NO GROUNDS TO FEAR

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I refer to the letter, "Not the road for IJN," by S.M. Mohamed Idris, President Consumers Association of Penang, (nst. Nov. 6 ) While I appreciate his concern over the proposal by the Malaysian Health care Travel Council (MHTC) to persuade eight American companies to send patients for treatment at the Institute Jantong Negara (IJN), I feel that he should see the proposal objectively, instead of criticizing without weighing and studying the pros and cons why IJN struck such a deal..

The involvement of the American companies, would not only keep Malaysia on the medical travel industry map, but would also enhance the possibility of collaborating with world-renowned universities in California to train our cardiologists and cardiothorices surgeons at IJN or possibly in the United States .

I don't think that as a responsible government with the 1 Malaysia concept of " People first, Performance now", mooted by the Prime Minister, the government would compromise health care of the rakyat, just for the sake of getting rich foreign patients, to be treated at IJN. So there is no ground to have all those fears.

The underprivileged the middle income groups, and the rich Malaysian, will I am sure continue to receive due treatment at IJN, as promised by the Government when the Institute was built.

I think this is a concept of the rich helping the poor rakyat, as the fees collected from them will definitely be channeled to the IJN Foundation to support the underprivileged and needy patients, in Malaysia as evident from the more than 300 patients,old and young, rich and poor from all walks of lives, crowding all the various clinics everyday at IJN..
IJN is Malaysia's premier centre for the treatment of heart diseases, and it is now known throughout the world as one of the best heart centre. Due to the increased in the number of patients, the government recently extended the hospital with a new 200 beded wing, making IJN a 500 beded hospital, Unfortunately IJN is still short of cardiologists, cardiothorices surgeons, para medics, and trained nurses. There in lies the opportunity for more of our doctors to be trained locally and overseas.

I feel that the consumer associatios should instead focus their study on the amount of medication being dispensed to patients by IJN daily, and the cost involved. Every patient, including me, after seeing a doctor , received a six months supply of various types of expensive medicine. I often wonder whether all the patients consumed all the medicine given to them. More often than not some patients just stoped taking certain type of medicine for various reasons and the medicine s are thrown away. On their next oppointment the doctor might change the medicine, and the old ones are not returned. This is a shear waste of public fund.

I suggest that IJN should review their method of dispensing medicine and reduce it to a two months supply only, and if the patients finished their medicine , they should go and get them at either IJN or the nearest general hospital, or at the community clinics, or send by post as practiced by the Putrajaya Hospital.
I am sure IJN can save millions, and the money could be better used to help the underprivileged



NOR SHAHID MOHD NOR
PETALING JAYA

CIRCUMCISION IS NOT VULGAR

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I refer to your report, " 'Potong", ad review for being vulgar," (nst Nov.11 ) I feel sorry for some members of Parliament, who have nothing better to do than to raise question on the word 'potong' used in an advertisement which was aired over television and radio. According to Datuk Mohamad Aziz (BN Sri Gading ) the word ' potong ' brings a vulgar connotation, as it is a colloquial way of expressing the act of circumcision.

I wonder, since when the word ' potong ' or the act of circumcision itself became vulgar? As far as I know every Muslim boy has to be circumcised , as it is his religious obligation, and there is nothing vulgar about it.It is an open secret and nothing to be ashamed of. Muslim parents before every school holidays will openly discussed among family members, relatives and friends to fix a date for a kenduri and the circumcision ceremony of their sons.. Sometime a group circumcision is organized by mosques, or government departments. and it is often shown on television. There were no public outcry, and why cry wolf over this particular advertisement?

Now what if an ice cream company, advertises its ice-cream 'potong' showing a girl sucking the ice-cream and said " wow its the best ice-cream ' potong ' in the world. Is that vulgar? I think it is a matter of interpretation, and it depends on how one looks,feel, and think about it, and not everyone will have the same narrow-minded interpretation.

If the advertisement has passed the strict censorship code imposed by the National Censorship Board than it should be allowed to advertise on television as usual, without fear or favour.



