and even the Federal Constitution but in reality, it is a massive mistake that makes the present administration a laughing stock of the democratic and civilised world.
All Sothinathan did was to represent the anxiety and concerns of his party and community when others kept shamelessly silent. I am, of course, referring to the on-going debate on the Malaysian Medical Council's decision to de-recognise medical degrees from the Crimea State Medical University (CSMU).
If the government thinks that they 'sending home a signal' by his suspension, then they are indeed wrong as time will show that they have badly managed this episode like many others recently.
Is it wrong and against parliamentary democracy to raise and address pertinent issues? To defend one's community (one that is at the bottom of Malaysian food chain)? Indeed, aren't these the sacred duties of those elected to represent us in Parliament?
It must be pointed out that the Maju Institute of Education Development (MIED) - the MIC's education arm - has sponsored quite a number of bright and needy Indian students to study at CSMU. This is part of its efforts to improve the standing of Indian Malaysians.
One should know that the MIC has spent RM30 million in providing educational loans to over 700 students to pursue medicine overseas. And the reasons for this are obvious.
There are 700 medical seats at the local universities but in all fairness, how many are allocated for Indians? Your guess is as good as mine.
CSMU was chosen by the MIC because of the cost factor in that it a six-year medical course there would require RM110,000 compared to up to RM400,000 elsewhere.
Soon, we will be celebrating our 49th Independence Day but in reality Indian Malaysians have nothing to sing or shout about. They are at the bottom of the Malaysian economic food chain above only the foreign illegal workers.
Our leaders shamelessly shout at international fora about transparency, accountability, good governance, ethics and morality. Why then was Minister in the Prime Minister Department Mohamad Nazri Abdul Aziz not disciplined too for his unparliamentary behaviour during the debate on CSMU in the August house? Correct me if I am wrong but he repeatedly uttered the word 'racist' 41 times.
He, not Sothinathan, is the one who has brought our parliament into total disrepute.
One may attempt to justify this punishment for 'political overzealousness' by citing codes of ethics and even the Federal Constitution but in reality, it is a massive mistake that makes the present administration a laughing stock of the democratic and civilised world.
All Sothinathan did was to represent the anxiety and concerns of his party and community when others kept shamelessly silent. I am, of course, referring to the on-going debate on the Malaysian Medical Council's decision to de-recognise medical degrees from the Crimea State Medical University (CSMU).
If the government thinks that they 'sending home a signal' by his suspension, then they are indeed wrong as time will show that they have badly managed this episode like many others recently.
Is it wrong and against parliamentary democracy to raise and address pertinent issues? To defend one's community (one that is at the bottom of Malaysian food chain)? Indeed, aren't these the sacred duties of those elected to represent us in Parliament?
It must be pointed out that the Maju Institute of Education Development (MIED) - the MIC's education arm - has sponsored quite a number of bright and needy Indian students to study at CSMU. This is part of its efforts to improve the standing of Indian Malaysians.
One should know that the MIC has spent RM30 million in providing educational loans to over 700 students to pursue medicine overseas. And the reasons for this are obvious.
There are 700 medical seats at the local universities but in all fairness, how many are allocated for Indians? Your guess is as good as mine.
CSMU was chosen by the MIC because of the cost factor in that it a six-year medical course there would require RM110,000 compared to up to RM400,000 elsewhere.
Soon, we will be celebrating our 49th Independence Day but in reality Indian Malaysians have nothing to sing or shout about. They are at the bottom of the Malaysian economic food chain above only the foreign illegal workers.
Our leaders shamelessly shout at international fora about transparency, accountability, good governance, ethics and morality. Why then was Minister in the Prime Minister Department Mohamad Nazri Abdul Aziz not disciplined too for his unparliamentary behaviour during the debate on CSMU in the August house? Correct me if I am wrong but he repeatedly uttered the word 'racist' 41 times.
He, not Sothinathan, is the one who has brought our parliament into total disrepute.
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