Deputy Health Minister Hilmi Yahaya said his ministry would also supervise the equipment used at the clinics to ensure patients did not suffer any side effects from its usage.

“Some private clinics use electric tools to cut the skin. A slip can cut the penis itself. The penis is blackened and scorched by the time the victim is taken to hospital. Definitely, cannot do anything then.

“Takes time to reconstruct, to redo … needs two to three operations. So, one cannot blame the government because the circumcision was done at a private clinic,” he told a press conference here today.

He was commenting on recent incidents where the penises of young boys were severed or damaged during circumcisions.

Earlier, Dr Hilmi visited Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) Yu Chye Kuala Sungai Pinang and held a meeting with the residents of Kuala Sungai Pinang here.

Hilmi, who is also Balik Pulau MP, said the family of the victims could sue the doctors or others involved for negligence.

On another development, he said the medicine supply for flood victims in Kelantan and Terengganu was adequate and the ministry had also provided mobile clinics.

He said the floods this year did not adversely affect the existing clinics compared with the big floods in 2014.

“With regard to health, everything is under control and we will ensure the surroundings are always clean. Also, there are not many infectious diseases, only diarrhoea and hepatitis cases.

“This time, no leptospirosis (rat urine infection) cases compared with the 2014 floods,” he said.

Earlier, Hilmi announced an allocation of RM200,000 for work to repair SJKC Yu Chye and RM100,000 to repair four roads in the Kuala Sungai Pinang area.