MALAYSIA – past,present & future

CM should reach out to the people

The Kg.Buah Pala issue in Penang seems to reveal that goodness and righteousness alone on the part of a political leader is not enough to overcome the multitude of problems facing the people. What is equally important is political shrewdness and astuteness of the leadership that only comes with experience and maturity. A leader may be good and righteous but unless he has the shrewdness to avoid offending the electorate unnecessarily, he may not survive politically.

The issue of Kg.Buah Pala is not something that sprang up overnight but has been going on for some time from the time of the previous government. Evicting long-staying residents on public land had always been a very thorny problem that is closely inter-twined with social and human rights issues that are easily sensationalised by the media and exploited by opportunist political opponents.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s decision to allow protest by unhappy residents against his government and his willingness to accept their memorandum is a cordial atmosphere by his representatives must be commended. Such an accommodative stance towards protestors is indeed rare. However the absence of his personal involvement was regretted by the people who had high expectations in his new government which they thought would be different from the previous one.

Lim had the opportunity to turn the problem that he inherited from his predecessor to his advantage by paying a visit to the village during the early days of the crisis to express his solidarity with the people there. He should have revealed to them the truth of what really happened to their land and the tremendous limitations under which he has now to work to bring an amicable solution. He should have advised the aggrieved parties to turn to the Federal Government for help.

Although there may be residents who are out to take advantage of the situation for massive monetary gains, there are those who are genuinely desperate and living in fear of losing their livelihood and homes. It is the duty of the state government to protect the interests of these desperate residents regardless of who caused their hardship and predicament. A simple courteous visit to explain the limitations of his government would have gone a long way to win the hearts of the majority of the residents.

Lim had missed the opportunity that was available to him to show that his government is a people-friendly one, willing to go out of the way to relief the people’s burden, which was not his making, regardless of race or creed. Failing to do that has resulted in he being accused of being heartless, cruel, racist and taking sides with the developer for commercial gains over the people’s welfare which most Penangites know is not true. He is being accused of being arrogant for not wanting to meet the residents to listen to their grouses when they came to see him. He is being accused of violating human rights, the very harsh criticism he had for the previous government.

The land that houses the ‘High Chaparral’ has been sold and development project planned by a private developer well before the Pakatan government came into power. From the way the issue had developed we are aware that there is not much the state government can do to save the ‘High Chaparral’ as the proceedings were done legally. Even the Federal Court has ruled in favour of the developer against the residents. The present state government is not being blamed for the crisis but the way the it handled the problem had created a lot of unhappiness among the people who had voted for the Pakatan Rakyat, which they expected to be more people-friendly than its predecessor.

The lesson to be learnt from this issue is that the government should accountable and forthright in its dealings at all levels. The truth must be revealed and not submerged by false promises made for political gains. The truth, that the residents will have to finally vacate, may be bitter but will eventually be accepted by the people.

The Kg.Buah Pala dilemma may be a political issue for some and a legal or commercial one for others. For the genuinely desperate residents it is an emotional issue that affects their livelihood and the very existence of their homes where they have been living for over a century. The only solution is by way of negotiations, not force, possibly involving the federal government in a considerate, fair and humane manner for a win-win situation.

Getting to the root of loan sharking

The recent revelations of the operations of loan sharks (Ah Longs) is very flabbergasting and bring shame to all Malaysians who cherish goodwill and kindness as their way of life. Pictures of men displayed in the mainstream media who were abducted and held captive by being chained like criminals is very disturbing. These remind us of the days of slavery. It is unbelievable that Malaysians who are generally known for their friendliness and kindness can resort to such cruel acts against desperate fellow citizens. What has gone wrong with us?

Loan sharking has wrecked many individuals and their families at the prime of life. It has to be stopped before more become victims of the menace which is a form of modern-day slavery. The problem of loan sharking is getting worse with borrowers having to pay extremely high interest rates and to face unethical modes of collection.

It is heartening to know that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) is taking the problem of loan sharks rather seriously with his decision to go all out to hunt down and bring these culprits to task. However it is not enough for the police to capture and punish few cruel loan sharks each time their atrocity is highlighted in the media. What is needed is a whole-hearted, dedicated, full time and lasting commitment of the police force to fight this menace. More money, time and energy must be spent to fight crimes like this that brings tremendous hardship to the people.

