Exercise Boosts Brainpower, Study Shows

Thought brain cells couldn’t regenerate? Think again, says new US study.

Exercise builds new brain cells, report American researchers. In a study into fitness, memory and memory loss, scientists from the University of Columbia Medical Centre found evidence suggesting that humans grow new brain cells in the hippocampus as a result of working out.

“No previous research has systematically examined the different regions of the hippocampus and identified which region is most affected by exercise,” said neurologist heading the study, Dr Scott Small.

In addition to examination of mice brains, 11 healthy adults were recruited to undergo a three-month aerobic exercise regime. Exercise generated blood flow to the denate gyrus (located in the hippocampus) it was found – an effect that increased as the subjects’ fitness improved.

“Our next step is to identify the exercise regimen that is most beneficial to improve cognition and reduce normal memory loss, so that physicians may be able to prescribe specific types of exercise to improve memory,” Small said.

Your Heart Health

Introduction

High risk groups include indigenous people, those on lower incomes and those with a lower level of education. Females have lower death rates than males, and there has been a rapid decline in death rates since 1960s.

 

About the Heart

The heart is about the size of a clenched fist and is located between the lungs under the breastbone. It comprises four chambers – two atria and two ventricles – and blood flows through the chambers in a pattern that supplies the entire body with oxygenated blood via a network of blood vessels. The heart pumps with a great deal of force to the arteries which are elastic, enabling them to expand in order to withstand the pressure. After expansion they contract, and this action helps maintain blood pressure and flow. By the time the blood reaches the veins the blood pressure has dropped; the veins are non-elastic but have small valves that keep the de-oxygenated blood flowing back to the heart.

The walls of the arteries can be thickened due to build-up of fatty plaque, resulting in atherosclerosis. As the build up increases and the arteries narrow. A blood clot may entirely block an artery, and depending on the location of the blockage, a stroke or heart attack may occur.

Atherosclerosis of neck (carotid) arteries may affect mental function, and if it occurs in leg arteries peripheral vascular disease with associated intermittent claudication (pain when walking) may result.

Arterosclerosis is the term used to describe the thickening and hardening of arteries that occurs generally with ageing.

A heart attack (myocardial infarction) is a common result of heart disease, and although men and women both have the same number of heart attacks, the incidence for men is actually five times higher than for women between the ages of 35 and 50 years. A heart attack occurs when one of the three coronary arteries is blocked and reduces blood flow to the heart muscle, depriving it of oxygen and resulting in its death.

Symptoms of heart attack include:

• chest pain, often described as “crushing”
• pain in neck, left shoulder, jaw, left arm or down both arms
• shortness of breath accompanying pain
• dizziness, cold sweats and nausea.

The pain associated with shortage of oxygen within the heart muscle is called angina (pectoris) – it is a warning that coronary artery disease is present and usually occurs in middle age men, and both sexes in older age.

 

Diet and Lifestyle

There are a number of risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including:

• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Coronary heart disease in a close relative before the age of 60
• Smoking
• Elevated blood cholesterol and triglycerides
• Physical inactivity
• High blood pressure

A preventive strategy for minimising risk would involve basic changes to diet and lifestyle, such as to:

• Eat a healthy diet
• Implement an appropriate exercise regimen
• Eliminate obvious risk factors such as smoking
• Maintain a healthy body weight

There is a strong association between diet and cardiovascular disease. The so-called “Mediterranean diet” is high in olive oil, oily fish, fruits, grains, legumes and nuts and is associated with low cholesterol and a lower risk of disease.

Cholesterol is a fat-like substance that performs many important functions within the body but which, in excess produces the fatty plaque that causes atherosclerosis. Cholesterol is transported by lipoproteins within the body and it is the low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) that promotes plaque formation. High density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol transports cholesterol to the liver and helps the body eliminate cholesterol. Measurement of blood cholesterol usually includes measurement of HDL and LDL cholesterol, and the LDL to HDL ratio.

Cholesterol is manufactured within the body and occurs in the diet from animal sources – it does not occur in plant foods. Dietary cholesterol can be controlled by healthy eating patterns. Exercise also helps reduce blood cholesterol levels.

In general dietary fats should be reduced to no more than 25% of the total energy intake. Saturated fats (from animals or coconut and palm oils) should be reduced, as should unsaturated fats called ‘trans’ fats found in pastries and biscuits. These fats increase blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and increase blood stickiness, causing blood platelets to clump or aggregate, together. So called ‘healthy’ polyunsaturated vegetable oils such as safflower and sunflower oils may help to lower cholesterol and reduce the platelet aggregation, however they are more susceptible to oxidation and may lower the good HDL cholesterol.

Olive oil is less likely to be oxidised and is the preferred choice, as is evidenced by the Mediterranean diet.

Dietary fibre, especially the soluble fibre found in fruit and vegetables and in grains such as oats (oat bran) helps to bind fat and cholesterol in the digestive tract and therefore inhibits fat absorption.

Population studies show that those groups who include soy protein in their diet and reduce intake of animal protein have lower blood cholesterol levels and a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.

