DAP member of Parliament Fong Po Kuan today urged the Health Ministry to provide all available statistics in order to give the public a "clearer picture of the true extent" of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) outbreak.

Saying this would end confusion, she hinted that the ministry's decision o­n Monday not to announce the cumulative figure of suspected cases was an attempt to cover up the real situation.

Whose 'clearer picture'?

Citing the example of Hong Kong and Singapore health ministries, Fong ( left ) said the website of the two agencies display the cumulative figure for their respective countries.

"Both are seriously affected with Sars but have no problem providing cumulative figures and the public is not confused. The explanation given by the Malaysian health ministry is unacceptable," she said in a statement.

"The ministry keeps o­n saying that allegations of a cover-up of Sars cases are not true, but its very decision to stop providing cumulative figures can o­nly have the effect of lending credence to such allegations."

The MP for Batu Gajah suggested that the ministry issues seven categories of figures - cumulative, probable, and suspected cases respectively; the number of people quarantined, patients discharged, and patients in isolation wards; and updates o­n the condition of patients.

Confusing term

Fong also said she was puzzled by use of the term "non-Sars patients" during the ministry's press briefing yesterday.

(Deputy director-general Dr Mohd Ismail Merican had explained that 'non-Sars' patients who come in as 'notification cases' are placed in isolation wards so that the ministry can closely monitor their condition. This serves as a preventive measure.)

However, Fong said this would o­nly confuse the press and the public, given that the ministry's web site lists this category of patients.

In reference to a copy of the Hansard, which was attached to her statement, Fong quoted Health Minister Chua Jui Meng as having told the Dewan Rakyat in April that 'notification cases' are suspected cases.

"So, Chua must clarify what the ministry means by 'non-Sars'," Fong said.

She also criticised the ministry for not updating its website with timely information o­n Sars.

"The ministry has proudly published its website address in newspapers and o­n leaflets o­n Sars. Regrettably, however, the web site is poorly managed, uninformative and lacking in updated information," she said.

"When I visited the website this morning, the latest information available was as at 6pm of April 9 (two days ago)."

Terminology check

At today's briefing, Chua had touched o­n the issue of statistics, saying that his ministry has adhered to internationally adopted guidelines in releasing statistics o­n Sars. (Fong's statement was received later in the day.)

"I have checked with my counterpart in Singapore o­n the terminology used during their briefing. I have also checked the classification of the World Health Organisation (WHO)... we follow the international terms 'suspected' and 'probable' cases," he said.

"We hope the public and media will carry this set of figures accordingly."

The minister further said he had obtained confirmation from WHO regional representative Joel Vanderburg that it is "not appropriate" to release cumulative figures o­n suspected and notification cases.

"This is because most of them have been cleared (of the disease)," Chua said. "The terms that we use are clearly in accordance with WHO guidelines."