STAMPIN MP Julian Tan (DAP) was ejected from the Dewan Rakyat sitting today after he accused Health Minister Dr S. Subramaniam of misleading the house over the shortage of rabies vaccines in the country.

Tan cited section 36 (12) of the Standing Order, demanding that Dr Subramaniam be referred to the Committee of Privileges for being in contempt of the house over his earlier statements that there were sufficient vaccines.

“You have said that vaccine for rabies was enough but it was actually not enough,” said Tan.

However, Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Ronald Kiandee said section 36 could only be raised if the minister had made the statements with malicious intent repeatedly.

Section 36(12) states that any member of the house who imputes statements that mislead the house is deemed to be in contempt and the member may be referred to the Committee of Privileges for the offence.

Kiandee and Tan launched into a war of words, resulting in the Stampin MP being asked to leave the Dewan Rakyat session.

The government has maintained that there are enough rabies vaccines to deal with the outbreak in Sarawak, where five people have died from the virus.

Subramaniam in his reply earlier said the rabies vaccine was different for humans and animals were, while the Health Ministry and Veterinary Services Department each had a large enough stockpile to manage the outbreak.

Later, in a press conference, Tan said the government was not serious in its handling of the rabies outbreak because the death toll had increased to five people.

“This is a serious crisis because in just one month, the outbreak has spread from Serian to Seri Aman and Batu 17 in Sarawak, a radius of more than 10km.

“The minister didn’t give a clear answer of whether the crisis was under control, even if there were enough vaccines. I wasn’t given the chance to ask further questions to the ministry,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bukit Kuching MP Chong Chien Jen said he would table an emergency motion today regarding the outbreak.

“I have prepared the motion but I am awaiting answers from the minister to see what he has to say. However, what he has said so far is grossly insufficient.

“Two years ago, rabies struck Penang and not a single human live was lost. Now it happens in Sarawak and claims five victims, yet the government is still not taking it seriously.

“What we should do is to call for national mobilisation to help contain the situation,” he said. – July 25, 2017.