KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 27, 2011): Members of medical groups lodged a report today urging the police to investigate claims by Bangladeshi police that Malaysia was involved in the illegal trade and transplant of human kidneys.
Malaysian Society of Transplant president and nephrology surgeon Datuk Dr Harjit Singh said the news report which was carried by local newspapers on Friday could affect the image of the Malaysia and was also damaging to nephrologists in the country.
"Malaysia has international recognition as being among countries against the commercial trade of human organs. We urge the police to liase with their counterparts in Bangladesh and investigate the claims to determine if there is any truth to it.
"If it is, then appropriate action must be taken against those responsible for such acts, including the doctors involved. However, if it is untrue, then it must be announced by the police to clear Malaysia of any such wrongdoings," he said after lodging a police report.
Harjit, who is attached to the Selayang Hospital, was accompanied by the head of the Kuala Lumpur Hospital Nephrology department Datuk Dr Ghazali Ahmad, Selayang Hospital nephrologist and president of the Malaysian Nephrology Society Dr Wong Hin Seng, Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital, Klang nephrologist Dr Tan Chwee Choong and Subang Jaya and Shah Alam Consumers Association (Cassa) president Datuk Dr Jacob George.
Ghazali said the report was also made to make Malaysia's stand on human trafficking clear to the world.
"We want to send out a strong message that we do not cordone such malpractice. We have to put this out to the rest of the world as we do not want Malaysia to be seen as a hub for such activities. Such news may attract human traffickers who may jump at this oppurtunity," he said.
Jacob urged those who have information on illegal organ transplant syndicates or such activities taking place in the country to come forward and assist the authorities. He said they may also call Cassa's hotline at 016-3261700 to provide such informantion.
Earlier, at a Hari Raya open house function at Taman Tasik Permaisuri, Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar said the claims that Malaysia was involved in illegal organ trade was only a rumour.
He said if there were individuals with proof of such activities or if a police report was lodged over the matter then police will initiate an investigation into the matter.
The news report quoted Bangladeshi police as saying that apart from India and Indonesia, they had identified Malaysia as one of the countries that carried out illegal transplants of kidneys harvested from impoverised Bangladeshis.
The Bangladeshi police had also said the surgeries were done at a well-known private hospital in Selangor and that the desperate donors were merely paid between RM6,000 and RM9,000.
Originally published by The Sun Daily.
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