IPOH, July 12 — The incident where Transport Minister Anthony Loke experienced shortness of breath while replying to oral questions during the Dewan Rakyat sitting on Wednesday (July 10) was not related to a heart attack.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni said fitness problems the minister faced caused it.
Loke was in a hurry to get to Parliament because he had been stuck in a traffic jam earlier, and by chance, it was his turn to answer oral questions as soon as he arrived.
"When he arrived at Parliament in a hurry, he (Loke) immediately entered the hall, and there was shortness of breath while answering oral questions.
"So, it is not related to a heart attack or anything (other diseases); it is all about the fitness of the individual. If you have been running, sometimes you can get out of breath," he said.
Lukanisman was speaking at a press conference after officiating the 13th Asean Congress and the 10th Perak Health Congress today.
On Wednesday, there were anxious moments in the Dewan Rakyat when Loke was seen gasping for breath when he started speaking and then asked to be given some time to calm down.
Following that, Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Alice Lau requested that the Transport Deputy Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah continue the session.
However, the minister resumed his duties by answering supplementary questions posed by Subang MP Wong Chen.
In the meantime, Lukanisman said all MPs are encouraged to undergo a mandatory health screening to detect any disease as an early preventive measure.
— Bernama