NOR SHAHID MOHD NOR
PETALING JAYA

MALACCA PRISON MUSEUM

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I refer to your report, "Prison life for Malacca tourists," (Star Nov.1). I must applaud the Malacca Chief Minister,Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustum
for answering my call to turn the Banda Hilir Prison into a museum, which will be opened in 2012,
The 140 year old H.M. PRISON as it was known before the second world war, was built by the British in 1860. After the war the prison was known as a Young Persons Prison, where prisoners below the age of 21 were confined, till it was gazetted in l964 as the Henry Gurney School II,to ease overcrowding of the main school in Telok Mas Melaka. One hundred years after it was built, I took over command of the prison from a British officer, who had retired under the Malayanazation scheme,in August 1960 .,and was the first Malayan officer, to take charge of the prison as its Officer in Charge. I served the School for ten years until I was transferred to Taiping Prison in 1970.
Some people think that the Malacca prison, which is now in the heart of the city is an eyesore,and should be removed, but older generations, who are heritage lovers and foreign soldiers who were interned in the prison during world war 2 and myself as the man in charge for ten years wanted the prison as a Heritage Building in a UNISCO declared World Heritage sight to remain, and be turned into a museum for posterity..
The .decision of the State Government is timely in view of the fact that many old prisons in the United Kingdom, France, Germany,Switzerland and nearer home Australia have been preserved and turned into museums, hotels, and other establishment to attract tourists from all over the world. This could be a plus factor for Malacca .

SUPERVISE SCHOOL CHILDREN

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I am saddened by what has happened in the suspension bridge tragedy, because not only has innocent lives been lost, but it also tarnishes, the image of the Education Ministry, teachers in particular, and the newly born 1 Malaysia concept, mooted out by the Prime Minister, so much so that, the Perak opposition State assemblymen wanted all the 1 Malaysia camps suspended in view of the tragic incident. "opposition hold their own "sitting"," (nst Oct. 29 ).
I think this ridiculous political motivated decision is uncalled for. Does it means that when a plane crashed with 230 passengers on board killed, people should be stopped from flying?.
As usual in the aftermath of a tragedy, there will be so many individuals ,non-governmental organizations, and politicians,figure-pointing at the authorities and developers responsible for the construction of the project. Almost all will emphasis on the physical aspects of safety. like whether the project
was supervised and inspected by the Public Works Department,or a Fit to Use certificate issued by the relevant authorities,,or if there was an element of corruption, or was there a Notice Board or a Signage put up to warn the public on the use of the bridge, etc. etc.
Our former Prime Minister,Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamed, after the Highland Towers tragedy, warned that there was a need for a comprehensive study of any construction and development of public projects. The security aspects should not be compromised. The authorities must not be lulled into a false sense of security and must learn from all the tragedies that has happened. I wonder whether the warning has been taken seriously or not.
So much so, as far as Physical aspects of security are concerned, but we seem to be neglecting the practical aspects of security one that should be taught and practiced , by the people especially school children who are venerable to all sorts of accidents, I am more concerned about school children being taught to queue at bus stops, train stations,toilets, school canteens, ticket booths, etc. to let others come down first before alighting a bus or train..They should not be standing on doorways, putting their heads and hands out of the bus's windows, and running and playing while the bus is moving.
When was the last time a fire drill held in schools and school hostels? Are children taught how to leave the classrooms, halls, or hostels. when there is a fire or any disasters ? Do children rushed out of their classrooms when the bell rang, or do they leave in an orderly manner, starting from the first row followed by the others in single file? Children will be children, and while in schools they should be strictly supervised and disciplined. I believe that discipline at home as well as in schools will create an awareness of the practical aspects of security I feel that the Parent Teachers Associations, and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and health should seriously play their roles to oversee to the implementation of the practical aspect of security in all schools in Malaysia
If only precautions were taken and the children were supervised strictly to stand in single file and then allowed to cross the bridge five at a time with a teacher standing guard in the middle of the bridge and two others at both end of the bridge, the suspension bridge tragedy could have been averted
I would like to refer to the letter by Zahidi Ahmad,"were there enough safety measures?," (nst Oct.30 where he mentioned about how his children studying in England were strictly supervised at every school outing. I suggest that the Education Ministry take a cue from this system, so that parents will have more confidence in allowing their children to attend future 1 Malaysia camps.


NOR SHAHID MOHD NOR
PETALING JAYA
31.10.2009

PRESERVE PART OF PUDU JAIL

I refer to your report, "Pudu Prison makes way for traffic",(nst Oct.19) The curtains finally came down on the old legacy, Pudu Jail, and its wall facing Jalan Pudu and part of the execution chambers have been demolished, a couple of weeks ago to make way for traffic. The project is aimed at easing the traffic congestion along Jalan Pudu and Jalan Hang Tuah. While i appreciate the objective of helping motorists to end their daily traffic woos , surely the entire complex does not have to go.

