I side neither Dr Mahathir Mohamad nor Anwar Ibrahim, but am just appalled that a simple request for medical treatment can be blown up politically into a patriotic/unpatriotic issue, especially as Mahathir himself has entered the fray.

I am no expert on Anwar's ailment and have therefore no opinion on what is the best treatment for him. But, perhaps, it is about time that some of the half-truths of the matter be set straight.

It is true that Mahathir had a heart attack some years back and was treated locally very well. But to say that he chose local over foreign treatment is wrong. The fact was that his heart attack was so massive that it was (medically) opined that local treatment was the only option - the strain of going abroad might very well have killed him.

It should be borne in mind that the 'best' medical treatment is not just a matter of skills and equipment but, holistically considered, also of expense, strain and other considerations.

For example, if the best treatment for cancer is in the US but the patient cannot stand the travel and circumstances abroad (different food and climate, and lacking the support of friends), then he may be better off being treated locally as he'd then be in a better frame of mind to fight the disease (the positive attitude of the patient in wanting to recover is now recognised as a very important weapon against the disease).

In the case of Mahathir, he had the 'best' treatment given the circumstances. Whether or not he would have gone abroad had his heart attack been less severe will remain a moot point forever. But it should not be twisted around to say that he opted for local treatment for 'patriotic' reasons. Indeed, given the circumstances, even the most unpatriotic person (if non-patriotism means going abroad for medical treatment) would have done the same!

In Anwar's case, whatever his pain suffered, the condition is not life-threatening, at least not immediately. He and his doctors believe that the best treatment is abroad. If so, who are we to question the opinion, and what has it to do with patriotism or the lack of it?