Greed and the get-rich-quickly attitude that is prevalent among us today contribute greatly to the flourishing trade of loan sharks. In the pursuit of wealth and more wealth there is no place for compassion and empathy for fellow humans who are desperately in need. Ironically our materialistic system today seems to encourage such a culture where the rich and powerful are glorified, idolised and put on high pedestals regardless of how they acquired their wealth and status.

Punitive action against a few Ah Longs and borrowers may deter some but will not solve the problem altogether. What is needed is to get to the root cause of this menace and come out with a comprehensive plan that includes education of the populace regarding financial management and prudence, the disasters of excessive borrowing, social and moral responsibility to society. There must be deliberate attempts to bring change in the Malaysian mindset which blindly pursue material gains that can be detrimental to the well-being of the society.

Poverty, either absolute or relative undoubtedly, is a major factor that contributes to the flourishing of loan sharking. There is no way we can succeed in fighting loan sharking without a concerted effort of all parties to eradicate poverty in our midst. It is not the rich and powerful who resort to Ah Longs but the poor and helpless in society who are forced into the arms of unscrupulous loan sharks who in turn exploit them to the maximum. Although the major responsibility in on the government, all citizens have a role to play in eradicating poverty among fellow citizens regardless of race or creed.

The government must look into the setting up of a loan scheme for those in dire need for financial assistance but with no fixed income to prevent them from resorting to loan sharks. The unreasonable requirements imposed by big financial institutions and non-helpful counter officers often make their applications for even a meager loan almost an impossible feat. Loans and other forms of financial grants must be made available easily to those who really deserve and are eligible, without favoritism and unreasonable collaterals.

Borrowing and lending of money are acceptable and healthy practices that have been in existence for ages. However those involved must comply with to some acceptable norms in this trade. There must be mutual respect and appreciation by those involved in this activity as it benefits both the borrower and lender alike.

One year on and still waiting for change

Only the people can bring change

We are in the eve of the first anniversary of the historic elections on March 8 when people put aside their racial and religious differences to vote for a stronger opposition thereby denying the Barisan Nasional(BN) its 2/3 majority in parliament for the first time in over 50 years. It was the people’s civil way of saying enough is enough to the increasing arrogance, abuse of power and corruption that had become prevalent in the country.

It was the first time a significant opposition alliance, the Pakatan Rakyat(PR) came into existence, that really threatened the BN to the core. The credit for the formation of alliance was largely due to PKR Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his comrades Datuk Seri Hadi Awang and Lim Kit Siang. PR’s consistent campaign against power abuse, corrution and its stand for multiracialism, won the people’s hearts and they gave PR the additional bonus to rule five states.

This massive victory for the opposition was not only unprecedented but unexpected that shocked the mighty ruling BN, the opposition and the people alike. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should be commended for his gentlemanly attitude in graciously conceding defeat and that resulted in the peace and tranquility that followed. However chaos and turmoil continued to reign in Umno and its major partners, the MCA, MIC and Gerakan, till today.

The outcome of the polls sent a stronger and formidable opposition to parliament and the people’s hopes for a better performance in the 12th Parliament were raised. There were hopes for the evolution of a two-party political system that would provide a better check and balance governance. There were hopes for the dismantling of racial politics whereby all citizens will be considered as Malaysians without any racial prejudice. However with the unfolding of events in the subsequent months, these hopes of the people seem to be slowly eluding them. The most miserable disclosure was the failure of our parliamentarians to meet the high expectations of the people. They failed to realize that they have a wiser and more mature electorate who want greater openness and accountability. They want a more intellectual and democratic debate in parliament on all issues that affect them.

A year has passed by and regrettably our wakil rakyats have yet to rise up to these expectations. Instead of effecting the change demanded by the people, our elected representatives are preoccupied with undermining the government elected by the people by unethical and corrupt means. Instead of allowing the people’s government to continue serving the people until the next elections they want to topple it by mass defections by luring political crossovers with money and position, that are unethical and immoral. It is sad that certain lawmakers have betrayed their voter’s trust by succumbing to such temptations. The ruling and opposition MPs refuse to unite to confront the common problems facing the nation. They treat each other as enemies whereas in actual fact they are supposed to be comrades in their service to the nation and the people.

The call for change that was voiced by the people on March 8 was repeated on two subsequent by-elections in Permatang Pauh and Kuala Terengganu but regrettably these calls too appeared to have fallen on deaf ears. The ugly constitutional crisis in Perak bears testimony to this uncaring attitude of our politicians.

