TwoSen

WE refer to the comments on medical insurance by Datuk Marimuthu Nadason of Fomca in “Draw up laws to monitor schemes” (NST, Jan 15).

The General Insurance Association of Malaysia wishes to clarify that insurance companies do not interfere in or influence medical decisions on treatment and tests conducted by doctors.

The insurance industry offers many types of medical and health insurance plans to meet different needs. At the point of purchase of a medical and health plan, the policyholder is given information on the basic and salient features of the policy.

This information would include details of benefits payable, significant medical or other exclusions including pre-existing conditions and specified illnesses, survival period and waiting period, limits of benefits payable, amount of premium payable, nature and extent of insurer rights to review and revise the premiums payable and the notice to be given in the event of any revision as well as any renewal guarantees.

The medical and health insurance policy would provide cover and benefits for treatment and expenses as specified in the plan. The plan, however, does not cover or pay for everything and all treatments done or recommended by physicians or charged by hospitals.

Consumers, however, have the right to select and obtain medical treatment from any private doctor or hospital of their choice. The insured can seek reimbursement from their medical insurance policy, if eligible.

It is important for consumers to understand the reasons for the treatment and/or admission recommended by their physician and what is covered in their policy contract.

Insurance companies may provide value-added services through their payment facility arrangements with panel hospitals and doctors, and this is referred to as the cashless facility.

The insured seeking medical care at these panel hospitals and doctors would enjoy the convenience of a letter of guarantee from the insurance company for a covered disability on the benefits provided by their policy.

If the insured chooses to go to non-panel hospitals and doctors, the insured does not have the convenience of the “cashless” facility and will need to settle the medical bills first and later seek reimbursement from the insurance company.

As medical policies differ as to coverage, benefits and costs, policyholders should be aware that not all of them have the cashless facility as policy benefits are priced differently for different needs.

Consumers are advised to ensure that they provide complete information to their insurer as requested in the proposal form when purchasing a medical insurance policy, and ensure that they fully understand any exclusions or limitations imposed on benefits provided under their medical and health insurance policy before confirming their purchase.

Members of the public are advised to examine the benefits and cost of premiums and select a medical policy that best suits their needs and budget.

C.F. LIM, for General Insurance Association of Malaysia

Source: NST – January 17, 2008

I REFER to your report “Drastic drop in bird stopovers as wetlands are lost” (NST, Jan 2).

The Department of Wildlife and National Parks has been monitoring waterbirds in Peninsular Malaysia in the Asian Waterbird Census Survey since the 1980s. This was carried out with the Malaysian Nature Society and the Wetlands International.

In Perak, 12,161 migratory birds of various species were recorded in 1983, 8,639 in 1984, 5,019 in 1985 and 14,405 in 1986 while 1,269 birds were recorded in 2003 and 1,015 in 2004.

The decline in the number of migratory birds frequenting the west coast of the peninsula may have been due to the change in the status of their habitats.

Direct disturbances to the birds because of increased activities in the area may have also contributed to the decrease. Pollution through the usage of pesticides, fungicides and other chemicals in the plantations upstream (river) may also have caused the decline of food for the birds near the river mouths (mudflats). Examples can be seen in Pulau Ketam and Klang Islands, Selangor, and Kuala Gula, Perak.

The department enforces the Wildlife Protection Act 76/72, Taman Negara Act, Enakment Taman Negara Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan. These Acts and Enactments focus only on the wildlife species, national parks and the protected areas in Peninsular Malaysia.

Other areas outside the jurisdiction of the department, especially wetlands, are not within our control, except for Tasek Bera, a Ramsar site which is partly under the control of the department.

A combined effort between all parties, including the public, is needed in order to protect the wetlands and prevent further decline in the number of birds.

NOR AZEAN HASAN, for Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Putrajaya

Source: NST – January 17, 2008

I REFER to the letter on the polystyrene ban by Universiti Sains Malaysia (”Others should follow suit” - NST, Jan 14) by Dionysius S.K. Sharma. I would like to take the opportunity to clarify some of the issues Dionysius raised.

USM has taken what is seen to be an environmental-friendly step, especially in the eyes of the public and activists.

The consumption of polystyrene foam products has been steadily increasing in Malaysia, with more than 20 foam boxes being used every second each day during the lunch hour.

Polystyrene is a versatile plastic and a little known fact about polystyrene foam is that it is 100 per cent recyclable. The manufacturing facility, in the company I work for, recycles several tonnes each day to be made back into polystyrene resin.

