‘Subra has clout to reinstate Crimea U’s status’

PKR says he should use his ministerial power to resolve the recognition issue.

PETALING JAYA: PKR has urged Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam to use his ministerial powers to reinstate Crimea State Medical University (CSMU) to the list of institutions recognised by the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC).

The Medical Act gives the minister absolute power to issue directions to MMC as long as he abides by other rulings, according S Jayathas, deputy chairman of PKR’s Human Rights and Legal Bureau.

He said Subramaniam’s intervention was necessary because the public had lost confidence in the MMC’s integrity.

In a media statement released today, he said representations in the 30-member MMC were not adequately balanced to reflect different legitimate interests.

He noted that the majority of Malaysian graduates from CSMU were Indians and suggested that Subramaniam represent them in MMC.

“Subramaniam is a MIC representative in the Cabinet and is supposed to represent the Indian community,” he said. “He must step up and take action.

“Even the former MIC president, S Samy Vellu, has lashed out at MMC in the past, claiming that they did not want more Indian doctors in the country.”

CSMU was struck off MMC’s list in 2005. The government has yet to explain the action to satisfy stakeholders in Malaysia, but recent news reports say Putrajaya is considering reversing MMC’s decision.

About 1,000 Indians and 500 Malays have graduated from CSMU through the years but all those after 2005 were not able to practice medicine in Malaysia although the university enjoys international recognition and its graduates work in more than 80 countries.

According to Jayathas, the university has a curriculum tailored to Malaysian needs. He said this had been stated by MMC secretary Wan Mazlan Mohd Woojdy.

Jayathas recalled that Subramaniam had, in October 2010 when he was Minister of Human Resources, appealed for reinstatement of CSMU as a recognised university.

“Now that he is the Health Minister, we hope he will help resolve the matter without further delay,” he added.