The way the Perak government was ousted leaves much to be desired and the whole episode simply goes to show the total disregard for the wishes of the real masters – the rakyat. Meanwhile there seems to be no end to racial politics as it raises its ugly head from time to time. Instead of trying to quench the tensions that arise from racial disputes it is sad that there are those who fan these racial sentiments for political mileage. We are left wondering whether a day will ever come when Malaysians will be not guided by color and creed but by the love for their country in dealing with one another as fellow citizens.

Despite the win by the opposition, it was not given due recognition as elected representatives of the people. Their rights were denied and voices ignored. The public institutions like the police, judiciary, anti-corruption agencies that were supposed to be totally apolitical and independent were not even seen to be so in dealing with the opposition.

Our politicians seem to be least perturbed by the warnings of the imminent financial crisis by economists worldwide. According to the Human Resources Ministry over 100,000 Malaysians will lose their jobs by the end of this year which highlights the gravity of the economic turmoil that we are in for in the coming months. Instead of pooling our resources and putting aside their differences, to brace for these rough times ahead, our politicians are preoccupied with their political game of gaining power by any means. The present the ‘ends-justifying-the-means’ style of governance is beginning to cause a lot of anxiety among all sections of the people.

Despite these setbacks, the most important positive change that was brought about by the historic elections was the change in the mindset of the people to accept the opposition as a viable alternate government in the future. This was unimaginable a decade ago when the opposition was painted as the villain always causing problems for the hero, BN. The people have come to accept the opposition as also their rightful representative whose role is equally important to that of the ruling party. The people should be saluted for their exceptional maturity in ensuring that this change was brought about peacefully. Our hopes are ignited that with this maturity and wisdom of the people they will continue to resist attempts by unscrupulous politicians from exploiting racial and religious sentiments to gain power.

The alternate Internet media should be largely credited to the development of this high maturity and wisdom of the voters who are increasingly becoming more literate and discernable. This cyber-media is going to be crucial factor in deciding the outcome of the subsequent elections and with that tool easily available to more and more Malaysians, especially the young, the voters are not going to be easily fooled. Unfortunately of late the political game has taken a turn for the worst where ethics, democratic principles and respect for the law have become irrelevant. The efforts in promoting change have been bogged down over issues of race, religion and the royalty.

These new challenges were aptly described by Anwar in his address to his party stalwarts recently,” We are facing an emotional propaganda — three Rs — race, religion and royalty. These three emotive issues have developed into the Malay psychology. If the people are not shown the real picture on these issues they will be fooled with arguments on the symbols of race, religion and royalty, which will bring their way of thinking back into the feudal era.”

All parties must appreciate the volatility and sensitivities of these issues and handle these them logically with great care and moderation. After coming this far we should not allow rash actions dictated by emotions to reverse the change we are striving to promote. The BN,in particular Umno, being the backbone of the ruling coalition must take the lead to bring change to benefit all Malaysians. It has promised to bring change and reforms but we are yet to see any genuine and tangible change for the betterment of all. Instead Umno is changing to please only its 3 million or so members, to be exact its 3000 party delegates, not the more than 20 million other Malaysians who also have a legitimate stake in their motherland.

After a year of bitter politicking we are back to square one as far as democratization of our nation is concerned. We are again at the crossroads between greater democratization and lawlessness. The ongoing Perak crisis has created genuine fear that our new leadership will not have the wisdom to steer the nation towards the path of the former but return to a state of lawlessness and mob rule that has been rejected by the people.

In the midst of these uncertainties,one thing is sure, Malaysians today are beginning to be convinced that the rakyat, not the politicians, are the ones who can bring the change that will help realize the aspirations of the people for a peaceful, democratic and united Malaysia. With the increasing wisdom and maturity of the people and the cyber-media easily available to them our hopes for a brighter future is still very much alive.

Dr.Chris Anthony

Najib calls for change but will it ever come?

January 21, 2009 was a historic day for the people of the United States of America and to a certain extent to the people all over the world, in particular nations that profess to practice democracy. It was the day when Barack Obama became the 44th US president as the first black leader of the nation, shattering the American racial barriers.