Furthermore, polystyrene foam has been certified to be food-grade material, and is, therefore, free of carcinogenic compounds. If it did contain these compounds, it would never have been approved to contain hot food for human consumption.

If we are talking about taking initiative, a lot comes down to individual over corporate responsibility.

I cannot recall the number of times I have seen drivers and their passengers throw rubbish indiscriminately out of their windows. Also, aluminium cans are seen to be environmental-friendly, although they, too, can presumably sit on a landfill and not decompose for “1,000 years”, but they do not bear the same stigma as foam containers.

We export huge amounts of foam products to countries such as Australia and New Zealand and anyone who has been to these countries cannot deny the widespread use of foam lunch boxes.

But how do these countries deal with the problem of waste? It comes down to mentality. People must learn to dispose of rubbish sensibly, as even biodegradable plastics can cause a substantial amount of land pollution, resulting from improper disposal.

As society evolves, manufacturing evolves with it. My company is sourcing for renewable, biodegradable materials for our plastic containers for a more eco-friendly future.

I have great admiration for organisations like the Worldwide Fund for Nature. I hope they will make an effort to work with companies like mine to strive for a better future.

DOUGLAS TAN, Kuala Lumpur

Source: NST – January 17, 2008

I WRITE to voice my displeasure at budget airline Firefly, which recently introduced a Subang-Johor Baru air service with much fanfare, only to terminate it quietly on Jan 13.

I have a JB-Subang booking for travel in the immediate post-Chinese New Year period and got to know of this route cancellation by chance, since there was no email, SMS or phone advice from this airline.

A call centre inquiry confirmed the route cancellation, the reason offered was “major route reorganisation”.

Under this airline’s conditions of carriage in Clause 9, it is stated: “At any time after a booking has been made, we may change our schedules and/or cancel, terminate, divert, postpone, reschedule or delay any flight where we reasonably consider to be justified by circumstances beyond our control or for reasons of safety or commercial reasons.

“In the event of such flight cancellation, we shall at our option, either:

“Carry you at the earliest opportunity on another of our scheduled services.

“If you elect for a refund, we shall refund you.”

It would thus appear that since the route is no more in service, the only recourse would be a refund. A full-service airline would have booked an alternative flight with another airline.

This raises the question of an unfair advantage to Firefly at the consumers’ expense.

It also brings to question the oft-used strategy employed by a low-cost carrier in terminating non-profitable flights with neither care nor consideration for passenger convenience.

Is there no regulatory body to monitor such practices? Does the airline realise the amount of inconvenience it can cause to travellers by such route termination according to its whims and fancies?

W.S.W., Kuala Lumpur

Source: NST – January 17, 2008

CHARITY begins at home. That was my first thought when I read that the government will not allow subsidised sugar and flour to be sold to foreigners (”No more cheap sugar, flour for Thais and Singaporeans” - NST, Jan 16).

Our controlled food items are meant for locals.

Since these products are more expensive in neighbouring countries, their citizens are making a beeline to our country to buy such goods, thus creating an artificial shortage.

With this ban, one hopes that locals will not face a shortage of cooking commodities any more. The authorities need to be diligent in stopping smugglers from siphoning off our food to neighbouring countries.

HAMDAN IBRAHIM, Kuala Lumpur

Source: NST – January 17, 2008

FOR the last few days, residents of Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, especially in BU2, BU3 and BU4, have been bombarded with loud singing caused by performances held at the main entrance of the new wing of 1 Utama.

The performances start at 8pm and continue until 10.30pm on weekdays and from 10.30am to 10.30pm on weekends, with singers blaring Malay, Mandarin and English songs. Sometimes, they scream their heads off.

Residents are unable to spend their evenings or weekends peacefully as the noise level is too high and irritating.

I would have no quarrels if the performances were held inside the complex.

But to hold it out in the open, just outside the main entrance, and allowing the performers to scream on top of their voices with the amplifier at full blast is really a nuisance and not entertainment.

Should residents be subjected to such noise pollution? Why should residents get a raw deal just because some people want to make more money?

L.S.H., Petaling Jaya

Source: NST – January 17, 2008

MUCH has been said about the state of Malaysia Airlines. In spite of the often promising statements it makes, the sad reality is that it lags so much in efficiency behind many other airlines.

Nevertheless, my family has always tried to fly with our national carrier before considering other airlines. Until now, that is.

Recently, we booked a flight to Melbourne departing Kuala Lumpur on Feb 9. The booking was confirmed and we were issued a statement stating we have until Jan 17 to pay up.

