Tame affair as MPs lie low on CSMU issue

UNLIKE the previous week's sittings, which saw furore in the Dewan following the much-talked-about suspension of Datuk S. Sothinathan, the mood in the House this week was comparatively mundane.
Sothinathan, the Deputy Resources and Environment Minister, was suspended on June 22 after he questioned in Parliament the Government’s decision to withdraw recognition of Ukraine’s Crimea State Medical University (CSMU).
While Members of Parliament steered clear of raising the matter in the Dewan, the issue was very much alive outside the House.
One MP noted that it would be good to lie low on the matter.
“CSMU has already been de-recognised by the Government and the students are affected. How one personally feels about the matter is irrelevant,” he said.
Another MP said there was not much backbenchers could do since the decision had been finalised and the affected students would have to look for ways to transfer their credits to other recognised universities.
Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang also took a swipe at Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr Fong Chan Onn for not being in the Dewan during the winding up of the Private Employment Agencies (Amendment) Bill.
“What is the point of having a Human Resources Minister? No point. Isn’t this Bill important? It is more important that the minister is around.
“Otherwise, he is careless, irresponsible; he is so busy defending his vice-president’s post in MCA that he has put aside his responsibilities in Cabinet,” Lim said.
Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Bakar chided Lim, saying that the issue was not about the minister but the Bill, adding that it was sufficient for a deputy minister to wind up the debate under House rules.
“Maybe your debate is aimed at weakening the strength of MCA. Let me tell you that MCA is stronger than the DAP.
“Do not assume that the minister has gone for an MCA meeting. How would you know? Did he tell you? The DAP always wants cheap publicity but there is no substance in your comments,” he said.
Lim interjected, saying that he was concerned that the minister should go on leave if he was unable to attend Parliament.
“We want a minister who can devote his time and energy in his responsibilities, not just for his party. It is a ministerial responsibility,” Lim said, adding that former prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman was a fine example when he asked for leave to prepare for the then Perikatan’s elections.
Seeing that sparks were about to fly, Deputy Speaker Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob told Lim to sit down and Abdul Rahman to continue.
During question time at another sitting, several MPs raised their concerns about HIV/AIDS.
Kuala Krai MP Mohamed Razali Che Mamat had asked the Health Minister to state the measures being taken by the authorities concerning burial procedures of those with HIV/AIDS.
The ministry’s parliamentary secretary Lee Kah Choon said there were guidelines on handling Muslim and non-Muslim bodies, including the aspects of cleansing them.
“The objective of the guideline is to ensure that those handling the bodies are not infected while the religious and cultural rites are respected,” he said, adding that state and district health authorities often conducted talks and training sessions on how to handle the bodies.
Lee also said all handlers were aware of the guidelines and that they did not discriminate when it came to handling people who had died of HIV/AIDS complications.
“There is no stigma and no such thing as the handlers refusing to handle the bodies because most of them understand the disease,” he said.
Ketereh MP Mohd Alwi Che Ahmad had asked about the Government's intention to distribute free needles and condoms to people with HIV/AIDS.
He said religious teachers in Kuala Terengganu had questioned him about the relevance of the move.
Mohd Alwi said popularising the move was not a good way to prevent infection.
To this, Lee said there were statistics indicating that more than 70% of HIV/AIDS sufferers are drug addicts.
“I think that is good to provide clean needles so we can reduce the infection rate. For condoms, like I said, HIV spreads through body fluids,” he said.
The Government cannot ban people with HIV/AIDS from marrying or having sex, he said.
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