Liow hopes allocations will help reduce NCD

The Star, Sunday September 30, 2012

(My story without byline)

PETALING JAYA: Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai hopes that the Budget allocation for blood test screening and free health checks under the Social Security Orga­nisation (Socso) will help reduce non-communicable diseases (NCD) by 10% to 20%.

He said the funds would help in financing programmes for the early prevention of such diseases.

“Many people come too late for check-ups and by then, they may have to be put on long-term medication,” said Liow.

The Budget 2013 will see cholesterol, sugar and urine tests being offered by 1Malaysia Clinics, while a RM200mil allocation for Socso would enable 1.4 million people aged between 40 and 55 years old to get free health check-ups.

Liow also that said more than 50% of breast cancer cases were detected late and welcomed the Women, Fam­i­­­ly and Community Development Ministry’s RM25mil allocation for free mammogram screenings for 100,000 women aged 40 and above.

On calls for private doctors to be included in the 1Malaysia Clinics scheme, Liow said the ministry would study the idea first.

Socso chief executive officer Datuk K. Selvarajah said the organisation was working out the details of the types of free health check-ups to be offered.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/9/30/budget/12105259&sec=budget

Boost for healthcare and well-being

The Star, Saturday September 29, 2012

THE Government has allocated RM19.3bil for healthcare management and development services next year. This is a 15% increase compared with last year.

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the 1Malaysia Clinics would begin to offer cholesterol and glucose testing services as well as urine tests for those who needed them.

As for the reduced sugar subsidy, he said this was done as 2.6 million Malaysians were diabetic.

“The Government urges retailers not to burden fellow Malaysians by increasing prices. Instead, reduce the content of sugar,” he said.

Najib added that the subsidy reduction was supported by consumers groups and health practitioners.

The Prime Minister said that the Government would still be subsidising sugar at 34 sen per kilo, totalling RM278mil.

Interests groups welcomed the reduction of sugar subsidy but some of them were not happy that the 1Malaysia Clinics are affecting private practice.

For instance, Malaysian Medical Association president Dr S.R. Manalan said they were disappointed that the Government did not include the request of private doctors to incorporate their services in the 1Malaysia Clinic scheme.

“We have mentioned to the Government that the programme had affected the livelihood of many private doctors.

“The Government said the doctors could sign up for slots in general hospitals but these slots were always full, filled up by their own doctors,” he said.

Dr Manalan also said that breast cancer had become more common among those aged 40 and below, thus allocations should be made for them for other forms of screening such as ultrasound.

On the RM200mil allocation for Socso to enable 1.4 million workers to go for free check-ups, he said it was a good effort but there must be follow-up efforts to their cases.

Fomca deputy president Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah said the Government should engage private practitioners for 1Malaysia Clinics instead of creating more clinics by renting new premises and employing additional medical assistants and staff.

He noted that there was no mention of the healthcare financing scheme, which was needed in view of Malaysia becoming an ageing population.

“This must come as soon as possible because healthcare cost has escalated and affecting consumers,” he said.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/9/29/budget/12097828&sec=budget

‘Fear not China’s rise’

The Star, Friday September 28, 2012

(My story without byline)

PETALING JAYA: China may overtake the United States as the biggest economic power in the next four to six years but this does not mean that it will instantly become the world's superpower, says a leading expert on China.

Dr Martin Jacques, 67, author of the global bestseller When China Rules the World: the End of the Western World and the Birth of a New Global Order, said it would take several decades, from between 2030 and 2040, before it could even achieve developed state status.

“It'd be a long way to go as a superpower,” he said at a talk on “China As Global Superpower: What It Means For Asia and The World”, hosted by the Asian Centre for Media Studies, based in Menara Star.

The second edition of his book was released recently and 40% of its content was new.

“This includes an extensive chapter analysing events after the 2008 financial crisis,” he said.

Expert on China: Dr Jacques presenting a talk hosted by the Asian Centre for Media Studies at Menara Star.

His first was shortlisted for two major literary awards.
Dr Jacques said Westerners were fearful of China's rise due to scant knowledge and understanding of China and that it was a communist country.

They fear the country might throw its weight and its military power around.

However, Dr Jacques pointed out that China had no major interest in developing military power after Deng Xiaoping took over the country from the late 1970s to 1990s.

On fears that a communist country was not democratic, he argued that being democratic had not stopped Europeans from conquering others.

“Although China has a lot of problems now, it doesn't mean that it can't be humane and more democratic,” said Dr Jacques.

“Maybe, it will develop universal suffrage without following the Western way.”

