In reference to Bakal Pengundi 2004's note on the Health Minister's misinformation pertaining to the German consultant Dr Thomas Hoogland's seeming lack of publications ([#1] Kecuaian ketara Chua Jui Meng [/#], April 18), it could have been either that politicians often do not do their homework or purely an innocent oversight! That much should be granted to anyone of us!

The point I would like to make here is that citing a six-page article in a scholarly journal hardly would help the good doctor.

Instead it could prove to work the other way around. The good minister could, whilst conceding to his oversight, even strengthen his case by exclaiming "What! Only one short jointly-authored article?"

I am sure that Bakal Pengundi wrote a well-intended letter. Nevertheless a word of caution if I may. Sometimes in situations like these it is better to allow slight irritations like this to pass and to concentrate on the larger issues, i.e. Anwar Ibrahim's rights as a citizen and one in need of urgent medical attention under unkind conditions.