We are extremely perplexed at Health Minister Dr Chua Soi Lek's grand pronouncements on Anwar Ibrahim's medical condition for while he has taken it upon himself to speak boldly about him, he is too timid to offer similar advice to the prime minister wife who continues to consult eminent specialists in the US.

When the MCA leaders were feuding, it was the Umno supremo Dr Mahathir Mohamad who brokered a peace deal for them. Apparently MCA is now returning the favour. At all events, the puppet master is unwilling to show his hand, and so Chua will surely emerge as the fall guy.

When Singapore was part of Malaysia, Lee Kuan Yew described MCA members as 'political serfs'. So it seems clear that not much has changed even after 35 years.