I agree with the former Health Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Chua Soi Lek that the Health Minister, Datuk Liow Tiong Lai has not done enough to inform the public about a deadly dengue epidemic in the country.
In fact, I had expressed my outrage 12 days ago at the “conspiracy of silence” perpetrated by Liow “to play down the worst dengue epidemic in the country’s history which has to date claimed 100 lives and recorded over 45,000 dengue cases”.
After Chua expressed his alarm at the lack of publicity surrounding 106 dengue-related deaths recorded at Dec. 15, Liow has come out with the latest statistics of a total of 108 deaths out of 48,178 dengue cases reported as at Dec. 27.
Why is Liow so niggardly with data about dengue cases and deaths that he had to be compelled to release the latest statistics, when he should be constantly on radio, television and the printed media using these figures to warn Malaysians of the deadly dengue epidemic as well as the new chikungunya outbreak?
Liow is taking his responsibilities as Health Minister and the high dengue fatalities too lightly!
How many times, for instance, had Liow seriously warned Malaysians about the deadly dengue epidemic since he became Health Minister so that they become top national news in the various mass media?
Couldn’t Liow have done more in the past nine months to reduce the dengue cases and fatality rate with a high-powered nation-wide campaign involving all the relevant authorities to mobilize the public against the dengue epidemic, instead of stewing in a “conspiracy of silence”?
Twelve days ago, I had called on Liow to end this conspiracy of silence by spearheading a nation-wide anti-dengue campaign as well as making public all the available facts and figures about the worst dengue epidemic confronting the country, with week-by-week data of dengue cases and fatalities, not only nationally but also on a state-by-state basis.
But Liow is not yet prepared to do this, even after 108 dengue deaths this year as at Dec. 27!
#1 by One4All4One on Sunday, 4 January 2009 - 1:36 am
At some point in time people have to learn to accept that “enough is enough”.
A square peg in a round hole applies when someone is not suited for the position or designation assigned.
All people will suffer when a wrong person is chosen to fill in a position. Are there no other suitable persons who could be called to do what is needed?
The previous health minister is more suited, as proven by his past records and performance, and would be able to carry out the job much more effectively and meaningfully. Isn’t it what we want? No one should doubt his capability and responsibility. Let’s not be hypocritical.
Let’s forgive the man for his human weaknesses, mistakes, and escapades. We all make mistakes too, don’t we? Only difference is ours are not videotaped and exposed. Aren’t we all sinful from the day we were born? We can only hope to try to be holy and be good in the eyes of others. After all, to err is human, to forgive is divine. Let’s not try to play god, and pass absolute judgements.
Moreover, the guy was repentant and openly admitted his errors, which, incidentally, was a personal moral issue. Who are we to put ourselves on moral high grounds and vilify and denigrate another mortal? Repeating the wrongs is not necessary, unless one has ulterior motives, which is wrong in itself. And two wrongs won’t make a right.
Indeed there are many pressing problems and issues which need to be considered and solved for the betterment of ALL. If the capable and willing soul wishes to do his part and to answer his calling, let’s accept it with open arms. After all he is just trying to do his part, and it is for the benefit of all, including you and me. I do not have any problem with that.
Malaysian Politics
Malaysian politics have gotten too muddled, communal, racist and parochial of late, and hence rendered ineffectual, castrated and impotent.
The end results would be failures and needless sufferings by the guileless and the innocent. Under such circumstances E. & O.E. cannot be excepted, exempted or accepted. Someone must take responsibility for the state of affairs.
Worse or worst, while all that is happening, and in between all the rumblings, there are parties and individuals who are taking advantage of the situation to enrich themselves by whatever means, dishonourably or illegally, covertly or even openly and unabashedly, and non-shamelessly and on the pretext of rightful special privileges. Some even tried to muddle it even further by bringing up or create\ing discontent, animosity, hatred, prejudice, bigotry, dissent, unrest, etc., etc., with the intention to pit one against another.
Such is the muddle and fuddle of Malaysian politics. Does our Constitution promote and encourage such grand failings and shortcomings?
Every right thinking Malaysian would want peace, harmony, goodwill, unity, success, abundance, hope, accountability, fairness, integrity and prosperity to prevail.
Ours is a rich nation, in natural resources and human capability and capacity. It would a total waste of whatever the nation is endowed with if her politics, affairs, governance and administration are not rendered in the best of ways.
It is the responsibility and duty of the elected representatives to see to the smooth running of the daily and long term matters of the nation. Failure to do so would tantamount to a breach of duty. To prevent another person, who is qualified and capable of doing a task, from performing a duty could be considered as such a breach.
Perhaps it is time to be sober and put aside all differences, no matter whatever ethnic, religious, political or cultural colours and stripes that we carry. Let’s work as a people for the only nation that we know. And let’s move on from here.
That is the real challenge. Anything else is wishful thinking which would work towards the destruction of our dreams, wishes and hopes.
The choice is in our hands.