Not Honouring A Pledge Is Worse, Says Dr Chua

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 12 (Bernama) -- Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek Thursday disagreed with a suggestion that the controversial RM1 billion "donation" to the National Cancer Council (Makna) by a Lebanese businessman episode has put the body in a bad light.
He said what would not look very good was for someone to have made such a pledge and not honouring it.
"I am sure Makna is happy (to receive that kind of promise), like any other organisation. We can understand that.
"But it is up to the recipient to evaluate whether the (promised) contribution is genuine or just for sheer publicity," he told reporters after launching the voluntary scheme for the registration of medical devices establishments here.
Dr Elie Youssef Najm, 45, has been hogging the headlines after he sensationally announced on Saturday a donation of US$275 million (RM1.03 billion) to Makna to build a cancer treatment and research hospital.
The news attracted incredulous reactions from the public but some people also came forward to complain that they have been cheated by the Lebanese.
Asked whether he would advise other non-governmental organisations to be wary of dubious donation promises, Dr Chua said: "I think most NGOs are run by people who are quite smart. That's why they have been giving advice to governments and ministers now and then -- all the time in fact."
On claims of certain imported food products tainted being with sulphur dioxide, Dr Chua admitted that the sheer number of products made it impossible for the authorities to monitor them all.
"All products in the market should be monitored by a section in the ministry called the Food Quality Control Division. But in view of the range of products in the market, we cannot claim that we monitor every product," he said.
The minister said this was why the ministry welcomed complaints from consumers, preferably those with specific information about the items concerned so that investigations could be carried out.