KUALA LUMPUR — A mental health advocacy network has chided Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming for ostensibly casting aspersions on individuals who receive treatment for mental issues.
Taking to Twitter, Rangkaian Solidariti Demokratik Pesakit Mental (Siuman) called out Nga for comments the DAP vice-chairman had made in a video documenting his trip to, among other places, Pasar Tanjung Rambutan in Kinta, Perak two days ago.
“Salam (Nga). Can we stop with the innuendo? What’s wrong with entering a psychiatric facility? This is how stigma is perpetuated,” Siuman said in its post.
In the video, which Nga uploaded to his Twitter account earlier today, the Teluk Intan MP said: “Today, I am here at Tanjung Rambutan. But, I’m not going to the Tanjung Rambutan Hospital.”
The Tanjung Rambutan Hospital, which has since been renamed to Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta, is the nation’s oldest government-owned facility providing mental health related-care.
The rest of the video depicts Nga going on his walkabout, speaking to the people and business owners in the Tambun constituency, which has Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as its MP.
He also announced that the ministry has allocated RM10.73 million for development projects in Tambun, Ipoh, Taiping and Teluk Intan.
Meanwhile, the network’s criticism was backed by several other Twitter users, such as mental health advocate Hasbeemasputra Abu Bakar who slammed the minister for upholding ableist behaviour.
“‘Reach out, just talk, it’s okay to not be okay’ and then ‘haha psychiatric ward. You’re being too ableist,” he said briefly.
Another user, @EncikSood, also criticised the minister for making an ableist joke at the expense of mental health patients.
Other commenters, however, appeared to be unperturbed by Nga’s remarks, with some conveying their best wishes to the minister and his team while praising him for serving the people. — September 6, 2023