In his much awaited inaugural speech he promised to free the country from its economic crisis and to restore the respect and credibility of his country among the nations of the world. The world especially the poorer nations are beginning to perceive that the US is becoming arrogant, inconsiderate and hegemonic. It refuses to listen to the world opinion and unilaterally bulldozers its views and decisions with little regards for the well being of poorer nations that are struggling to survive, plagued with poverty, war and tyranny. It does not practice what it preaches with regards to democracy and human rights.

Obama did not deny the fact that the US is losing the respect and credibility that it used to enjoy among the world community decades ago. He did not hide the fact that his country is seriously affected by the economic crisis. He admitted all the shortcomings of his nation saying they are serious and many. Admitting that challenges he faces are real he however wowed to do his best to overcome them.

He called on his countrymen to pick themselves up, dust themselves off considering the complexity of the world today. Whether Obama can succeed remains to be seen in the coming weeks and months but he has set his foot on the right path by admitting his shortcomings and pledging to act to overcome them. and begin the work of remaking America saying be ready to lead once more. He promised to bring the change that will restore the respect and admiration of the world for America once more.

Americans and the people all the world have placed too much confidence on Obama to effect the changes that the US and the world are in dire need. His tasks are formidable

On the home front Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib has also called for change of Umno at all levels warning that it will perish if it fails to do so. His call comes in the wake of rejection of the BN by the people for the third time in ten months. It is a sternest warning to date and the members of his party must take it very seriously if they want Umno and BN to remain relevant.

“Change” has become a household word these days and since the last general elections everybody seems to be calling for change and it may be relevant for us to reflect what it really means for our nation. Change is when something becomes different or made to become different from what is presently in existence.

The changes that we initiate today should transform the nation to a state that reflects its past glory. Being in power for over 50 years, only the BN, in particular Umno, is in a position to bring the change the nation really needs. Only by changing itself can it help all Malaysians to adopt a change of mindset and attitude in order to succeed in this highly competitive global world.

There is a need to adopt a mindset that accepts all citizens as Malaysians with equal educational and job opportunities based on merit. There must be a strongly conviction that corruption in any form and degree is morally wrong and must be fought vigorously.  There is a need to change in attitude to respect and uphold the basic human rights of all citizens regardless of race, creed, social standing and political ideology. These include the right to assemble peacefully to voice dissent and the freedom of worship.

The new mindset must acknowledge that it is the right not a privilege for every citizen to be provided with quality and affordable healthcare, education, housing personal security. Poverty transcends race and religion and so must be its eradication. There is a need to accept that the civil service, judiciary and police must be independent and highly professional at all times and the rule of law must be upheld always at all costs.

The new leadership of Umno must acknowledge the serious economic, social, political and inter-ethnic problems the nation is facing and take the lead to change. They must initiate the steps to bring about these changes at all levels of Malaysian society. There has been too much talk of change but very little seriousness in wanting to really change. Change may be bitter for some but is inevitable and as the Najib says if we do not change we will perish.

The change promised by Obama may soon come to the US. Will the change to reform the nation as promised by our incoming Prime Minister ever materialise? Gauging by what is taking place it appears rather remote but with the extraordinary amount of resilience and perseverance of the rakyat there is no reason for that not to happen one day.

Dr.Chris Anthony
25 January 2009

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A dream fulfilled

November 4, 2008 was a historic day for the United States of America (USA).It was a day that brought hope to millions around the world especially in third world countries. An illustrious son of a once enslaved race was elected as the President of the most powerful nation on earth. It was a proud moment not just for the person elected and for the community he comes from but above all for the nation itself which has been a beacon of democracy for the rest of the world. Indeed the election of Barrack Hussein Obama is a sign his country is really a land of democracy, freedom and equal opportunities for all.

Nearly 150 years ago Abraham Lincoln passed a law to abolish slavery saying “A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure; permanently half slave and half free”. He went against all odds to do something right and courageous to protect the honor and dignity of mankind, an act that could have cost him his life, but by doing so he became one of the greatest presidents of the USA. His bold actions at that time initiated the changes that led his country to achieve the enviable state it is in today.

A 100 years later Martin Luther King Jr.proclaimed “I have a dream that one day the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that my children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

Today the bold and courageous action of Lincoln to abolish slavery had produced the desired result. The dream of Luther have become a reality, a descendant of slaves has been overwhelmingly chosen to become the leader of the country.

