The Malaysian Insider Jul 17, 2011
17 JULY — We, the undersigned doctors, including members of the Malaysian Medical Association (Perak Branch), and/or the Perak Medical Practitioners Society
1. are very concerned and troubled over the prolonged ‘illegal’ detention of our colleague Dr. Jeyakumar Devaraj.
2. are concerned for Dr Jeyakumar’s health, which seems to be deteriorating under detention.
3. are deeply saddened, hurt and disillusioned by the action of the Judiciary (which is supposed to be to be independent) which on 13/07/2011 delayed the hearing date of habeas corpus application of Dr Jeyakumar and five others by a month.
We urge the immediate release of our colleague, who is also the Member of Parliament Sungai Siput, Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj.
Dr Jeyakumar and five other Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) members were ‘illegally’ detained under the Emergency Ordinance recently. They have been placed in a cruel and unjust situation. They were first accused of waging war against the King and now of being a threat to national security, allegedly trying to revive communist ideology. They are subjected to interrogation and solitary confinement, denied proper visitation rights with their lawyers and close family members. This is of course unacceptable in a civil and democratic society.
We say that the detention is ‘illegal’ because till today, there is no solid and substantiated basis for the continued detention of Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj and five of his PSM colleagues.
We scarcely need reminding that Article 5 (1) of our Federal Constitution says no person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty save in accordance with the law.
Malaysia sits on the Human Rights Council. The Malaysian government must do justice to its position on this council by according and recognising the human rights of Dr. Jeyakumar and his team who are under ‘illegal’ detention. The least that the Malaysian government can do is to live up to the ideals of Human Rights Council ─ and not violate the very rights that the government has been charged to defend steadfastly.
In view of this obligation, it will be totally unjustified to continue the ‘illegal’ detention of Dr Jeyakumar and his team without giving them a fair trial in court. The Government should do justice to its position on this Council and convince Malaysians that there is no malice on their part. Denying Dr Jeyakumar and his team the right to defend themselves is denying them justice.
Therefore, we urge the Government, especially the home minister, to release Dr. Jeyakumar and his team immediately.
It is pertinent to emphasise that we are strictly apolitical and are acting as colleagues of Dr Jeayakumar, who is also an active and much respected member of the MMA, whose family is much respected for the outstanding social work it does. Dr Jeyakumar family has contributed enormously towards the development of the healthcare services in our country.
The Government has rightly spoken much about transformation and change, and this is something every loyal citizen endorses. But what appear to be the deployment of Cold War tactics by resurrecting the “communist” and “foreign” bogeyman on political rivals in these days only serves to dissuade the public that the government is earnest in its efforts to bring about civil changes that would be in line with first world societies.
Those who know Dr Jeyakumar personally will readily vouch for his integrity, his passion for the poor and his principled, patient and peaceful approach. He is neither a communist nor a violent man who could be a serious threat to the country. For the record, Dr Jeyakumar is a highly dedicated physician who has had excellent service record while he was working in the Ministry of Health and a tireless social advocate and activist who has worked throughout his life to help and protect the rights of the poor, the marginalised and the forgotten communities in the society. All those who know Dr. Jeyakumar speak highly of his work and commitment to the people. How could someone with such immaculate professional standing and exemplary be an enemy to the country! The home minister must make every effort to secure the immediate release of Dr Jeyakumar and do justice to both his ministerial duties and to Dr Jeyakumar.
