Latiff slammed by opposition over ‘unprofessional’ answer
The Star (13/5/08): Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad was told off by an Opposition member during the question and answer session.
Dr Latiff had just told Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (BN-Bintulu) that the shortage of specialists in the country was not faced by Malaysia alone and that this was a long-standing problem when Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud (PAS-Kota Raja) stood up to criticise him.
“That is the most unprofessional answer from the ministry. This is an urgent matter,” she said.
Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia said Dr Latiff had the discretion over his answers and that “this was his reply although it may not be satisfactory to Yang Berhormat”.
Earlier, Dr Latiff had told Salleh Kalbi (BN-Silam) that there were only four specialists at the Lahad Datu district hospital – two of whom were from India and the others from Egypt.
“On the problem of the lack of specialists, even those who are originally from Sabah do not want to go back to the state to serve. Perhaps they have drunk the water from Klang Valley and they prefer to stay here,” he said.
During the debate, shouts erupted between several Barisan Nasional backbenchers and opposition MPs over a remark on religious belief.
Hamim Samuri (BN-Ledang) was debating the motion of thanks on the royal address when he said that Barisan’s development programmes for the country was based on reality and not concocted by fantasy.
“Only those who lack faith will deny the successes brought about by Barisan,” he added.
Several opposition MPs shouted at Hamim, saying that he was being insensitive and irresponsible, while several Barisan MPs shouted back at them.
N. Gobalakrishnan (PKR-Padang Serai), Mahfuz Omar (PAS-Pokok Sena), Roslan Shaharum (PKR-Bukit Gantang) asked Deputy Speaker Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar to order Hamim to retract his statement.
Wan Junaidi finally ruled that Hamim was not directing his statement at anyone and told him to base his speech on facts next time.
Fuziah Salleh (PKR-Kuantan) questioned why there were many policemen to watch over a peaceful event when the country did not have enough officers to tackle crime.
She asked why seven policemen monitored an event organised for the disabled, the poor and single women in Kuantan recently.
“Serious crimes are occurring and there are not enough policemen to go around. But there seems to be enough for them to watch over a peaceful event,” she said.
“Maybe a PKR Member of Parliament is considered more dangerous than threats to public security and safety.”
Dr Latiff had just told Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (BN-Bintulu) that the shortage of specialists in the country was not faced by Malaysia alone and that this was a long-standing problem when Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud (PAS-Kota Raja) stood up to criticise him.
“That is the most unprofessional answer from the ministry. This is an urgent matter,” she said.
Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia said Dr Latiff had the discretion over his answers and that “this was his reply although it may not be satisfactory to Yang Berhormat”.
Earlier, Dr Latiff had told Salleh Kalbi (BN-Silam) that there were only four specialists at the Lahad Datu district hospital – two of whom were from India and the others from Egypt.
“On the problem of the lack of specialists, even those who are originally from Sabah do not want to go back to the state to serve. Perhaps they have drunk the water from Klang Valley and they prefer to stay here,” he said.
During the debate, shouts erupted between several Barisan Nasional backbenchers and opposition MPs over a remark on religious belief.
Hamim Samuri (BN-Ledang) was debating the motion of thanks on the royal address when he said that Barisan’s development programmes for the country was based on reality and not concocted by fantasy.
“Only those who lack faith will deny the successes brought about by Barisan,” he added.
Several opposition MPs shouted at Hamim, saying that he was being insensitive and irresponsible, while several Barisan MPs shouted back at them.
N. Gobalakrishnan (PKR-Padang Serai), Mahfuz Omar (PAS-Pokok Sena), Roslan Shaharum (PKR-Bukit Gantang) asked Deputy Speaker Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar to order Hamim to retract his statement.
Wan Junaidi finally ruled that Hamim was not directing his statement at anyone and told him to base his speech on facts next time.
Fuziah Salleh (PKR-Kuantan) questioned why there were many policemen to watch over a peaceful event when the country did not have enough officers to tackle crime.
She asked why seven policemen monitored an event organised for the disabled, the poor and single women in Kuantan recently.
“Serious crimes are occurring and there are not enough policemen to go around. But there seems to be enough for them to watch over a peaceful event,” she said.
“Maybe a PKR Member of Parliament is considered more dangerous than threats to public security and safety.”
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