Umno rep to answer over 'racist doctors' claim

PENANG ASSEMBLY Pinang Tunggal assemblyperson Roslan Saidin has been referred to the Penang legislative assembly rights and privileges committee over his refusal to apologise over his "racist doctors" claim, which sparked strong reactions from the state government.

Roslan was taken to task for his allegations during the state assembly proceedings on July 3, that several doctors in the state had refused to treat Malay patients.

Jawi assemblyperson Soon Lip Chee (right) had moved a motion to censure Roslan for not apologising over his remarks, which the latter described as "baseless and racist".

The motion was supported by all the Pakatan Rakyat reps who stood up in the hall in a show of support.

Soon defended his proposal to punish Roslan, referring to the Health Ministry's admittancethat its probe into the matter did not detect any elements of racism.

Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam, in a written statement in Parliament to Tanjung MP Ng Wei Aik, had stated that there was no racism but rather, elements of poor communication and incompetence as the doctors in question “did not communicate very well with the patients”.

Roslan had, in July, accused three Chinese Malaysian doctors - two from Seberang Jaya and the other from Kepala Batas - of being racist, saying their actions affected six patients.

The Umno assemblyperson had then blamed the alleged doctors' attitude to the drop in support towards BN from the Chinese community during the 13th general election. dubbed by Prime Minister Najib Razak as "The Chinese Tsunami".

Despite forming the federal government, Najib had blamed the community when BN merely managed to garner 47 percent of the popular votes against Pakatan's 52 percent. 

'Untrue and unfair' 

Soon said he brought up the issue because it was of public importance and involved the good name of the state government.

"Roslan's allegations were untrue and unfair and could also can undermine the relationship between races, including making people feel less confident when they seek treatment from doctors of a different ethnic group. He should not bring race in but just base his arguments on facts."

Soon also said that Roslan did not have to wait to raise the issue at the state assembly but could do it as soon as he received the complaints, as the House sits only two or three times a year.

Roslan has refused to apologise despite the motion brought against him, saying "the word racist did not come out of my mouth".

"This is a term brought up by Pakatan Rakyat until I was condemned widely in the media. I thought the issue would end at the Dewan, but it was brought outside, too," said Roslan.

"Since I was hit again and again, I brought the victims to be interviewed and they did share their experiences with the doctors, and this was also widely covered by the media," he added.

"After the matter was taken up by the Health Ministry, the issue has been resolved, the involved doctors have been sent for a course and certain officers were even transferred out," he stressed.

Roslan said he raised the issue as a people's representative and if the speaker wanted to refer him to the special committee, he was welcome to do so.

"But I also want the speaker to forgive me because I also want to refer to the special committee because my questions to the state assembly were not verbally answered," he alleged.

Roslan later said his 13 questions were not responded to in the Hall but were provided with written answers.

Speaker Law Choo Kiang then decided to refer Roslan to the committee, saying "You also have a chance to defend yourself there".