Undersigned,
1. Dr N Prasad Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon 2. Dr Sharifah Halimah Jaafar Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 3. Dr Ko Chung Sen Consultant CardioThoracic Surgeon 4. Dr T. Vesvanathan Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon 5. Dr Loh Choong Sing Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon 6. Dr Wong Choon Heng Consultant Gastroenterologist 7. Dr Foo Chang Ling Consultant Surgeon 8. Dr Goh Guan Chai Consultant Surgeon 9. Dr Goh Phaik Kee Consultant Anaesthetist 10. Dr Lee Mun Toong Consultant Ophthalmologist 11. Dr Leong Chin Leng Consultant Otho Surgeon 12. Dr Ting Cheh Sing Consultant General Surgeon 13. Dr Chin Yow Wen Respiratory Physician 14. Dr Dev Teo Chin Nee Consultant Geriatrician 15. Dr Usha Devi Balaguru Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 16. Dr Chakr Sri Na Nagara Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 17. Dr Teoh Soong Kee Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 18. Dr Jasmine Lau Consultant Paediatrician 19. Dr Adeline Tan Ai Leen Consultant Paediatrician 20. Dr David Manickam Consultant Paediatrician 21. Dr Giritharan Consultant Physician 22. Dr Yeoh Thiam Long Consultant Physician 23. Dr Hasral bin Mohd Hasni Consultant Cardiologist 24. Dr Liew San Foi Consultant Paediatrician 25. Dr Go Kuan Weng Consultant Nephrologist 26. Dr Divakaran TG Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 27. Dr Lam Fook Shin Consultant Eye Surgeon 28. Dr Lee Boon Chye Consultant Cardiologist 29. Dr Meor Ahmad Consultant Radiologist 30. Dr Ong Teong Onn Consultant Radiologist 31. Dr Mahendra Mano Consultant Surgeon 32. Dr A. Naidu Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 33. Datuk Dr S Jenagaratnam Consultant Anaesthetist 34. Dr Lu Luan Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 35. Dr Fauziah Khairudin Consultant Nephrologist 36. Dr Susan King Consultant Paediatrician 37. Dr Lee Kim Seng Consultant Paediatrician 38. Dr Ranjoth Singh Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 39. Dr Yap Foo Ngan Consultant Family Physician 40. Dr Esther Gunaserali Consultant Psychiatrist 41. Dr Chan Chee Hoe Consultant Physician 42. Dr P. Moganarajoo Consultant O & G 43. Datuk (Dr ) K.S Sivananthan Consultant Ortho-Surgeon 44. Dr Yeap Yean Lian Consultant Surgeon 45. Dr William Tan Kah Wee Consultant Physician 46. Dr Wong Chong Yuan Consultant Physician 47. Dr Yeat Siew Eng Consultant ENT Surgeon 48. Dr Choong Choon Hooi Consultant Physician & Cardiologist 49. Dr Chong Swee Woon Consultant Psychiatrist 50. Dr Koh Wai Keat Consultant Geriatrician 51. Dr Surinderjit Singh Gill Consultant Ophthalmologist 52. Dr Kumar Thiyagarajah Consultant Ortho-Surgeon 53. Dr Raveendran Kandiah Consultant Ortho-Surgeon 54. Dr Minseh Kimin Consultant Radiologist 55. Dr Ishak Abu Bakar Consultant Radiologist 56. Dr Ng Yew Sang Consultant Nephrologist 57. Dr Tan Huat Chai Consultant Cardiologist 58. Dr Mok Chung Consultant Ortho-Surgeon 59. Dr Shaidan Sulaiman Consultant Anaesthetist 60. Dr Hj Ahmad Adlan Nuruddin Consultant O & G 61. Dr Sumathi Anandaraj Senior Medical Officer 62. Dr Ooi Tian Su Consultant O&G 63. Dr Yeak Siew Tin Consultant Ortho-Surgeon 64. Dr Loo Kok Lim Consultant Rheumatologist 65. Dr Ruslan Razak Consultant Ortho-Surgeon 66. Dr Philip Ho Consultant Cardiologist 67. Dr Leow Aik Ming Consultant Plastic Surgeon 68. Dr Katheleen Yap Consultant Neurologist 69. Dr Kevin Joseph Consultant Cardiologist 70. D Sumithra Consultant Surgeon 71. Dr Inderjit Singh Consultant Cardiologist 72. Dr Uma Karthigasu Consultant Radiologist 73. Dr Jevan Gunaselan Senior Medical Officer 74. Datuk