The Name's Bond, James Bond

I just watched clip of a recent proceeding in Parliament. Apparently, if we were to go by what our Deputy Health Minister, Dr. Abdul Latiff Ahmad, has to say apparently our country's doctors are equivalent to the famous '007' British spy.

Take a read from Malaysiakini, dated May 26:

Deputy Health Minister Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad sparked an uproar in the Dewan Rakyat when he described medical doctors as having a “licence to kill”.

MCPX

Replying to Alexander Nanta Linggi (BN-Kapit) on the shortage of doctors in remote areas of Sarawak, he explained that local universities are not producing sufficiently skilled doctors.

As a result, he said, the ministry is unable to approve their employment, adding: “As you all know, doctors have a licence to kill and a licence to cure.”

On hearing this, Dr Hatta Ramli (PAS-Kuala Krai) demanded a retraction of the statement as “it could send a negative signal to the public”.

“I am a doctor myself and I demand that (you) retract your statement. It is not wise to say that doctors have a licence to kill. What kind of message are you sending the public?” he asked.

Dr Lo’ Lo Mohd Ghazali (PAS-Titiwangsa), another medical doctor, also criticised Abdul Latiff. Several of her Pakatan Rakyat colleagues then added to the barrage of calls for retraction.

Speaker Pandika Mulia Amin tried to control the commotion and ordered Abdul Latiff to retract his statement. The unrepentant deputy minister refused to do so, only saying that he would not repeat it.

Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timor) pointed out that, under Standing Order 243, Abdul Latiff had to comply with the Speaker’s instructions.

Abdul Latiff remained adamant, explaining that he did not mean any harm by his words.

“It was just a figure of speech. I had no intention of denigrating anyone. What I meant to say was that we cannot allow unskilled medical graduates to practise because lives are at stake,” he clarified.

The Speaker accepted his explanation and directed him to continue with his reply.

Abdul Latiff said the government has introduced measures to tackle the shortage of skilled personnel, such as re-hiring retired medical officers who have served with the health ministry.

“We also have increased medical education opportunities and work closely with the human resource ministry to encourage skilled workers working abroad to return and work here,” he added.

The article stops there, no idea why. It left out the part that Abdul Latiff, who is also the MP for Mersing, saying "Saya tidak minta maaf tetapi saya tarik balik kenyataan itu." ("I do not apologize (for my earlier comment) but I will retract my statement.") You can get the details of the proceedings in Parliament on this issue (in Malay) from both http://mppas.wordpress.com and HarakahDaily.

To the Deputy Minister of Health:

Okay, first of all, what do you mean by "license to cure" and "license to kill" that caused this whole argument in Parliament that lasted for a good 25 minutes or so? From what I understand from the term 'license' it means 'to have permission to do or not to do something'. Are you telling me that doctors have permission to heal or not heal someone? Or to kill or not kill someone? Do you mean that when a person goes to a clinic seeking medical aid, a doctor has the privilege of saying "no"? What the... of all the moronic things I've heard in my life!

I have doctor friends, I have friends who are studying medicine, and according to my understanding of their noble field, garnered from the multiple sharings during teh tarik sessions, a doctor is required by medical ethics to help anyone and everyone that is in need of their expertise! No "but", no "if", not even "maybe". They don't have a so-called 'license to cure', it's what they sacrifice 7 or more years of their lives studying to do! And then, what is this bullshit of doctors having the "license to kill"? A doctor's mission is to SAVE LIVES! How can you be a doctor when you can't even comprehend something that simple, which they tell you on the first day of enrollment in any medical institution? And you're the Deputy Health Minister? Awesome!

You know you made a mistake in your statement, or if you didn't (which means you probably graduated at the bottom of your class) your fellow doctors in Parliament were trying to make it clear to you that it was a mistake! Yet you can still say that you're not sorry. I will never understand you. Perhaps 'pride' really is man's greatest weakness after all.

Well, here's hoping that one day you choose to use that "license to kill" on yourself, or that you choke on air and die! You've just disgraced your own profession and your fellow peers, and if one day you were to find yourself in need of their help, I hope in the spirit of proving that you were right,

THEY DON'T GIVE TWO FUCKS!

The Good, The Bad, And The Funny!

The Good

If you've been following some of the news lately, besides the Mahathir-Pak Lah Saga and the whole Pulau Batu Puteh deal, this would've caught your attention in the news:

Govt Has No Plans To Increase Fuel Prices - Shahir

MELAKA, May 24 (Bernama) -- The government has no plans to increase fuel price despite the price hike of petrol by 30 per cent in Indonesia beginning Saturday, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad said.

On the contrary, he said the government was now focusing on managing the subsidy system to prevent leakage and smuggling.

"For the time being, we are not considering increasing the price of petrol and diesel although we are aware of the impact of the crude oil price hike in the world market.

"We will see how the subsidy system is being managed to encourage saving and ensure that there will be no detrimental effects (to the country)," he told reporters after attending a consumer forum and dialogue at Ayer Keroh here Saturday.

Shahrir said, with the fuel price reaching AS$135 (RM434.18) a barrel, it had put the government under more pressure in managing the subsidy system.

Now that's good isn't it? I mean, if there's anything to be thankful for, it's that the fuel prices in this country won't be increasing tomorrow! Then again, those leading the Govt are known to change their minds as often as the price of crude oil changes these days, so I won't be singing praises just yet. Give me a year, and if it still remains, I might compose a song for them, to be sung throughout the ages! Speaking about the price of oil, I picked up today's edition of the NST and I found something 'amusing'. Did you know that 30 years ago, the price of crude oil was around USD1.80 a barrel? Today, the price is USD140 a barrel! It's just so unbelievable that oil was ever that cheap that it just made me laugh!