Dr Jacques pointed out that the China Development Bank and China Export-Import Bank gave loans of more than US$110bil (RM338.415bil) to other developing countries in 2009 and 2010 while the World Bank only made loan commitments of US$100.3bil (RM307.65bil).

Dr Jacques, a Senior Visiting Research Fellow at the London School of Economics (University of London), visiting professor at Tsinghua University, Beijing, and Fellow at the Transatlantic Academy, Washington DC, was the former editor of Marxism Today, deputy editor of The Independent and a co-founder of the think tank Demos.
Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/9/28/nation/12093853&sec=nation

PM: Promote racial harmony

The Star, Thursday September 27, 2012

By LOH FOON FONG newsdesk@thestar.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has repeated his late father's call for the legal community to dedicate themselves to the promotion of racial harmony.

The Prime Minister, quoting excerpts from Tun Abdul Razak's speech at the first Malaysian Law Conference in 1971, said Malaysian society had unfortunately become fragmented and polarised, therefore a “new synthesis” must be sought.

“To replace the communal groupings of the past, we look to other groups to be the new bridge for greater understanding and cooperation,” Najib said in his opening address at the International Malaysia Law Conference 2012 yesterday.

On this note, he urged the legal community which already possesses multi-racial unity and transcends race, religion and political affiliations “to devote your earnest attention and dedicate yourselves to the promotion of racial harmony to achieve national unity”.

Wait for it: Najib penning his prediction on the general election date as ‘coming soon’ at a booth after opening the law conference. Looking on is Bar Council chairman Lim Chee Wee (right).

Najib reiterated his late father's affirmation of the legal profession and the Malaysian Bar as an important partner in the rule of law and administration of justice.

“When it speaks, we listen. We may not always agree with the views of the Malaysian Bar, but we hear what they say and observe what they do with interest,” he said.

On another matter, Najib said the Government had successfully delivered its promises on law reforms.

Following its promise to the people for a more open and dynamic democracy in Malaysia, it had annulled the three proclamations of Emergency which lead to the expiry of the Emergency Ordinance, he said.

“We promised the rakyat a more human rights-friendly legal environment and we repealed the three controversial laws the Internal Security Act 1971, the Banishment Act 1959 and the Restricted Residence Act 1933,” he said.

For greater freedom of speech and expression, it had amended the Printing Presses and Publication Act 1984, he said.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/9/27/nation/12089355&sec=nation

Bersih: We got funds only once

The Star, Wednesday September 26, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR: The Bersih movement had received funds from the George Soros-linked Open Society Foundation only once, which was for an electoral delineation project last year, said Bersih chairman Datuk S. Ambiga.

The group is now “fully supported” by Malaysians, she told a press conference here yesterday.

Present were representatives from five other non-governmental groups the Centre for Independent Journalism, Lawyers for Liberty, Merdeka Centre, Southeast Centre for E-Media and Suaram.

Ambiga said the Open Society promoted democracy and there was “nothing wrong” receiving funds from it.

“All these about him being responsible for the (1997/98 Asian economy) collapse should be looked at again,” she said, in an apparent reference to a report in an English newspaper that blamed Soros for wrecking the Malaysian economy in 1997/98 through currency speculation.

Ambiga said there were many sides to the story, with some saying that locals not Soros were responsible for it.

Ambiga said another English daily had written a “one-sided and irresponsible” report that two global funders and nine organisations were part of a “plot to destabilise the Government”. She has demanded an apology from the paper within 48 hours.

In a statement released at the end of the press conference, Bersih and the other groups claimed that the report in the daily was a crude attack on civil society in Malaysia.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/9/26/nation/12079383&sec=nation 

Pregnant students attending classes frowned upon

The Star, Sunday September 23, 2012

By LOH FOON FONG
foonfong@thestar.com.my

PETALING JAYA: Although there is no law to stop pregnant teenagers from going to school, the girls' parents will usually not let them attend classes.

“They want their daughter to be out of the school because they fear their children will face stigmatisation,” said Malaysian Child Resource Institute governor Aisha Z. Abdullah.

Aisha said schools with teenage pregnancy cases might want them out because if they did not leave, the schools would be compelled to make police reports if there were criminal offences in-volved.

She said schools were also concerned that the cases might tarnish their image or influence other students to do likewise.

Aisha said that in the United States, pregnant students were allowed to continue attending classes because their plight would act as a deterrent to the other students.

“After they return from giving birth, the student will then share their struggles and discourage others from following in their footsteps,” she said.

Aisha said it would be difficult for students in Malaysia to go back to their schools unless there was enough support from the Government.

On what should be done for cases involving pregnant teenagers if the perpetrators are living in the same community, she said “it would have to be dealt with on a case-to-case basis”.

In the case of a 13-year-old orang asli girl who got pregnant with her neighbour, the parents and the community head would probably need to make the decision together, she added.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/9/23/nation/12070302&sec=nation

Main story: 

Post-mortem report reveals Hui Yi died of heart failure

The Star, Thursday September 20, 2012

By DESIREE TRESA GASPER and LOH FOON FONG
newsdesk@thestar.com.my

BATU PAHAT: A post-mortem report has revealed that miracle girl Tee Hui Yi died from congestive heart failure.

Hui Yi's father Ah Soon, 57, said it did not matter that they were not given details about her death because all the family wanted was to be given time to mourn her untimely passing.

“It is a shame that she is gone especially after she got another chance at life after the transplant,” he said at the Chinese funeral parlour at Jalan Fatimah here yesterday.

Both Ah Soon and Hui Yi's mother Dina Bato Sam Bua, 52, were grateful for the hundreds of calls, messages and visits to the funeral parlour by relatives, loved ones and caring strangers.

We’ll remember you: Dina (centre) along with Hui Yi’s aunt Faridah Sampe (right), cousin Nursyakira Vun Abdullah (left) and her daughters Nursyafiqa and Nursyafinaz paying their last respects to Hui Yi.

 

“I was shocked to see such a large group of people especially on Monday night,” he said, adding that all the family could do was pray for her soul.

Hui Yi, 19, who had survived a double heart transplant in 2007, had complained to her parents that she was having back and chest pains at around 7am on Tuesday when things suddenly turned for the worse.

Her body turned stiff and attempts by her parents to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation failed.

She was pronounced dead after being rushed to the Batu Pahat hospital at 10.02am the same day.

Early yesterday morning, a group of officials from the National Heart Institute also paid their last respects to Hui Yi.

IJN transplant coordinator Sharifah Noraida Syed Nom, who was one of the nurses that took care of Hui Yi throughout her transplants and subsequent check-ups, said that many members of the staff were upset when they found out about her death.

“She was a living medical miracle and we will always miss her happy-go-lucky attitude,” she said.

Meanwhile, in Petaling Jaya, IJN cardiothoracic surgeon Prof Dr Mohamed Ezani Md Taib, who had performed the heart transplant surgery on Hui Yi together with the team that was headed by chief cardiothoracic surgeon Datuk Dr Mohd Azhari Yakub, said she was the beacon of strength for the team five years ago.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/9/20/nation/12055740&sec=nation

The Star, Thursday September 20, 2012

IJN: Hui Yi was stable during last check-up

PETALING JAYA: Tee Hui Yi's condition had been stable during her last medical check-up at the National Heart Institute (IJN).

In a statement released by IJN yesterday, it said the visit had been on Sept 3 at its transplant outpatient clinic.

It said Hui Yi was continued on her routine medication.

“Over the past four years, Miss Tee had developed episodes of rejections of the new heart and was treated accordingly,” it added.

“In April 2012, she was found to have developed graft coronary artery disease and she was started on treatment for this condition.”

The statement added that according to international data, the most common cause of death for heart transplant recipients between three and five years, were coronary artery disease (14.5%), acute rejection (10.2%) and graft failure (23.1%).

“It is difficult to ascertain the actual cause of death but the most likely possibilities are either cardiac event such as abnormal heart rhythm leading to a loss of blood pressure, graft failure or a spontaneous cerebral-bleed since she was on blood thinners,” it added.

The statement said she would be fondly remembered and greatly missed.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/9/20/nation/12055739&sec=nation

Double heart transplant girl Hui Yi dies

The Star, Wednesday September 19, 2012

By DESIREE TRESA GASPER, MOHD FARHAAN SHAH, LOH FOON FONG and RAHIMY RAHIM
newsdesk@thestar.com.my

BATU PAHAT: Miracle girl Tee Hui Yi, who underwent a double heart transplant in 2007, has died.

The 19-year-old, who had survived with a mechanical heart before the two transplants, died at the Batu Pahat Hospital at 10.02am yesterday the day she was to have started work as a kindergarten teacher.

Hui Yi captured the imagination of the nation when she successfully underwent a second heart transplant within 24 hours on Oct 5, with the media headlining her story.

Miracle girl Tee Hui Yi’s mother mourning her sudden death yesterday at age 19. The plucky teenager, who captured the imagination of the nation when she survived a double heart transplant in 2007, died at the Batu Pahat Hospital the day she was supposed to start work as a kindergarten teacher.

 

The first heart transplant failed but, miraculously, another one became available just then and, this time, her body accepted the heart.

