The Health Ministry is prepared to face any eventuality and to provide emergency aid if a planned demonstration outside the Jalan Duta Court complex in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow descends into chaos, said said its minister, Liow Tiong Lai.   

He said medical officers at all hospitals in the federal capital had been put on stand-by to provide medical assistance should anyone be injured as a result of the demonstration.

“It is our policy to keep hospitals open and provide assistance to the people irrespective of the situation as the safety and health of the public is our paramount responsibility,” he told reporters after attending a Chinese New Year aid presentation for senior citizens organised by Kuantan MCA today.

Liow was commenting on the government’s preparation to deal with emergencies should the peaceful assembly result in untoward incidents.

The assembly tomorrow is planned by supporters of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim to coincide with the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s decision on his sodomy trial.

Commenting on allegations that the Health Ministry did not treat injured participants of an illegal assembly at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) recently, Liow stressed that no party should politicise treatment given to patients.  

“All treatment dispensed will be recorded so that they cannot be manipulated and there is no need for such accusations, as we help all patients irrespective of their political leanings,” he said.

Earlier, Liow and Kuantan MCA chief Ti Lian Ker had presented festive hampers and ang pows to about 800 senior citizens of various races at the ceremony.

- Bernama