Complex carbohydrates from whole foods including vegetables, legumes and grains should be incorporated into the diet, and refined carbohydrates should be reduced. Complex carbohydrates, are more slowly absorbed, helping to maintain steady blood insulin levels and reducing the conversion and storage of sugars to fats.

 

Diet for a Healthy Heart

Eat More

• Seasonal fresh vegetables ie leafy greens, green salads, broccoli, zucchini, onions, chinese greens, cabbage (red and white), potato, pumpkin, sweet potato
• Fresh fruits – any!
• Fresh herbs for example parsley, coriander, ginger, dill, basil, garlic
• Sea vegetables (an excellent source of minerals) ie nori, arame, wakame
• Wholegrain cereals such as rice, oats, wholewheat bread and pasta, millet, buckwheat, barley
• Deep sea fish – for example trevally, cod, mackerel, salmon, sardines
• Legumes (these are an excellent source of fibre and protein) lentils, kidney beans, haricot beans, adzuki beans, chickpeas
• Free range poultry and eggs
• Soy foods (an excellent source of protein) for example tofu, tempeh
• Lean red meats 2-3 times per week
• Nuts and seeds – a small amount can provide beneficial fats and nutrients for example almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds
• Liquids – 6-8 glasses of filtered water per day, green tea, herb teas such as chamomile, peppermint

Eat Less

• Dairy foods should be low fat
• Refined white flour products – white bread, pasta, biscuits, cakes, sugar.
• Excess table salt
• Saturated fats (butter, matured cheeses, fatty meats) and fried foods
• Coffee, tea, colas and other stimulants should be kept to a minimum.

 

Exercise for a Healthy Heart

Exercise is extremely important for the maintenance of a healthy cardiovascular system and should be part of the daily regime.

You should aim to achieve a heart rate during exercise of 70% of your maximum heart rate for age. The maximum heart rate for age is calculated by subtracting you age from 220 ie if you are 50 years of age, your maximum heart rate for age would be 170 BPM (beats per minute). 70% of this is 119 BPM and this should be maintained for around 20 minutes daily. Before undertaking any exercise check with your healthcare practitioner.

*Article taken from Blackmores Malaysia at http://www.blackmores.com.my/YourHealth/Detail.aspx?PageId=161

Over 12.5 Million Eligible Voters For 13th General Election

Some 12,595,268 individuals will be eligible to vote during the 13th general election after their names were confirmed by the Election Commission (EC).

EC public relations officer Sabri Said said the figure was obtained from the 2010 electoral roll and four electoral rolls throughout 2011 according to Regulation 22 (1) of the Elections (Registration of Electors) Regulations 2002.
    
The electoral roll for the fourth quarter of 2011 from Oct 1 to Dec 31, 2011, contained 259,590 voter applications comprising 188,654 new registrations and 70,936 regisration to change polling address.
    
“The registration will be gazetted on March 20. It involves new registration and change of address for election divisions not involved with claims or
objections,” he said in a statement here today.
    
For applications whose names were objected, he said the EC will postpone until public investigations are completed.
    
Sabri said since the electoral roll for the fourth quarter of 2011 was displayed from Feb 8 to 14, the EC received 804 objections involving 17 parliamentary election divisions and they all have not been resolved.
    
These areas are Jerlun and Bandar Baru Kulim (Kedah), Bachok and Ketereh (Kelantan), Marang and Hulu Terengganu (Terengganu), Tanjong Karang, Gombak, Pandan, Hulu Langat, Serdang, Puchong, Subang, Shah Alam, Kapar and Kota Raja (Selangor) as well as Seremban (Negeri Sembilan). 
    
He said registered voters within the quarter of the year concerned can check their details starting March 20 by calling 03-8885 6565 or through website http://www.spr.gov.my, or using the short message system by typing SPRSEMAKidentification card number and send to 15888.

*Taken from Malaysian Digest news portal at http://www.malaysiandigest.com/news/38-health/41577-over-125-mil-eligible-voters-for-13th-general-election.html

Statistics Show SCORE Won’t Benefit Locals

With a low post-secondary education penetration level in Sarawak, it is unlikely that locals will get jobs in the Sarawak Corridor for Renewable Energy.

If the labour force survey statistics for 2008-2011 is any yardstick then Taib Mahmud’s  much touted Sarawak Corridor of Renewal Energy (SCORE) will be of no benefit to locals least of all the indigenous communities who will be left far behind.

According to Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian the figures from the Department of Statistics  don’t offer any  indications that locals will enjoy the fruits from SCORE.

“This is because SCORE will need highly skilled labour force, and our people, especially those in the rural areas have little opportunities to complete their school studies and go on to tertiary level.

“From the labour force survey (2008-2010) of the Department of Statistics, out of Sarawak’s labour force, only 17% or 166,175 people have any form of post secondary education,” he said.

He added that even the projected figures for the labour force were dismal.

He pointed out that according to the ‘projections’ for 2011,  the number of ‘labour force with post secondary education’  would amount to 150,690 of which the Malay-Melanau comprise 33.4% and the Chinese 39.49%.

