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Mercy prepares 180 physicians for service in Irrawaddy Delta

By LOH FOON FONG, The Star

Thursday May 29, 2008

 

KUALA LUMPUR: Mercy Malaysia has trained 180 doctors from the Myanmar Medical Association in Yangon for deployment in the Irrawaddy Delta.

Mercy president Datuk Dr Jemilah Mahmood

 

Mercy president Datuk Dr Jemilah Mahmood said yesterday the local doctors there had volunteered to either work with Mercy or treat Cyclone Nargis victims at the delta’s southern region.

Dr Jemilah, who left on May 5 for Myanmar, returned on Tuesday night. Her colleagues Dr Heng Aik Cheng and Hew Cheong Yew, who trained the Myanmar team, returned last Sunday.

Medical deployment: Dr Jemilah discussing her experience in helping Cyclone Nargis victims in Myanmar.

She said Mercy had sent out 16 local doctors to the southern part

of the delta where they would serve on a rotation basis with another 16.

Nine of the Myanmar doctors are based at the five joint Mercy and Save the Children UK (SC UK) treatment camps in Myaungmya, Nadupdaw and Pyinkhayang.

Another seven doctors are on afloating hospital which is a converted luxury cruise ship loaned to SC UK by a tour operator in Myanmar.

The hospital made stops between Ngapudaw and Myaungmya so doctors could treat patients, said Dr Jemilah.

About 2.4 million Myanmars are affected by the cyclone.

Dr Jemilah said while the rainy season normally saw a rise in illnesses like malaria and diarrhoea, the effects of the cyclone were making residents more vulnerable.

“If we do not get to them now and give them proper food, shelter and water, they will be at more risk,??? she said.

She said the victims still needed medication, shelter and water purification tablets.

 

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Ignoring Human Rights comes with a price

By Rathi Ramanathan, the Sun

Wed, 28 May 2008

 

PETALING JAYA (May 28, 2008): Amnesty International Malaysia campaigns co-ordinator K.Shan warned today that Malaysia ignores the call for human rights protection at its own peril.

"Groundswell to demand for the protection for human rights is evidenced by the two mass public assemblies, marches and minimum wage pickets in 2007," said Shan at the launching of the Amnesty International Report 2008: State of the World's Human Rights, in conjunction with the worldwide release of the report.

"People are losing faith and growing impatient with the failure of governments, including Malaysia, to protect their rights and the need for reform,' he added.

This year represents 60 years since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations.

The report, among others, highlighted that:

> at least 10 people had died in police custody last year, including two suicides;

>83 people were detained without trial under the Internal Security Act (ISA).;

> 24,770 migrant workers detained by authorities and subjected to psychological and physical abuse as well as cruel and degrading punishments like caning;

> places of worship were demolished and restrictions on religious freedom remained.

Shan said in conjunction with the release of the 2008 report, governments like Malaysia should stop being in denial and apologise for its poor commitment in upholding human rights.

"The government has to stop using torture and ill-treatment and claim that it is as an acceptable practice for intelligence gathering," said Shan.

Most of them are alleged members of Islamist groups, including Jemmah Islamiah (JI), while others arrested under the Internal Security Act (ISA) includes the five leaders of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).

Attempts by the Opposition to get the current Parliament meeting to discuss the ISA were rejected by the Speaker and backbenchers.

Meanwhile, Norlaila Othman, the wife of ISA detainee Mat Sah Bin Mohammed Satray, said ministers need to pay a visit to Kamunting to truly have an understanding of the ordeal ISA detainees face.

"Once you are inside, you become a nobody. You are treated worse than an animal, trapped in a 10 ft room with no fan that you are forced to strip naked to just feel cool."

"How can the government say that men like my husband need couseling? Is this counselling ... this is not rehabilitation. If he is indeed guilty, provide the evidence in court."

"As we are only allowed to talk to him through the intercom ... my son has not been able to touch his father in six years," she added.

Updated: 06:25PM Wed, 28 May 2008

 

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UPDATE:  Organisers said the Walk has been cancelled as advised by the Police, but the talk by the Minister is on. Particpants are advised to go straight go to the NPC.

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Democracy in Malaysia is evolving and maturing.

Growth means change and growth often calls for one to leave behind zones of comfort and venture into unknown places. While some changes are slower to materialise, other changes that we can observe already taking place are truly refreshing.

One of those changes which will profoundly and positively impact democratic growth is the move towards Information Freedom.

From 9 am on Sunday the 1st of June 2008, Malaysian journalists and their fellow citizens will, together, demonstrate their keen desire for Media Freedom by taking a symbolic Walk at Dataran Merdeka.

To avoid problems with security laws, there will be NO PUBLIC GATHERING. Instead, participants are being asked to arrive on their own in ones and twos, show their respect to the National Flag at the Dataran, and then proceed immediately to the National Press Club which is just around the corner (location map and suggested walking route to be provided). Those who wish to do so are invited to wear something yellow, a reflection that this is a People's Activity.

Underlining the importance of this initiative, YB Datuk Zaid Ibrahim has kindly consented to deliver the keynote address, explaining his views about the road to Media Freedom. Datuk Zaid is a Minister in the PM's Department and the de facto Law Minister. From practically the first day of his appointment, he has said and done things that have pleased the people, especially the legal community, and has conveyed a very positive feeling about what he intends to accomplish.