Obama’s election is not just a personal victory for him,his family and his community but a victory for his nation as well which is regarded as a beacon of democracy for the entire world. It is also a moral victory for the minorities in the US and all countries across the globe especially for those who are marginalized and deprived of their legitimate rights in their respective states.

The election of Obama as the first black American to the White House is a much needed moral booster for the US, whose integrity and reputation as the leader of the free world has suffered over the last decade or so. With Obama’s win the US may have a greater moral authority to push for freedom and human rights to oppressive governments all over the world.

Obama comes from an African-American community which constitutes about just 13% of the population. It has the highest rates of ill health, unemployment and crime. Despite coming from such an impoverished minority group he succeeded in being elected to the highest office in the land. It goes to show that Americans in general have put behind racism to vote for change and that is a very encouraging sign, especially at a time when the world is torn apart by war and violence resukting from racial and religious differences. In fact surveys show about 80% of all American voters said ethnicity was not a factor in their choice of their president.

What does Obama’s victory mean to us and many around the world? We hope what happened in the US will be an example for all countries with diverse ethnic population especially those that profess to practice democracy. It is a lesson for them on how they should treat the minorities in their own country. The US remains a superpower because of its open policy where all citizens regardless of race, color and creed are given equal opportunities to contribute to the development of the nation. All its citizens are equal in the eyes of the law and racial discrimination of any sorts is a serious offence that is not compromised for whatever reasons.

We too can become a leading nation like the US if we are willing to adopt the right approach and ideals and tap the potentials of all the races, a policy based on multiracialism. All ethnic groups must be considered equal and this must be stipulated in the laws of the country and the people educated to adopt such a mindset. All race-based political parties must be disbanded and reformed into true multiracial ones. Appointments to top posts in government and government linked companies must be based on purely merit, not ethnicity.

We lost the opportunity to do so by rejecting the visionary views of our Lincoln,Dato Onn Jaffar 60 years ago. If only we had accepted his ideas to make Umno a party for all races at that time, today we may among the ranks of the top powers in the world. However it is never too late as we are now given a second chance when the people have demanded such a multiracial approach in their verdict on March 8.Unfortunately there are still many quarters who blatantly disregard the people’s call and are bent on maintaining the obsolete race-based policies forever, not realizing their actions will only bring disaster in the near future.

It is time for all Malaysians to share a common dream, a dream that one day Malaysia becomes a developed nation by the whole-hearted contribution of all its citizens regardless of ethnicity, a day when all communities are accepted as equal and every citizen feels equally proud to be called Malaysians.

We are on the brink of leadership change at the highest level. The people like their counterparts in the US have transcended race and religion and overwhelmingly voted for change. Can our leaders like, the people, rise above the ethnic divide to bring about that change to adopt multiracialism as the preferred system of governance? Do they have the wisdom to place the nation above race for the long-term wellbeing on the country? The recent squabble over the PKNS appointment sadly indicates otherwise.

Obama says he in the president of all Americans including those who did not vote for him. Likewise we hope our incoming Prime Minister can pledge to be the leader for all Malaysians; Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans, Ibans and others. Can he acquire the courage and the will to initiate the cascade reactions that will lead to the dawn of a new Malaysia where all races can work together hand in hand without fear or suspicion to realize our Malaysian dream? We may call our country a democracy but it only be a true democratic nation when we produce our own Malaysian Barrack Obama.

Dr.Chris Anthony

She saw God in all her perils

Many people pass us by in life but only certain individuals leave a lasting and vivid impression in our minds. Those who impress us during our childhood seem to leave a permanent imprint in our memory. Sometimes these memories are pleasant but at times they can be bitter and disturbing and haunts us for the rest of our lives.

As the years pass and as we grow up we may encounter many obstacles in our struggles to seek success and happiness in our lives. Many of us become very successful but the memories of these individuals who had impressed us during our childhood remain vivid in our minds.

One such person to me is Mdm.Nayagam, a grand old lady whom I admired since I was a boy. Her docemented age is 90years but according to her children she may be a century. In fact just recently they celebrated her 100th.birthday with close friends and relatives.

It is very impressive that even at such an advanced age Mdm.Nayagam is physically fit and healthy. She is free from all the ailments, like diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease that are so common these days, even among the young.