Built by the British in 1895, Pudu Prison, a relic of the Victorian era is set to be completely demolished soon, to make way for more shopping complex.The decision to tear down the 114 year old prison has upset not only war veterans, locally , and overseas, but also the Ex-Prison Officers Association, Malaysia. who wanted part of the prison preserved for nostalgia.
Many NGOs,,historians,, lovers of heritage buildings, and I,an ex- Superintendent of the prison, have been writing many letters and articles on Pudu Jail to the New Straits Times , appealing to the Government and the Urban Development Authority to preserve part of the prison as a National Heritage, Alas they have been falling on deaf ears .
I can understand that UDA will not compromise on the re-development plan. After all it spent millions of ringgit to build a new prison at Sungei Buloh. However I would like to urge, The Malaysian Heritage Board, the Home Affairs , the Tourism,and the Cultural and Heritage Ministeries to appeal to UDA to consider preserving at least the Tower Block Main Gate, with the Administration Building at the back, for the purpose of turning them into a museum of Crime and Punishment.
This could be another landmark reminding Malaysians and tourists of the place, where local and foreign, prisoners and prisoners of war, from Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan were once confined during World War 2.


NOR SHAHID MOHD NOR
PETALING JAYA.
24.10.09

MCA SHOULD NOT SIDELINE BAHASA MELAYU

Many readers have been writing in about the importance of Bahasa Melayu, as the National Language of 1 Malaysia. and in spite of the frequent media reports, it is regrettable and distressing to see that of all political parties, the MCA, which is the component party of the Barisan Nasional failed to use Bahasa Melayu which is the National language on the backdrop of their Extraordinary General meeting held in Kuala Lumpur on the 10th of October 2009
It was entirely written in Chinese characters on top followed by bold lettering in English. This was not only a blatant disregard for the use of bahasa Melayu, on all official signage, posters,buntings, bill boards, and backdrops, but also did not comply with the requirements and directives of Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. Yes ,The government is encouraging Malaysian to learn and use English.,but not at the expense of sidelining Bahasa Melayu wich is the official National Language.
The backdrop was seen on all local T.V stations many times for a couple of days, and that for a moment I thought that the MCA's EGM this time around was held in either China, Taiwan or Hong Kong
Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka and other relevant authorities, did not protest or took any action, because they have no power to fine or take any other actions , on any organization that did not use Bahasa Melayu in their official administration.
It was reported in Berita Harian Oct.19) that 2 Acts, the National Language Act l963, and the Education Act l996 will be amended in order to give more clout to Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka to act and fine the public sectors and their agencies for not using Bahasa Melayu in their official administration. The amendment is timely, in view of the fact that the DBP after 52 years of Merdeka is still toothless. I think that it will be more effective if the power is also given to, City Halls, municipalities,, Town and Local Councils. to act on the matter.


NOR SHAHID MOHD NOR
PETALING JAYA
20.10.09

CREATE COOPERATIVE YOUTH BANK

I refer to your report, "Khairi,Stop being defensive," (nst Oct 15 ) While calling on the Malays to get rid of the crutches, and compete with the others on a level playing field, he suggested, that the Government create a Youth Bank "Bank Belia" for the benefit of Malay Youths to get involve in entrepreneur enterprises. It is vital since the youth are facing hardship in finding jobs and demanded that the Government settled their problems immediately, I think it is a tall order that contradicted with his maiden policy speech, calling on the Malays to stop being defensive and relying on the crutches.
If UMNO youth have the civilisational confidence, than they should on their own initiative find ways and means to stand on their own feet without depending on the crutches.Why then the need to have a special bank for the youth,when there are already so many banks and Government agencies that are committed to giving out loans and grants to would be entrepreneurs. I know of many Malay youths who have become successful farmers,,and businessmen on their own initiative. They applied for loans and grants, went for training in various fields, work hard, and were not afraid to dirty their hands, and when they have full confidence, they started their own business. To day they are successful entrepreneurs.
There are more than a million foreign workers in this country, and every one of them are employed, in various fields from plantation and cons traction workers to workers in fast food outlets, petrol stations, hotels, supermarkets and shopping complexes .and yet our youths said that they could not fi nd jobs. I was told by the foreigners that in Malaysia they could pick money on the roads, meaning that it is so easy to find jobs and make money in Malaysia than in their own countries.
UMNO youths with the help of the various banks and government agencies should be able to stand on their own feet and venture into business. There are plenty of opportunities out there .There are 3.4 millions UMNO members in Malaysia, and if each one of them contribute RM1 ringgit each monthly towards a Youth Fund, they would be able to collect RM 3.4 million ringgit a month, and that would add up to RM 40 milluion a year. I am sure all could afford to contribute RM 5 ringgit a month and that would add up to Rm 200 million ringgit a year, and after a couple of years with the help of the Government, it would be enough for UMNO youth to create a CO Operative YOUTH BANK , which not only could go into business,but could also give out loans and other benefits including dividends to members..Allow members to buy a minimum share of Rm 100 ringgit,and I am sure that it would attract more people to become UMNO members Imagine the amount of fund that could be generated. In a decade It could be as strong as Bank Rakyat or Tabong Haji.


NOR SHAHID MOHD NOR
PETALING JAYA
16 Oct.2009