However, when we went to the travel agent on Jan 10 to pay, we were told the due date had been brought forward by 10 days to Jan 7 without our knowledge and, therefore, our bookings had been cancelled automatically. No attempt was made to contact us.

The travel agent made a call to MAS to complain about this. The response from MAS was simple: it is the computer “system”.

Instead of being our first choice, MAS is now the airline of last resort for my family. It saddens me that as a Malaysian, I have to give priority to Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways and Emirates over our national carrier.

When a confirmation of booking slip is not worth the paper it is printed on, and does not ensure that you will get your tickets, you have to finally give up.

LEE LAI LIN, Sungai Petani

Source: NST – January 17, 2008

FOUR foreigners and a local, believed to be part-time smugglers, were arrested at the illegal jetty in Pengkalan Kubur trying to smuggle out essential items, including 77kg of cooking oil (”4 Thais held over smuggling of sugar, cooking oil” — NST, Jan 11).

A foreigner, involved in transporting ketum leaves on previous occasions, was arrested in Bukit Kayu Hitam trying to smuggle in 90kg of packed ketum concealed in a secret compartment of his lorry.

And in the Kubang Pasu district, Narcotics Department officers arrested a man who had 600 packets of ketum powder, 280 packets of ketum juice and 200kg of ketum leaves in his bedroom.

Admittedly, it is difficult to curb this old trade of smuggling, a highly profitable undertaking. Cooking oil sold at RM2.50 locally can fetch a price of RM4.50 to RM4.80 in a neighbouring country. Similarly, a person who sells ketum products can earn as much as RM1,000 per day.

The law is in place but smuggling remains rampant. The lenient punishment meted out on smugglers is not a deterrent, and they will continue to take the risks.

W.M. RAMLI, Ulu Klang

Source: NST – January 17, 2008

I TAKE this opportunity to congratulate the Malacca Narcotics Department for its tireless effort to rid Malacca of the drug menace.

I heard about the biggest drug bust ever recorded in the state’s history. Kudos to the department.

VIJAY SHANMUGAM, Taiping

Source: NST – January 17, 2008

We refer to the complaints of “Voluntary Social Worker” concerning Wan Zainun Wan Mohamad (letters, Jan 11).

At no time had Wan Zainun been chased out of the hostel in Petaling Jaya. It is true that the Malaysian Association of the Blind (MAB) was in need of the land on which the hostel was standing for development 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 the keys to their new flats.

Subsequently, Wan Zainun decided not to stay in her own flat in Shah Alam, but preferred to stay with her blind friend, Liong Tat Kiong, in his house in Petaling Jaya. Both of them (former tenants of the hostel) had been provided assistance to purchase the PKNS flats for which they each paid RM25,000 from their own funds.

Some years later, Wan Zainun had approached MAB to help her apply to the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to buy a low-cost flat. She was accompanied to the DBKL office by one of our officers. The DBKL 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 she declined.

Later on, Wan Zainun approached MAB for help with adaptive equipment to help her in her work as a part-time masseuse. We helped her to purchase a special handphone at the cost of RM1,500. She was needed a Deaf- Blind Pacmate costing RM24,000. Much effort has been put in to source for sponsors and the Rotary Club has promised to consider the matter.

Efforts are also being made to find a cheaper model which could meet her needs.

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

A letter was written to the Selangor Welfare Department in Shah Alam by our Job Replacement Officer on Sept 24, 2007. This was followed by a letter to the Petaling Welfare Office in Subang Jaya by the MAB Welfare Unit on Sept 27.

Before and after writing these letters, repeated phone calls had been 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 and, therefore agreed to her request for her to take the letter by herself to the Petaling Welfare Officer.

When we did not hear from the Petaling Welfare Department, we made contact with the relevant officer and she told us that Wan Zainun would be getting her allowance soon.

After some delay, we got in touch again with the Welfare Officer and that was when we learned of the miscommunication between the KL and Petaling Welfare Departments and the mix-up regarding Wan Zainun’s address.

We continued to maintain contact with the relevant Welfare Officer so that the matter would be settled soon. However, the complaints concerning Wan Zainun have since appeared in the papers.

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 back-dated allowances of RM1,200 from July to December 2007 plus the allowance of RM300 for this month.

Her future allowances will be credited into her bank account.

If “Voluntary Social Worker” had clarified with MAB regarding the facts of the case, it would have helped to avoid much of the misunderstanding.

George Thomas
Executive Director
Malaysian Association for the Blind

Source: The Sun – January 16, 2008