I AM surprised at Dr Steven Chow’s attempt at diplomacy in saying that Federation of Private Medical Practitioners’ Associations of Malaysia enjoyed a good working relationship with former health minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

Chow, the president of the federation, further claims that Dr Chua kept his finger on the pulse of the nation’s health agenda and maintained a balanced view of the most pressing issues facing patients, the people and medical community.
This is not the view of the majority of practitioners, at least in the private practice.
Dr Chua’s legacy will be remembered for his confrontation with doctors, especially private doctors, and sometimes other medical staff.
Almost immediately after taking office, he appeared to listen to the views of consumer associations who had grudges against doctors and appeared to form policies based on feedback from these associations rather than professionals in and out of his ministry.

And so he picked his battle and went on a crusade. Clinics were shut and maternity homes and medical centres were overnight deemed illegal, putting doctors and nurses out of jobs.
It didn’t matter if the doctor was competent and had a triple Royal College certification. What mattered was the ceiling height, the flooring, double doors, trolleys or even the sinks.
Yes, he wanted to be hands-on to the point of micro-management.

Dr Chua was certainly no Aneurin Bevan, the architect of Britain’s National Health Service in 1948. He neither had Bevan’s guile nor the skill to engage doctors.

He took it upon himself to dust off the Private Healthcare and Facilities Act 1998 (PHFSA), long abandoned by his predecessor Datuk Chua Jui Meng who termed it untenable and irrelevant, and got parliament to pass it, to the horror of the medical profession. Worse still, he arm-twisted the then president of the Malaysian Medical Association to accept it.

The PHFSA is a demeaning act that allows jailing and fining a doctor if a clinic is not run properly. How could he have conjured up such a punishment?

Dr Chua rubbed salt into doctors’ wounds by approving the setting up of traditional medicine units in government hospitals, all of which had been founded on evidence-based medicine.
This story certainly cannot end with his resignation.
The business of government is serious, but Dr Chua and his Health Ministry made rules that seemed to fly in the face of existing medical practices.
We should take a hard look at what he has done over the past few years. If bad decisions were made, they should be reversed.
AHMAD SOBRI, Shah Alam
Noble role
THE sex scandal and the downfall of a minister have shocked our society.
However, by his admission of his impropriety and resignation from all party and government posts in the interests of his party, the government and the nation, the ex-minister has reaffirmed the cardinal principle of personal accountability of any public figure for his actions in office, and restored his personal honour as a responsible leader.
As for the perpetrators of that plot to entrap the minister for whatever personal or political agendas, they are nothing but the worst kind of common criminals. Their act of clandestinely recording the intimacy of two adults is an invasion of privacy of fellow citizens.
Lastly, in times of public scandals involving public figures, we overlook the quiet and noble role that is played by a wife standing resolutely behind her husband.
Our admiration goes to Datin Seri Wong Sek Hin for her fortitude and dignity in weathering a political storm beside her husband.
TAI HEAN KIAT, Sungai Buloh, Selangor
Lesser offence
I REFER to the comment by Tunku Abdul Azziz on sexual indiscretions and politicians (”New standards for public service” — NST, Jan 6).
How refreshing to hear someone as distinguished as the Tunku cutting through the hypocrisy surrounding the downfall of health minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.
While not condoning his actions, surely his offence is of a much lesser degree than many political leaders who have abused their positions for financial or political gains and yet remained in power.
The private lives of politicians are an easy target for the unscrupulous.
This case looks like a plot which could have been used either to destroy a political career or for financial blackmail.

Dr Chua has been exemplary in tendering his resignation when he sensed the tide of public opinion going against him. He has made a mistake in thinking that Malaysians and, in particular, our political leaders, are mature enough to see the significance of these events after his confession and apology.

Ironically, Dr Chua’s resignation may have a more salutary effect on the political scene than his continued tenure as an able and competent minister.
DR CHOONG SIM POEY, Penang
Review law
FOLLOWING the Dr Chua Soi Lek sex DVD scandal, there are calls for the abolition of the law prohibiting oral sex. I think that most fair-minded Malaysians would support this call.
There are many reasons why this anachronistic law should be repealed.
The enforcement of this law is difficult if not impossible and unnecessary.
How does the law prevent consenting adults from having oral sex in the privacy of their own home?
Probably many people are having a good laugh at this law as they are doing it all the time and the law is as good as dead.

Why should the law dictate what consenting adults do in private as long as they do not disturb other people or violate public decency?
Sex counsellors and psychiatrists dealing with sexual problems view oral sex as a normal and even desirable sexual activity among their patients.
Are they breaking the law with this clinical practice and approach?

We are now in the 21st century. Laws are important but laws must be practical. If we have laws that become a laughing matter, then a relook at the law is necessary.
DR W.K.K., Kuala Lumpur

Source: NST – January 9, 2008