Was it, as the Star reported, a "historic moment"? Three men -- deputy president Lim Ah Lek, vice-presidents Chua Jui Meng and Chan Kong Choy, intractible political foes of Ling -- remained seated, did not join in. They read the Chinese mood better than Ling, knew what it meant to the Chinese, a 32-year-old dream come true. A misstep would cause them plenty.

Suhakam was set up to mollify foreign criticism in the wake of the Anwar imbroglio. It was Suhakam that got Tan Sri Rahim to admit he beat up a handcuffed and blindfolded Anwar. Police regulations forbid investigation of prisoners and detainees when handcuffed or blindfolded. He got away lightly with a two-month sentence. But that he was convicted and jailed makes the point. Future cases of political brutality when it comes to court would not be leniently treated. The invogorated Malaysian would not allow it. The Anwar medical problem forced the health minister, Dato' Chua Jui Meng, to give a full account in Parliament and answer questions for 30 minutes. That he had to shows the re-emergence of a democratic society in which elected officials are kept on their toes.

When the government firmly decides on a course of action, it is not an act of finality as one would expect, but to find ways to vary it. It does not matter if it has to do the third brake-light on motor vehicles or the return of the jailed former deputy prime minister, Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim, from his "luxurious" ward at the General Hospital to spartan quarters at Sungei Buloh prison. After he was brusquely told he would if he did not agree to a surgical option he rejects, the health minister, Dato' Chua Jui Meng, dilly dallies when asked when. "A detailed briefing has been given to diplomats, the Parliament and the media. The records are clear," he said airily and offhandedly. What, pray, has this to do with the ultimatum on his surgery Dato' Seri Anwar was given?

The government has briefed diplomats, including one last week where the health minister, Dato' Chua Jui Meng, and 14 specialists, most of whom not specialists in the medical problem Dato' Seri Anwar has, held forth. Even the specialists he consulted are brought to back up the government's claims. Now, Dato' Seri Abdullah justifies the humane treatment it metes out to him. It is for Dato' Seri Anwar to decide on how he would be treated, he assures UMNO members. But somehow the more he and his colleagues talk about it, the more they are disbelieved.

The health minister, Dato' Chua Jui Meng, lies in Parliament about the jailed former foreign minister, Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The foreign minister, Dato' Seri Syed Hamid Albar, meets European Union ambassadors individually over two days, after he meets ASEAN and other envoys after the Keadilan president, Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, meets them over her husband's medical problems. The government arrests eight under the Internal Security Act to yet destroy the likes of what makes it nervous. Its nervousness is reflected in the deputy prime minister, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's remark when he told police after the arrests that "one black eye is enought" and did not want two or three more.

It is proof, if proof be needed, that when an active opposition exists, as now, the government is kept on its toes, and forced to reveal more than it wants to. It does not if the health minister, Chua Jui Meng, said less than the truth, it does not matter if what he said of former deputy prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim's medical problems was contentious. More important is that he did.

The health minister, Dato' Chua Jui Meng, who himself considered open heart surgery overseas before he was told to have it done locally, accused Dato' Seri Anwar of maligning the quality of Malaysian medical and health care, the Prime Minister feared that once overseas, he would not return. But he fears he would -- to cause him more headaches! The Hospital Kuala Lumpur did not have the facilities for the surgery but promised, in the press, to bring them from hospitals all over the country. What they did not have, Dr Thomas Hoogland could bring with him. Were it that simple!

There is no comparison. Dr Mahathir had a heart attack in the middle of the night and quick surgery was required, but plans were then afoot to have it overseas. His health minister, Dato' Chua Jui Meng, was all set to have his open heart surgery overseas but had it done locally when he was told to have it done locally. Why did he even think of overseas for what is now a routine operation in Malaysia? Open heart surgery is well advanced in Malaysia; endoscopic spinal microscopic surgery is not.

The health minister, Dato' Chua Jui Meng, is upset that many who pledged -- indeed nine out of 10 -- to donate to the 2001 Telekanser Campaign reneged on their promise. "I cannot comprehend how people can take such a cause so lightly and have fun out of it ... this is a serious matter in which lives can be saved," he said, and advised the public not to make prank calls. But in such hyped call for donations on television, people do pledge donations for no reason than to see their names amongst the donors. Telekanser's record is not unusual.

The health minister, Dato' Chua Jui Meng, is incensed that in this stalemate over the jailed former deputy prime minister, Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim's surgery, Malaysia's "world class" medical facilities is in question. He has no doubt about how good it is. Which no doubt is why, when he had had to have cardiac bypass surgery, his first choice was a well-known hospital 10,000 miles away. But, amidst the controversy over Dato' Seri Anwar's health, he was ordered not to, and had it instead at the Institiut Jantung Negara. If he is so convinced about the quality of Malaysian health and medical care, why did he even contemplate going overseas for it? Is it any wonder then that a man the government would rather see disappear into thin air is worried about his surgery? Especially when the life-threatening surgery is not available here and must be done in make-shift conditions.

The operation must be in Malaysia. The health minister, Chua Jui Meng, even argues Anwar is anti-national for insisting upon the operation overseas, and for casting aspersions on local medical talent. The director of the Kuala Lumpur Hospital says all facilities can be brought in from hospitals all over the country, but for the endoscope. So, the operation, it is argued, can be done locally.

The health minister, Dato' Chua Jui Meng, now discovers generic drugs. He says in view of higher pharmaceutical drug prices, as much as 30 per cent, people should go for generic drugs which he now says is equally reliable. But he does not say where they could be got. Ask a pharmacy, any pharmacy, in Kuala Lumpur or the major towns, and most would tell you they do not stock them. As your doctor to prescribe generic drugs, and he invariably would not have any in stock. But generic drugs are easily available in other countries without difficulty, and doctors often give you the option of a branded or generic drugs.

Dengue fever has visited the mother of a former cabinet minister, and one other member of the household in the Kuala Lumpur part of Section 16, beside the Universiti Hospital. It has also visited several residences in Damansara Heights. Suddenly, the anti-malarial force, noted for its threats and pontificating statements to the press, are rushing helter skelter taking measures they should have done as a matter of course to staunch the onset of the disease. The Health Minister, Dato' Chua Jui Meng, and his minions will not accept the presence of any disease until his ministry tells them of it. We saw his handling of the Coxsackie fuss, of which we have numerous conflicting statements about what caused all this, but no solution; and since the fuss is over, there is no further research on this subject.

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