Datuk Zaid has two requests - that journalists turn up in large numbers and that this program calls for ethics and accountability as much as it calls
for freedom. Since this is the very thrust of this campaign and exactly what we are calling upon the writer community to deliver, it looks like we are
very much in sync.

While we, the organisers, can direct the theme and thrust of the event, journalist participation will be determined by organisations such as the NUJ, the NPC and the various media groups. We look forward to strong support from them. This is an opportunity that they should not miss out on. Please pass the word around and tell every journalist whom you know about this event.

Here is your opportunity to show that you desire Media Freedom. Come and take the Walk with your journalist brethren and show your solidarity with them. We, as a people, can help to move our nation forward on the road to civil liberties.

See you there on Sunday 1st June 2008.

Details, call Gayathry 016-3123478/019-7257970

P/S (27/5)

For your information, the minister, Zaid Ibrahim is even keen to walk with the journalists, so hopefully you will turn up. This is the first time such things have been organised, so would really appreciate your participation and do spread the word.!

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PETALING JAYA: Non-governmental organisations welcome the move to create a new electoral roll but the big question is – will the new roll be free of the problems that dog the current one?

Merdeka Centre executive chairman Ibrahim Suffian said the move by the Election Commission (EC) to draw up a new roll might be able to restore the confidence of the people towards the election process.

“All parties should support EC’s proposal,??? Ibrahim said when commenting on The Star’s front-page report on EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman proposing a fresh electoral roll where existing voters would have to re-register.

“It is time for the country to have a new voter registration system since there is no clear updating system currently,??? he said.

Malaysians for Free Elections (Mafrel) acting chairman Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh said he welcomed the proposal because it would clear all doubts about the current roll.

“We would like to know the process in which the new roll will be drawn up,??? he said.

A member of Coalition for Clean and Fair Election (Bersih) Liew Chin Tong said the EC should have an automatic voter registration based on the National Registration Department’s database.

Liew, who is also Bukit Bendera MP, said this should be done rather than a re-registration process and any voluntary re-registration process might deprive more voters from exercising their rights.

“The best way out is to have an automatic voter registration system based on the National Registration Department’s database which, since July 16, 2002, has been linked to the Election Commission,??? he said in a press statement yesterday.

“It is of course comforting that the EC has finally come to realise that the current roll lacks integrity and fails to ensure a clean, free and fair election. However, Rashid’s solution is worrying.???

He said if the EC remained an arm of the Prime Minister’s Department, there was no guarantee that the re-registration exercise might not result in more manipulation of the roll.
 

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Dayak NGOs weak: Mawan
By Gaing Kunding, The Borneo Post
26 May 2008


‘Our people who have been identifying with these NGOs risk being left further behind other communities’

PAKAN: Dayak-based non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are still very weak despite the fact that most of them have existed for a long time.

Dayaks are, therefore, urged to unite behind these NGOs to strengthen them.

Social Development and Urbanisation Minister Dato Sri William Mawan Ikom said this on Saturday during a Gawai Dayak dinner at Dewan Masyarakat here.

The function where Pakan Branch of Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) was launched was also attended by Mawan’s wife Datin Sri Julia and Deputy Minister of Energy, Water and Telecommunications Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum, who is also Julau MP.

“Take for example, SDNU, Serakup Indu Dayak Sarawak (SIDS) and Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (Sadia) which were established more than 40 years ago. These organisations are strong in spirits but weak in action. They may have far-sightedness but they have been stumbling over the years,??? said Mawan.

“We must address these problems immediately or else our people who have been identifying themselves with SDNU, SIDS and Sadia as well as other newer NGOs, would risk being left further behind other communities, many of which are already well ahead of us.???

Mawan said some negative traits affecting Dayak community were the tendency to pick on and blow up trivial issues, parochialism and self-centred mindset and these had become our community’s stumbling block towards our development and progress.

“We have the bad habits of always picking up on little, little things that are in fact very negligible, and too tiny to be seen, felt or heard. We must try our very best to discard this negative mentality as we strive to address a bigger picture of development and progress within and for our community,??? said Mawan.

Mawan said therefore that this year’s Gawai Dayak theme of ‘Segulai Sejalai Sepenemu’ (Journeying Together Harmoniously) should be taken seriously and practised by the community.

“We should forge greater unity, forgive and forget as we celebrate our traditional harvest festival of Gawai Dayak,??? said Mawan, who is also Pakan assemblyman.

Datuk Joseph Salang, who spoke earlier at the function, reminded Dayaks to be thankful and be appreciative of what they had and whatever successes that they had achieved.

“We should also always be thankful to God for our achievements and abundance that we enjoy physically, mentally and spiritually,??? said Salang, who went to promise that he would work closely with Mawan in developing Pakan and Julau areas through the BN government.

Among those who also attended the function were two political secretaries to the Chief Minister - Paul Igai and Peter Howell Jilan, Sarikei Resident Michael Dawi Alli, Pakan District Officer Inting Nyami, Meradong and Julau District Council Secretary Adrian Luang, organising chairperson who is also SIDS Pakan branch head Selah Kasen, local heads of government departments and agencies and community leaders.

At the function, Penghulu Bakak Mirom was installed as SDNU Pakan branch chairman while Selah was formally installed as SIDS Pakan branch chief. Datin Sri Julia Mawan is the permanent advisor of SIDS Pakan branch.
 

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