At a time when women rarely go to work but stay at home to take care of the family and children, she was forced to work as a hospital attendant at the age of 30,which she did till her retirement at the age of 55 in 1973. She was widowed at the age of 53 but as her husband was sickly and of little help in supporting the family, she single-handedly struggled to bring up her 9 children, one of them mentally and physically retarded from birth due to Down’s syndrome.

I used to know Mdm.Nayagam from my childhood days as her sons were my schoolmates and we studied and played together in the neighborhood. Even at that age I was impressed with two main characteristics that she possessed – her profound faith in God and her unselfish love for her handicapped son.

Her very strong faith in God was a pillar of strength and source of inspiration in her struggles to bring up her 9 her children, including the handicapped child fondly called Benny. It was this unshakable faith in God that provided her solace in her times of peril and solitude. She used to walk 3- 4 miles to her church before six every morning without fail.

Sickness and rain did not stop her fulfilling her religious duties. Her commitment to God was so deep that such a disciplined practice never diminished with time until her legs started to fail her in her eighties. Today she may be physically frail but still spiritually as strong as ever.

The second characteristic of her that impressed me was her unselfish love for her handicapped son. Despite all her troubles she never neglected this unfortunate son. In fact she paid special attention to him. Bathing, dressing, feeding and washing up a normal child is already a big task as all of will agree. You can imagine doing these for a handicapped child continuously for fifty over years day in and day out. It was a tormenting task but Mdm.Nayagam accomplished all that unselfishly for the love she had for him.

She did not see the chores in those daily routines as a burden nor did she curse God for giving her a handicapped son but she saw God in him, which took away any pain and agony of that arduous task.

It is a known fact that children with Down’s syndrome rarely survive into late adulthood. It is notable that her handicapped son, now aged 57, is still very fit and lives with her. His well being speaks volumes for the love and quality of care she had given him all these years.

A lady of steel, who used to be once so active and the driving force of her family, today sits on a wheelchair, depending on the very children whom she toiled to bring up, to move her around and take care of her basic needs. Fortunately her children are still there by her side in this time of need, a scenario that is increasingly becoming rare these days.

She may be senile and her memory may have failed her but you can see the calm, serenity and satisfaction in her face. She conveys a look of contentment for having lived a life of dedication to God for almost a century.

At this advanced age and in a highly materialistic world, Mdm.Nayagam may be of no use to anyone, but she remains a shining example of what a human being in general and a mother in particular should be – humble and ever willing to accept the challenges in life with full trust in the Almighty.

Dr.Chris Anthony

I refer to “Anwar not made to strip naked, says HKL director” (Star July 19).

There has been some controversy as to whether PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was made to strip naked and had his private parts examined and measured. It was surprising that Hospital Kuala Lumpur director Datuk Dr Zaininah Mohd Zain came out to deny that Anwar was made to strip naked for the examination. How can a physical examination be done without adequate exposure?

Any doctor will agree that adequate exposure is essential for a proper medical examination. This is a basic lesson for all medical students. In cases of a rape or sodomy, examination of the private parts is imperative and that can only be done if those parts are fully exposed to the examining doctor.

The examining doctor must clearly explain the procedure and obtain his prior consent before being subjected to the examination. Moreover the examination has to be done in a professional manner and adhering fully to proper clinical procedure. If these are strictly adhered to, as Dr.Zaininah claims, it would be perfectly acceptable and will not be considered violating the patient’s decency, modesty or dignity.

A patient cannot and should not be compelled to be examined if he refuses to do so. In cases of sexual crime, genital and rectal examination is a must and there is no way that can be done if he does not agree to undress himself adequately in the privacy of the qualified medical examiner. External or superficial examination of a person involved in sodomy or rape would not be inadequate, unacceptable and would be just a waste of time and resources.

Stripping is part of a proper medical examination that was requested by the police as the law enforcement agency and Anwar as an ordinary citizen had to comply. The stripping and the subsequent examination that follows is done with respect for the patient’s chastity and dignity. The question here is not whether Anwar was stripped naked to be examined but whether the procedure was indicated at that particular time in the first place. What puzzles one is the way it was carried out. Why was the need to rush in for an “emergency” medical examination at night on a person suspected of sodomy that is believed to have taken place more than 2 weeks before?

Medical examination of those involved in rape and sodomy are part of routine police investigations but it should be carried out professionally and fairly regardless of social status or political ideology. There should be no interference and influence from outside parties. It would be morally wrong to use medical examinations and procedures for desired political motives.

Dr.Chris Anthony