Dr SK Rathi Consultant Dermatologist 75. Dr Koh Chan Sing Consultant Cardiologist 76. Dr Aznan Radiologist 77. Datuk Dr Andrew Chua Seng Boon Consultant Gastroenterologist 78. Dr Michael Joseph Consultant Cardiologist 79. Dr Teh Hiok Seng Consultant Haematologist 80. Dr Lee Boon Ping Consultant General Surgeon 81. Dr Lee Haik Teong Consultant Paediatrician 82. Dr Kuldeep Singh Consultant Paediatrician 83. Dr Jeyabalan Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 84. Dr Cheong Soo Tow Consultant Paediatrician 85. Dr Lim Wee Yoong Consultant Paediatrician 86. Dr Suppramaniam Consultant Ortho-Surgeon 87. Dr Harvinder Singh Consultant ENT 88. Dr Loo Chin Sum Consultant Nephrologist 89. Dr Thomas Haris Consultant Anaesthetist 90. Dr Ng Seng Lew Consultant General Surgeon 91. Dr Anandaraj Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 92. Dr N. Jeevaraj Consultant General Surgeon 93. Dr V. Mannimanan Consultant Urologist 94. Dr Loke Yee Peng Consultant Anaesthetist 95. Dr Vinod Kumar Senior Medical Officer 96. Dr Azhar Senior Medical Officer 97. Dr Lam Kuan Kin General Practioner 98. Dr Tan Kim Khian General Practioner 99. Dr Lim Boon Pin General Practioner 100. Dr Lian Chin Chew General Practioner 101. Dr Chan Yee Ming General Practioner 102. Dr Kok Yuan Sing General Practioner 103. Dr Chee See Choke General Practioner 104. Dr Soo Kam Chiew General Practioner 105. Dr Abdul Malik General Practioner 106. Dr Leong Poh Nam General Practioner 107. Dr Lau Sau Khuen General Practioner 109. Dr Chin Kit Kong General Practioner 110. Dr Doong Hock Yuen General Practioner 111. Dr Khairuddin General Practioner 112. Dr Lee Nik Hooi General Practioner 113. Dr Cheah Saw Imm General Practioner 114. Dr Kamalanathan General Practioner 115. DR Arunash General Practioner 116. Dr Kwok Hou Phin General Practioner 117. Dr Rita Leow General Practioner 118. Dr Paizah Ramli General Practioner 119. Dr Uma Devi Arunasalam General Practioner 120. Datuk Dr Sarjeet Singh Sidhu Ob Gyn Specialist 121. Datuk Dr Subramaniam Consultant Plastic Surgeon 122. Dr Lai Thian Seong GP 123. Dr Chew Teik Chye GP 124. Dr Lim Tee Jin GP 125. Dr Teoh Lee Yong GP 126. Dr Ho Kok Hin GP 127. Dr Hoo Thoun Ting GP 128. Dr P. Raghavan GP 129. Prof. Dr Jackie Ho Consultant Paediatrician & Neonatologist 130. Dr Seet Chee Lin GP 131. Dr Kek Kim Huat GP 132. Dr P F Gill GP 133. Dr T. M. Ong GP 134. Dr C W Ong GP 135. Dr Nagara GP 136. Dr S Subramaniam GP 137. Dr Chew Keat Eng GP 138. Dr Ting Seo Leong GP & President, Perak Medical Practitioners’ Society 139. Dr Ling Hee Huong GP 140. Dr Lee See Chee GP 141. Dr Diong Ko Ing GP 142. Dr Ling Yok King GP 143. Dr V.Gurunathan GP 144. Dr Ching Lee Kee GP 145. Dr Suresh Sammanathamurthy Orthopaedic Surgeon 146. Dr Gurdep Singh GP 147. Dr Teoh S K GP 148. Dr Harbaskg Singh GP 149. Dr Suppaiyah GP 150. Dr Wong Ai Fook GP 151. Dr S Y Chan GP 152. Dr Bhajan Singh GP 153. Dr Ramesh GP 154. Dr Yek Sing Chee GP 155. Dr K. Skanthadevan GP 156. Dr Nasri GP 157. Dr Yusof GP 158. Datuk Dr Gurdeep Prakash Singh Consultant Physician 159. Datuk Dr. Gunasegaran Consultant Plastic Surgeon 160. Dr Jaspal Kaur Malhi GP 161. Datuk Dr Sharil Che Mat GP 162. Dr Rajeswaran Paramjothy GP 163. Dr Chan Kai Soon Consultant Pathology 164. Dr Harry Louise D’Cruz GP 165. Datuk Dr Palanicawnder GP 166. Dr George Thavarajah GP 167. Datuk Dr Aris Chandran Consultant Physician 168. Dr Tan Ooi Hong Consultant Physician 169. Dr Tan Boon Chye GP 170. Datuk Dr Ranjoth Singh Consultant O & G 171. Dr Rahmantulnisha GP 172. Dr Hu Wen Shing Consultant Radiologist 173. Dr K Muruhadas GP 174. Dr Thomas Arul GP 175. Dr Ong Chew Wui GP 176. Dr Ong Tee Meng GP