The Malaysia Hindu Sangam is deeply shocked and regrets very much the suspension of the Natural Resources and Environment Deputy Minister S Sothinathan for a period of three months.

He is but an unfortunate victim of uncalled for racial slander by other members of parliament. He had merely made his remarks to correct other unfair remarks made by other parliamentarians. He had acted under great provocation when those concerned belittled his community.

The Malaysia Hindu Sangam appeals to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to reconsider the decision to suspend the deputy minister. We also appeal to the prime minister to intervene in the Malaysian Medical Council's decision not to recognise the degrees from Ukraine's Crimea State Medical University from next year onwards.

The whole action of the university's de-recognition affects the Indian community in particular. We are of the opinion that the Malaysian Medical Council should have given a grace period to the university to rectify whatever shortcomings it had.

Therefore, we hope that the prime minister will give a most sympathetic consideration to this matter.

The writer is the president of the Malaysia Hindu Sangam.