It is truly a sad time for Malaysian democracy. In an unprecedented move, a deputy minister from the ruling coalition was suspended from his cabinet post. His crime? Speaking up in defence of the very community he belongs to, the very community he leads, the very community that forms the backbone of the party he belongs to.

While it is understood that it is the prime minister's prerogative to appoint, dismiss or suspend ministers and deputy ministers, this incident is seen as nothing more than an obvious statement. The Barisan Nasional is Umno and Umno is the Barisan National. All the other coalition partners exist at the mercy of this leader of the coalition.

Perhaps it is further a sign of the prime minister's declining hold within Umno. Such a drastic move can be seen as soothing the upset Umno leaders who need reassurance that their president is indeed capable of holding the party together.

Of course, there was no 'breaking of ranks' when Umno leaders questioned the Works Minister and MIC president S Samy Vellu in parliament quite recently. There was no breaking of ranks when other coalition leaders engaged in public mudslinging.

But when an MIC leader does it, he is suspended. A sad state of affairs for Indian Malaysians no doubt. But can we expect anything else? It is the norm, isn't it?

The issue at the essence of it all - the withdrawal of recognition to Crimea State Medical University - has to be looked at. The Malaysian Medical Council, surely, is concerned with the quality of medical service in the country. So it deems CSMU not up to par. So be it. I cannot argue against that.

But surely the quality hasn't dropped so drastically since 2001 when it issued a 'letter of no objection' to students intent on studying there? So what then is the reason for the sudden withdrawal of recognition?

International rankings do not show CSMU lagging behind the other numerous world-class centres for medical excellence in Indonesia that we seem to have no problems recognising.

Nevertheless, I have no doubt that this issue will be forgotten and left behind just like the many other issues that have come and gone. The status quo shall remain. For what it is worth, I salute Sothinathan for having what it takes to speak up and be counted, even if it meant having the full brunt of Barisan Nasional protocol fall on him.