Wednesday August 5, 2009
‘Flu outburst’ among reps
By MARTIN CARVALHO
MALACCA: The influenza A (H1N1) took centrestage at the Malacca State Assembly yesterday with a shouting match ensuing between Barisan Nasional and DAP assemblymen.
It began when State Women’s Affairs, Family Development and Health committee chairman Nor-pipah Abdol was answering questions raised by Betty Chew Gek Cheng (DAP – Kota Laksamana) and four other assemblymen over the issue.
Chew asked Norpipah if the state government would issue an order to cancel large gatherings to prevent further spread of the flu in the state.
However, before Norpipah could answer Datuk Tahir Hasan (BN – Paya Rumput) stood up and chided the Opposition for the recent street protest stating that it was a mass gathering that should have been restricted.
An irked Chew and Khoo Poay Tiong (DAP – Ayer Keroh) tried to rebut Tahir’s query resulting in a shouting match between them and several other Barisan assemblymen.
Speaker Datuk Othman Muhamad managed to calm things down for a while, but things heated up again when Khoo took a swipe at Datuk Lai Meng Tiong (BN – Machap) for using the word “swine flu” in his question to Norpipah.
“Why does the assemblyman from Machap call it swine flu when the World Health Organisation and Health Minister clearly stated that it is to be called H1N1?” he asked.
During the verbal exchange, several Barisan assemblymen taunted Khoo by calling him “YB Pendek” owing to his diminutive stature.
Khoo retorted by calling Lai “YB Gemuk” which drew laughter from the House .
Earlier, Norpipah told the House that 135 H1N1 cases with one fatality were recorded as of Aug 2 since the virus was detected here in early July of which 65 were warded at the Malacca Hospital and 70 under home quarantine.
Fourteen secondary and three primary schools were ordered closed temporarily.
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