Anyway, moving on...

The Bad

Alright. This just pissed me off when I read it. Taken from Fong Po Kuan's blog, the MP for Batu Gajah:

I tried but failed. None wants to take responsibility for cancelling the decision to use the indelible ink, four days before the recent general election.

This evening, a few opposition MPs tried hard to find out more about this issue when Datuk Seri Nazri was replying on behalf of the Prime Minister’s Department but we were more confused after hearing Datuk Seri Nazri replies. In fact, I found more inconsistencies.

Nazri blamed it on Election Commission (EC). Also, Nazri kept repeating the “concern” of the Cabinet and stressed that the Cabinet wanted to ensure that none would be denied the right to vote under Art. 119 of the Federal Constitution. He did not deliberate much on the police reports lodged related to “smuggling of ink.” (I will put up the complete details when the Hansard is ready.)

Read more on that here. My say on it: This is just bullshit! You guys fucked up! A few days ago the damn Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar confirmed that there was "no evidence of any indelible ink being smuggled in from neighbouring countries as alleged by the EC chairman". Then after that, on the 17th of May, the SPR chairman issued a statement to the contrary and said he had been instructed by the Cabinet to cancel plans to use the indelible ink. In short, you fucked up! Big time! Now not only can't you explain how it is that the Cabinet had a say in the matter at all, especially four days before the elections, you're pointing fingers that it's the EC's fault for the whole mess.

Hasn't the 12th GE taught you guys anything? THE PEOPLE DON'T TRUST YOU! The rakyat know that you guys just lie through your teeth and you guys just never give us a reason to give you the benefit of the doubt! Come on! Show a bit of humility, be humble enough to admit that you guys fucked up and you won't do it again, that you'll start playing nice, and we might just let you get off on a lighter sentence! Else, the hammer will strike, and you will definitely hear the fat lady sing! So cut the crap, stop lying or hiding, and just come out and be responsible adults, we want the TRUTH! After all, it's not like we don't already know that you guys fucked us up during the last GE in someway, so it won't be anything that'll cause heart attacks nationwide.

Enough of this shit.

The Funny

UMNO = Sarkis (circus)? I stumbled upon this while reading Rocky's Bru. Apparently the comedian, among other things, that was P. Ramlee had quite the balls in his day! The movie 'Bujang Lapuk' has to be one of my favourites of that era and like most, this scene had escaped me as one that was actually poking fun at UMNO.

To understand the joke better, redirect yourself to another post by OpEd, P.Ramlee - Umno = Circus!

Hilarious! Now try imagine any current local movie doing something like this and getting away with it! Ha ha.

Hats off to you Tan Sri! You certainly were quite the joker!

Parliament Unites In Condemnation!

Why is it when I decide to take a break, the 'interesting' news just never stops flowing? This is the first of a series of posts on issues I would like to bring to attention, and hopefully I don't run out of stamina before the posts are made!

Anyway, a few days back, this was on The Malaysian Insider:

Threat to Karpal unites parliament in condemnation

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 — Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat today temporarily buried their differences over Karpal Singh and jointly condemned the death threat against him. On Tuesday afternoon, a man wearing a full-faced helmet, dropped off an envelope at the veteran lawyer’s office in Kuala Lumpur.

The letter contained a live bullet and a note warning him not to question the special rights of the Malays and the constitutional powers of the sultans. It said that if he persisted, the bullet will be lodged in his forehead.

Karpal, the DAP MP for Bukit Gelugor and one of the most recognisable politicians here, has been at the centre of controversy after he questioned the powers of the Perak Sultan to override the Menteri Besar and reinstate the head of the state’s religious department.

He has been criticised heavily by BN politicians, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and the Attorney-General’s Chambers is mulling bringing charges of sedition against him.

But all that baggage was left behind today as MPs condemned the death threat against DAP chairman Karpal Singh.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said the act went against how Malaysians resolved disputes.

"If there is any unhappiness about his (Karpal's) statement, we have proper channels in the Malaysian system to deal with this," he said during a press conference attended by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, Opposition leader Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and DAP MP Gobind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong), Karpal's son.

Lim said the DAP opposed any form of violence. “We believe in the ballot, not the bullet," he said, hoping that the police would offer protection to Karpal.

Umno Youth chief Datuk Hishammuddin Hussein, who has crossed swords with Karpal on a number of occasions, said: “We want the police to investigate and take action. Although there were racial sentiments in statements made by Karpal, we do not condone death threats. We do not support anyone who sends bullets."

Wow. It's nice to see that our Members of Parliament are human beings after all, that despite their differences, they have it in themselves to actually condemn the threat that was made towards him (Karpal).

It's the right thing to do, and these people actually knew it! I'm flabbergasted! For once party politics were pushed aside! Did you ever thought it was possible in your lifetime? There might be hope still.

Well, kudos to you, both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat MPs! Let's just hope that this puts an end to the whole issue, and that those responsible (the man in the full-faced helmet and his accomplices) are caught. I don't think Malaysia is that bad, that we have to resolve to 'barbaric' ways to end conflicts. That is not the Malaysia that I would want to live in, and its definitely not the Malaysia that we are all fighting for.

So once again,
KUDOS TO OUR MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT!