TwoSen

I REFER to “Scourge of sick simian” and “No case for herpes infection” that appeared in The Star on Jan 7 and Jan 9, respectively, and wish to give some clarification provided by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks.

The transmission of disease from wild animals to humans can occur directly (bites, scratches, handling animals or their tissues) or indirectly (contact with infected urine, faeces, secretions, blood and contaminated soil).

Although animals do not show clinical signs or exhibit minor signs, they may still be highly infectious. There are over 175 zoonotic diseases that are transmissible to humans.

Basic hygiene is a crucial factor in reducing the spread of zoonotic disease from animals to humans.

Zoonosis is not limited to only non-human primates. There are about 50,000 species of vertebrates that can potentially transmit zoonotic disease. These include bats, birds, rodents, carnivores and herbivores.

Significant zoonotic diseases of non-human primates include Herpesvlrus simiae (Herpes - B), Rubeola Virus (Measles), Rhabdovirus (Rabies), Mycobacterium genera (Tuberculosis), Salmonella typhimurium and S. enteritidis (Salmonellosis), Shigella flexneri (types 2,4,6), S. sonnei and S. dysenteriae (Shigellosis).

These pathogens communicable to humans are shed more severely when the animals are stressed through capture, captivity, diet change, climatic charge or shipping.

In 2007, the Department of Wildlife and National Parks set up a collaborative effort with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia to research wildlife diseases in the country and set up clinical standards for captive wildlife.

In addition, the Institute for Medical Research, Malaysia, also carried out a joint study on simian malaria and its vectors in Peninsular Malaysia.

Putrajaya.

Source: The Star – January 18, 2008

I REFER to “Applicant’s responsibility to prove citizenship” (The Star, Jan 15). Thank you Jainisah Mohd Noor for the lengthy explanation. It blatantly reaffirms the point in my letter, and that is “the bureaucracy is mightier than life”.

I am very sure that if Chan Yn Seng’s biological parents and the present illegal adoptive parents knew of these complications back then, they would have taken the proper steps.

How many of us really know NRD laws and regulations well enough not to make a blunder? Most of us assume that if we are born in Malaysia, we are Malaysian.

Looking at the present situation, I can only pray that Yn Seng will find his biological parents because without them, I assume a proper adoption (as suggested by Jainisah) cannot take place either. Can it?

In my opinion, when a person’s survival can be compromised because of a technicality in law, then something is very wrong. It brings the term “Masyarakat Penyayang dan Prihatin” to a totally new meaning.

RAKYAT,

Puchong, Selangor.

Source: The Star – January 18, 2008

SYABAS to Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) for banning food containers made of polystyrene and opting for biodegradable materials in their campus.

Many might ask why? Why should we not use polystyrene? After all, the material looks clean and clear. It is lightweight and comes in all shapes and sizes. It is cheap and disposable. No cleaning or storing is needed!

Polystyrene has found its way into all Malaysian food outlets. It is widely used in most foodstalls and canteens for take-away – hot fried noodles, mixed rice, hot cakes, etc.

Food caterers use polystyrene cups, plates, and take-away bags and boxes.

Polystyrene has found its way even into state open houses and the open houses of our leaders. We now use them in our homes too.

Research has found that when hot food is stored and served in polystyrene containers, dioxins from these materials is released into the food. These dioxins have been known to cause cancer.

Are we going to compromise our health for the convenience that polystyrene gives us?

Another major problem caused by non-biodegradable polystyrene containers is flooding, as they float and choke up culverts and drains.

Given the tonnes of plastic we discard into our waterways, it is hardly surprising that floods occur even during light rain.

USM has taught all of us a fine lesson on how to save our environment. We should follow its noble example.

Other countries have phased out the use of polystyrene for the sake of good health and a healthy environment.

The Health Ministry should go on road shows educating the public on the harm caused by polystyrene.

In addition, the Government should set an example by banning the use of polystyrene in its canteens. This should also apply for all open houses sponsored by the Government.

Institutions of higher learning in Malaysia, including private institutions, can also set a great example by banning the use of polystyrene in their campus food outlets.

Let us begin a nationwide campaign to rid ourselves of polystyrene containers.

DATUK (IR) BATUMALAI RAMASAMY and

Senawang, Negri Sembilan.

Source: The Star – January 18, 2008

WE refer to the letter by Bernard Marbeck concerning Wan Zainun Wan Mohamad and the Malaysian Association for the Blind (”Association could have done more” - NST, Jan 15).

Wan Zainun had never been chased out of the hostel in Petaling Jaya. It is true that the MAB was in need of the land on which the hostel was standing for its development plans and, therefore, the blind tenants were given quit notice.

Alternative housing arrangements had been made for the tenants to obtain PKNS flats in Shah Alam. They did not leave the hostel until after they had received keys to their new flats.

Subsequently, Wan Zainun decided not to stay in her own flat in Shah Alam but chose to stay with her blind friend, Liong Tat Kiong, in his house in Petaling Jaya.

Both (former hostel tenants) had been provided assistance to buy the PKNS flats for which they each paid RM25,000.

Some years later, Wan Zainun approached the MAB to help her apply for a Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) low-cost flat. She was accompanied to the DBKL office by one of our officers. The authorities informed her that it was not their policy to sell the flats but to rent them out. She was offered a flat for rental but declined.

Later, Wan Zainun approached the MAB for adaptive equipment to assist her in her work as a part-time masseuse. We helped her to buy a special handphone costing RM1,500. She also needed a deaf-blind Pacmate (RM24,000).

Much effort has been put in to source for sponsors and the Rotary Club promised to consider the matter.

Efforts were also made to look for a cheaper model.

On Wan Zainun’s difficulties in obtaining her incentive allowance from the Welfare Department, first, a letter was written to the Selangor Welfare Department.

The letter was forwarded to the department in Shah Alam by our job-placement officer on Sept 24, last year.

Another letter was forwarded to the Petaling District Welfare Office in Subang Jaya by the MAB Welfare Unit on Sept 27.

Prior and after the letters, phone calls were made to the respective Welfare Departments to follow up on her case.

However, as Wan Zainun is quite self-reliant because she has some sight and she wanted to act independently, we felt it best not to patronise her. Therefore, we agreed to her request to take the letter by herself to the district welfare officer.

When we did not hear from the welfare office, we contacted the relevant officer and she informed us that Wan Zainun would be getting her allowance soon.

After some delay, we got in touch again with the welfare officer and learnt of the miscommunication between the Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Welfare Departments and the mix-up regarding Wan Zainun’s address.

We continued to maintain contact with the welfare officer so that the matter would be resolved soon.

On Jan 8, our officers accompanied Wan Zainun to the Petaling office. There, the officer with whom we had been in contact informed us that the matter concerning Wan Zainun’s address had been resolved and that she would be receiving her backdated allowances of RM1,200 from July to December 2007, plus the allowance of RM300 for this month. Her allowances will be credited into her bank account.

GEORGE THOMAS, for Malaysian Association for the Blind

Source: NST – January 18, 2008

NUSANTARA Initiative for Justice and Peace takes strong objection to the comments against Indonesia and its people by Tunku Abdul Aziz (”The cultural ties that should bind us” - New Sunday Times, Jan 13).

His remarks could undo the goodwill and friendship produced by the talks between the Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

He should have welcomed the outcome of the talks which would lead to the setting up of a high-level committee of 14 eminent persons to address troublesome issues, including foreign workers.

Abdullah also called for a mechanism for media representatives from the two countries to meet to avoid sensational reporting.

The approach taken by the two leaders shows political maturity and a deep commitment to the unity of the two nations and their people, which Tunku Aziz seems to ignore.

Tunku Aziz imputes to Indonesians “excessive display of nationalism” which would make their nation “unreliable and boorish to boot”. If that is so, why are the big powers and multinational corporations rushing to forge good relations with Indonesia?

He patronisingly writes in insulting terms: “… for all its history as a modern state, it (Indonesia) is really still a country in transition … it has not had a chance to settle down in political, social and economic terms. Its whole existence is simply a larger than life wayang kulit, … replete with myths and fantasies … How anyone can be expected to engage such a country meaningfully without causing offence and endless misunderstandings … is something which we must concentrate our minds on as we seek to mend fences…”

Tunku Aziz will discover if he reads history books that it was this wayang kulit nation that played a big role in the decolonisation of Africa and Asia and in the Non-Aligned Movement in the 1960s.

He criticises Wahyu Susilo of Migrant Care for calling on Malaysia to legalise “illegal” workers. What is wrong with Susilo’s call?

They are not living on welfare. They are exploited, paid low wages and subject to harassment by the authorities.

Without them, our plantation and construction sectors would collapse. Therefore, why not regularise their stay here and ensure that their human rights are protected?

S.M. MOHAMED IDRIS, for Nusantara Initiative for Justice and Peace, Penang

Source: NST – January 18, 2008

ON two occasions when I returned home to Sungai Petani from an extended holiday, I found the Astro programme feed to my TV set cut off.

The first instance was last July. The company promptly reconnected its service facility after I made a complaint.

I was not so lucky the second time a fortnight ago. I could not contact the company despite numerous telephone calls.

I was informed by a customer service officer that it was the company’s policy to “switch off” its programme feed to a customer when the service was not utilised for any length of time.

I have regularly paid monthly subscription for the past year. Is Astro charging a fee for services not rendered?