Yesterday, she complained of back and chest pains at about 7am but refused to go to hospital for treatment, her mother, Dina Bato Sam Bua, said.

“She asked me to make her some toasted bread and Horlicks but she only ate one slice and vomited the rest. She made me promise to make her favourite mee suah for her next birthday (on Oct 5).

“Then she said she wanted to rest for a while. The next moment her whole body went stiff,” Dina told reporters at the Chinese funeral parlour in Jalan Fatimah here.

“I tried to press her chest and perform CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) but nothing worked,” said, Dina, 52.

Her husband, Ah Soon, 57, also tried to resuscitate their youngest child but to no avail.

“We rushed her to hospital but doctors pronounced her dead half an hour later,” Dina added.

(Hui Yi's birthday is March 14 but the family decided to change the date to Oct 5 to mark the day that she was “reborn” after the second transplant.)

Dina fainted for a few minutes at the parlour and had to be helped by relatives.

She and her husband, two sons and daughter had looked shocked when reporters approached them.

Clutching a photgraph of Hui Yi, the distraught Dina screamed: “I want my daughter.”

Ah Soon said: “When we knew that Hui Yi was gone, we asked the doctor to save her organs and donate them but he told us that it was too late.”

He said he was grateful to the heart donors who gave his daughter new leases on life and was disappointed that Hui Yi's organs could not be saved.

Ah Soon added: “Hui Yi was supposed to start work at a nearby kindergarten today (yesterday) and was so excited about her new job.

“Now, we can only hold on to memories of our cheerful daughter.”

Hui Yi stopped schooling after Year Four when her health deteriorated and was supported by a mechanical heart while waiting for a transplant.

She underwent her first heart transplant on Oct 4, 2007 but her body rejected the organ and she had to undergo another transplant the next day.

IJN, the National Heart Institute, conveyed its condolences to the family of Hui Yi, who had been fondly known as “the mechanical heart girl”.

MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, who was the Health Minister at the time, expressed sadness at her passing.

“I would like to offer my condolences to her family. We feel sad as she had gone through so much and finally had a successful heart transplant,” he said.

“She can be described as a tough survivor and fought until the very end.”

 Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/9/19/nation/12049282&sec=nation

Cat-astrophic infection

Sunday Star
By LOH FOON FONG  
foonfong@thestar.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: Is a certain cat parasite driving people to commit suicide?

A recently published international report has linked women infected with the cat parasite Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii ) with a higher risk of suicide attempts.

A new Universiti Malaya study has also shed some light on the correlation.

Parasitologist Assoc Prof Dr Veeranoot Nissapatorn said that out of 226 mentally-ill patients screened for T. gondii, 76 or 33.6% of those with schizophrenia were infected.

“This figure is quite high,” said Dr Veeranoot, who carried out the study with University Malaya Medical Centre consultant psychiatrist Assoc Prof Jesjeet Singh Gill between 2008 and 2010.

Recently, the Archives of General Psychiatry 2012 reported that out of 45,788 Danish women tracked down through medical records, those infected with T. gondii, a parasite found in cat faeces, had an increased risk of self-directed violence and suicide.

The disease called toxoplasmosis is treatable and preventable.

Cats are the main hosts of T. gondii, but the parasite can also be found in humans and other warm-blooded animals.

There are often flu-like symptoms in the early stages of toxoplasmosis. Researchers found a predictive link between the infection and suicide attempts later in life.

On whether the parasite had any influence on schizophrenic conditions in the local study, Dr Veeranoot said it could not be determined yet as the study was still at an early stage.

Dr Veeranoot said that blood screened from 226 patients showed the infection among those with bipolar disorder and major depression was extremely low 0.13% and 0.18% respectively while there was no infection found in cases of anxiety and organic brain syndrome.

Dr Jesjeet said “there is growing evidence that the infection is close-ly related to schizophrenia” and studies had shown that it might worsen the symptoms of the mental illness.

“For this reason, screening may be beneficial,” he said, adding that such screenings were already available to pregnant women and those less capable of battling infections because their immune response was not functioning properly.

He said those with mental health problems, particularly schizophrenia, might have higher rates of toxoplasma infection compared to the general population because if their mental condition was untreated, they tend to have poor hygiene and nutrition and could develop infections.

UM Parasitology Department head Prof Dr Rohela Mahmud said the parasite concentrated mostly in the brain and eye and hence might interfere with brain functions.

She said treatment for the infection and vaccination of cats were available, adding that cats should be given cooked food instead of being allowed to eat mice as they, too, might be infected with the parasite.

She said people should also ensure they washed their hands after touching cats.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/9/2/nation/11956517&sec=nation