I refer to the Malaysiakini report Experts: Saiful's first medical report relevant .

It is very unfortunate that at a time of rising inflation and economic uncertainties, the nation has become preoccupied with the sodomy allegations against the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Anwar Ibrahim.

Why so much of time, energy, money and especially police manpower is spent on this problem? Has sodomy become our top national problem?

In the latest development of this issue, the revelation of the medical notes of Hospital Pusrawi’s Dr Mohamad Osman Abdul Hamid has created so much controversy and public debate.

Anwar and his lawyers, as expected, were quick to take advantage of the report, which was definitely in their favour. They could not afford to stand idle and let the golden opportunity elude them as they have very little means to really rebut the allegations arrayed against the PKR advisor what with the biased national media.

The police on the other hand were quick to brush aside the report as ‘insignificant’ and not genuine. The Health Ministry’s Director-General, Dr Ismail Merican says that his ministry would stand by the findings of the medical examination conducted on Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan by doctors at the Hospital Kuala Lumpur.

He seems to imply that he is not taking seriously the findings of Osman, who is a duly registered medical practitioner. It is regrettable that instead of defending Osman, Merican chose to cast doubts on the latter’s professional competence.

Such an attitude would disappoint many doctors who expect to be protected for being righteous under difficult circumstances.

Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar says that the first medical examination by Osman at the Hospital Pusrawi was just one on the many evidences gained by the police and as such its importance should not be over-emphasised.

Yes, it may be one of the many, but it is a very important and relevant evidence that should not be ignored if we are to uphold justice.

Hospital Pusrawi’s General Manager Wan Mahmood Wan Yaacob said that Osman did not conduct a sodomy-related examination on Saiful, although the examining doctor has clearly stated in his notes ‘To rule out assault (sodomised)’ and he rightly advised the patient to go to a government hospital for further evaluation as it was a medico-legal case.

Whatever is said about of Osman and his clinical findings, it must be stressed that he was the first doctor who had the opportunity to examine the alleged sodomy victim. Osman is a fully- qualified doctor, registered with the Malaysian Medical Council and has many years of experience.

Osman found no active bleeding, ulcers, pus or anal tears to suggest some sort of injury. His findings may be negative but positive enough to show there was no evidence of traumatic injury of any sort involving the anus or rectum of the alleged victim. All these findings suggest the alleged victim’s anus, rectum and perineum were normal.

I am sure a doctor with more than 20 years experience will not find it difficult to recognise a normal anus and rectum. It would be unfair to disregard his clinical examination just because it was negative.

This is particularly so in criminal cases where the alleged crime must be proven beyond an iota of a doubt. The finding of the first doctor who examines an alleged crime victim is very relevant and it would be unethical and negligent to disregard those findings for whatever reason.

It is absolutely right for the police to seek a second and expert opinion from the government doctors but the findings of Osman are relevant and must not be ignored if the police really want to get to the truth.

The police must be professional and evaluate all available evidence objectively without bias so as not to do injustice to any party concerned.