A.G., Sungai Petani

Source: NST – January 18, 2008

SOME time ago, I was looking for a lotion in a pharmacy and I reached for the bottle. It felt warm! Then I realised it was because it had been left under a light on the shelf.

I asked for another from their store but they had none left, so I refused to take that one, saying that the quality must have been compromised under the heat there. I wouldn’t even know for how long all those bottles had been “warmed” .

Since then, I have refused to buy any cream that has been placed under a light. It makes me wonder how come these pharmacies have not taken care to keep their products “cool”. The air-conditioning is not helpful if the lighting above the shelves is warm.

How ironic when one reads on the directions for use: “Keep in cool place”.

S. LEONG, Ampang, Selangor

Source: NST – January 18, 2008

I REFER to the complaint by W.S.W of Kuala Lumpur on Firefly’s Subang-Johor Baru service (”Can it do this?” - NST, Jan 17).

Firefly wishes to apologise to all passengers for the inconvenience caused due to the cancellation of the Subang-Johor Baru flights. The flight cancellation was the result of an internal reorganisation to improve efficiency in crewing, maintenance and day-to-day operations management.

The reorganisation will increase the frequency of Firefly’s flights to non-affected destinations, thus reinforcing its offering of safe, affordable and convenient air travel.

We are contacting our customers to inform them of the cancellation while at the same time, offering assistance in working out alternative travel arrangements. Those who require immediate assistance should contact our call centre at 03-7845-4543.

HAMILI ABD HAMID, for FlyFirefly Sdn Bhd

Source: NST – January 18, 2008

I REFER to the letter by Moaz Yusuf Ahmad (”Far too many holes in proposed plan” - NST, Jan 15) in which he quoted me in my answer to him during the dialogue on the Subang Jaya Draft Master Plan chaired by me on Jan 6.

I think we all agreed that the extension of the Putra line from Kelana Jaya to Subang Jaya and the Star line from Bukit Jalil to Puchong will ease traffic in these areas.

When both extensions were announced by the federal government last year, I held consultations with residents on the best route to Subang Jaya. A memo was then prepared and given to the Transport Ministry.

I had also requested through the Subang Jaya Municipal Council and Petaling District Office to have more detailed discussions on these two extensions.

Sadly, Syarikat Prasarana, the company appointed by the government, refused to meet us. They said they would meet us after the cabinet granted its approval.

However, I am doubtful any change will be accepted once the cabinet approves the plan.

The LRT extensions are to benefit residents in Subang Jaya and Puchong. Hence, the government or any agency appointed must consult the residents concerned. Otherwise, I fear we will have a repeat of the Putra and Star lines where some stops are not properly located.

DATUK LEE HWA BENG, State assemblyman for Subang Jaya

Source: NST – January 18, 2008

NOWADAYS, it seems unlikely that our checked-in luggage for international flights would not be subjected to secret security checks. This is done despite the fact that our luggage has already been scanned and “sealed” with a security sticker when we put them through the scanner earlier.

In view of that “standard” procedure by airports around the world because of the increasing security threat, many passengers have grown to accept it. I myself would have also accepted the intrusive search had it not been for an unpleasant experience.

On Nov 21, my friends and I took a flight from KLIA to Hong Kong for a holiday (Flight UO 739). As usual, we locked our luggage and proceeded with the check-in process. Everything went smoothly.

However, when we arrived at our destination, we discovered that almost all the locks of our luggage had been tampered with. Luggage zips were also damaged. We assumed that our luggage had been opened by security officials.

When I went through my luggage contents, I discovered that an expensive pair of sunglasses was missing. At the same time, another passenger from the same flight also complained of a missing camera. Some people have obviously been taking advantage of security checks to enrich themselves.

We know that incidents like these are not isolated cases. To minimise the abuse of the system in our airport and to avoid the loss of things by passengers, I would like to give a few suggestions to Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhad.

Put up notice to inform passengers that checked-in luggage will likely be opened for security checks even though it has already been “cleared” by the scanner.

This notice would warn passengers not to lock their luggage and, thus, could prevent luggage and lock damage. It could also prevent passengers from forming a false perception that their locked and scanned luggage would be “safe” and not put through physical checking.

Make it a must for airport officials who do the luggage checks to acknowledge their action on a form provided and leave it on the luggage. Officials must also write down their details so that they could be traced.

Under the present system, passengers are in the dark as to what had happened to their damaged and opened luggage. Any procedure taken regarding the luggage must be declared to the owners so as to avoid confusion.

If possible, officials must not open someone’s belongings behind his back. A luggage is a personal property and, therefore, it must be opened in the presence of its owner.

For officials to carry out their work, a time of one to two hours between check-in and boarding could be used for random checking. During the checking process, owners should be required to be present.

RICHARD LOW, Taiping, Perak

Source: NST – January 18, 2008