Not again, Adham: health minister swatted over ‘Spanish fly’ slip-up

KUALA LUMPUR – A video of Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba’s slip of the tongue on the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic today made the rounds online.

The two-minute footage, in which he mistakenly mentions the long-gone virus as the “Spanish fly” and incorrectly dates the health crisis, has been shared on Twitter and other social media platforms.

“In the world, 2.8 million people have died due to Covid-19, Spanish fly (in) 1919… 1916, around one million people (died). It happened for two years, the Spanish fly,” he is recorded saying in a speech.

Dr Adham corrected his remark immediately after realising the error.

“(I mean) not Spanish fly, (but the) Spanish ‘wabak’ (plague)... Spanish virus. It has been slightly more than a year (of Covid-19), so it will (get worse) if we don’t take care of our new normal way of living.”

The clip is of the minister’s speech during a book launch at the Hospital Pengajar Universiti Putra Malaysia auditorium on April 2.

This is a 'Spanish fly' dangerous move...

Mustafa Ali's the best!https://t.co/oqG5sbTuPW

— Maszlee Malik ??? (@maszlee) July 12, 2021

Is #SpanishFly trending in Malaysia yet?

— Ong Kian Ming ?? (@imokman) July 12, 2021

Just to remind ourselves how inept our Health Minister is, please observe that in all other countries, their Covid-19 vaccination rollouts are led by their Health Ministers.

In Malaysia, we had to create a whole new Minister to handle our vaccines.#SpanishFly

— Dr Jason Leong ???? (@DrJasonLeong) July 12, 2021

#SpanishFly According to its manufacturers, Spanish Gold Fly is a "100 per cent natural and herbal" female aphrodisiac, which leads to "a volcanic eruption of ultimate passion and a feeling of intense sexual desire and lust". ?? pic.twitter.com/rfEX9lEWSz

— Siti Kasim (@sitikasim) July 12, 2021

The gaffe comes after he drew flak on several occasions last year.

In March 2020, he was slammed for saying drinking warm water could prevent coronavirus infection.

In November, netizens derided Dr Adham after he released a book titled “Malaysia Health Sector Response to Covid-19 Pandemic”, with some accusing him of riding the coat-tails of frontliners, and others questioning how he found the time to author a book amid the pandemic.

DAP’s Ong Kian Ming and former Bersatu leader Maszlee Malik are among those who shared the “Spanish fly” video.

Comedian and physician Dr Jason Leong shared his thoughts on the clip, while lawyer and activist Siti Kasim said the “Spanish fly” is marketed online as an aphrodisiac that causes “a volcanic eruption of ultimate passion, and a feeling of intense sexual desire and lust”.

Other Twitter users appeared to relish pouring scorn on the minister’s latest blunder. – The Vibes, July 12, 2021

I think he meant Spanish Flu. Spanish Fly is an aphrodisiac used for stimulating sexual desire.

Bangang. Tukar lah. https://t.co/iunECm3gHk

— ᴘᴀʀᴀɴᴏɪᴅ ᴀɴᴅʀᴏɪᴅ (@jonwee) July 12, 2021

1. Air Suam
2. Spanish Fly

— Shamaine Othman ?✊? (@shamaineothman) July 12, 2021

If @MuhyiddinYassin wants to win more trust from the rakyat, he must retire his Ministers/Deputies who are not performing. Like those who have Freudian slips between Spanish Flu & Spanish Fly. The former cause the living to die while the latter help 'the dead come alive'. PEACE.

— Anas Zubedy (@AnasZubedy) July 12, 2021