Prove you’re not a lame-duck minister, Pua tells Liow
By Boo Su-Lyn, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, July 20 — DAP’s Tony Pua challenged Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai today to divulge details of his ministry’s probe into alleged police attacks on Tung Shin Hospital during the Bersih rally.
Despite public pressure, the health minister has refused to specify a disclosure time-line, in fact he has not even confirmed if the said committee had been formed and its terms of reference.
“It appears that Liow has been forced to rescind the set up of the investigation committee by the Ministry of Health under instructions from his political masters to cover up the incident, prevent an admission of guilt and to stop further embarrassment to the Barisan Nasional (BN) government for its clumsy, oppressive and incompetent handling of the Bersih rally, where the sanctity of hospital grounds was desecrated,” said Pua in a statement today.
“If true, then Liow is once again abdicating from his responsibility as the Health Minister by not proactively protecting the hospital and its patients under his care,” added the Petaling Jaya Utara MP.
Liow had ordered an investigation on July 14 after 11 medical specialists wrote to the media, refuting the hospital board and police’s claims that no gas canisters or water cannon were fired directly into the hospital compound.
He had initially agreed with the city hospital, but then ordered the probe stating that patient security and hospital safety was paramount.
