After a three-month suspension, Deputy Natural Resources and Environment Minister S Sothinathan resumed his government post today.

And topping the list of duties, is the haze menace which has been choking the nation on an intermittent basis.

Upon his arrival at the Parliament building this morning, he was greeted by several parliamentarians, including his party president S Samy Vellu.

Visibly in high-spirits, the deputy minister told reporters that it 'feels good' to return.

Apart from attending the Parliamentary sitting, the MIC secretary-general will also attend today's party central committee meeting.

As for his ministerial duties, Sothinathan said he met with his boss Dr Adenan Satem yesterday and was told that he had a lot of catching up to do.

He had been assigned to attend the informal transboundary haze meeting in Manila next week to find solutions for the problem at the regional level.

Sothinathan said he will return to his office tomorrow.

Party work

The Teluk Kemang MP was suspended without pay from his cabinet post on June 22 for breaking ranks with the government over the de-recognition of the Ukraine-based Crimean State Medical University (CSMU).

He was said to have breached the Code of Ethics for members of the administration on the collective responsibility principle.

During his hiatus, Sothinathan said he occupied himself with party work and matters pertaining to his parliamentary constituency.

Asked if he had been too vocal about the CSMU issue, he replied that MPS have the responsibility of raising issues relating to their party or constituency.