“The Ibans makeup only 15.50%  while the Bidayuh comprise 7.19% and the Orang Ulu only 4.38% of labour force with post secondary education.

“From the statistics above, clearly, our people, especially the indigenous people are in no position to take on the jobs that are purportedly going to be created by SCORE,” said Bian who is Ba Kelalan assemblyman.

He was commenting on recent reports here highlighting the plight of Sarawakian workers in Singapore and the loss of millions of ringgit from the state due to illegal foreign workers.

Raise education standards

He said state Minister Fatimah Abdullah’s comment that SCORE would create 290,880 jobs by 2015 and with the likelihood of this increasing to 662,065 jobs by 2020 was insignificant to Sarawakians who were ill-equipped to participate in the progress.

“Fatimah Abdullah said that the state has only 25% highly skilled workers to date and that by the year 2015, SCORE is expected to create some 290,880 jobs that would increase to 662,065 jobs by 2020.

“This is significantly higher than the figure from the Department of Statistics for 2008-2010.

“We will need around twice the number of skilled workers than will be available from the whole of our labour force.

“The government is actually looking at importing foreign labour to fill these vacancies.

“How is SCORE going to benefit the people, if this is the scenario?” asked Bian, pointing out that the state needed to refocus on the very basic foundation of a successful and vibrant society which is developing its education system.

He said poor education policies and amenities were the root cause of low education levels in the state.

“A PR (Pakatan Rakyat) government will ensure that every child is given the opportunity to further his or her studies.

“We will raise standards of teaching, provide training opportunities for teachers, and provide better and more vocational training for school leavers,” he said.

Better wages needed

On a related issue,  Bian reasoned that foreigners worked mainly in plantations and construction sites “owned or controlled” by Taib’s relatives, his cronies, Barisan Nasional politicians and their families and friends.

“They take the land from the locals for plantations, and then to add insult to injury, offer the lowest wages (around RM18 per day), which is grossly insufficient to sustain even one person, let alone a family.

On claims that Sarawakians were choosy with jobs Bian said that it was inevitable.

“We cannot blame the (our) people for not wanting these jobs. They have to go to West Malaysia, Singapore and further abroad to make a living.

“The point is that our people cannot even earn a living on the wages being offered here. Why should they just be content on earning a living?

“We should want them to thrive and prosper. The Indonesians live the most frugal lives here so that they can send to their families the little that they make.

“Our people have families to support, and hence have to seek greener pastures outside of Sarawak,” he said, pointing out that there are 112,209 legal foreign workers in Sarawak.

“That means there are 112, 209 jobs that could be given to locals, if they are paid decent wages which they can live on.

“Currently, money generated from plantations and construction projects end up in Indonesia as remittances of the labourers or in the pockets of those who steal from and cheat the rural people, ” he said.

He said the solution now is to raise the wages sufficiently so that people can have enough to live on comfortably and to aim for better futures for their children, instead of just struggling to eke out a living.

 

*Taken from Free Malaysia Today portal at http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/03/17/statistics-show-score-wont-benefit-locals/

 

Ubah Format Pom PKBS

Raban Bumiputera ke bukai deka lenyau identiti diri enti majak dikena, ku Dr Johnny

Raban bansa asal Sarawak deka lenyau identiti bansa diri enti sema format ke dikena Opis Menteri Pelajar ba nengeri tu ti ngerintaika raban bansa asal di Sarawak nyadi bansa Melayu dalam pom Pelaporan-Penilaian Kemajuan Berasaskan Sekolah (PKBS) majak dikena.

Aktivis sosial Dr. Johnny Kieh bedawaka opis menteri pelajar di menua tu ngerintaika genap raban bansa orang asal di Sarawak baka Iban, Bidayuh, Kayan, Kenyah enggau ti bukai nya bansa Melayu baka dalam genap pom PKBS ke dipansutka ninting taun.

Tu udah ngelaban Artikel 160 (7) dalam Undang-undang Perintah Besai lalu enggau nya munaska bansa asal di negeri tu ngena jalai serunyut.

“Dini bansa Iban, Bidayuh, Kayan enggau raban bansa bukai orang asal di nengeri tu enti majak dirintai nyadi bansa Melayu? Tu ngena jalai serunyut deka munas sereta madamka identiti sesebengkah raban bansa orang asal di nengeri tu,”

“Kitai nyadika sebengkah ari raban bansa asal di nengeri tu aruh mantah format nya taja pan iya disemaka pekara ke mit, tang nya mai empas ke besai ngagai raban bansa asal ti ukai megai pengarap Islam di nengeri tu,” ku iya madah ngagai pemberita ditu, bedau lama tu tadi.

Dr. Johnny madahka, iya udah dipadahka seiku apai nembiak sekula bekaul enggau pekara tu ba anak iya ke besekula di Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Nanga Budu di pelilih Saratok dirintai dalam pitak bansa di pom PKBS nyadika bansa Melayu.

Ku iya, apai nembiak nya tekenyit bendar bekaul enggau pekara nya udah ti nerima pom PKBS ke dipansut opis pelajar di pelilih nya ngagai sekula ngambika diberi ngagai apai indai tauka penyaga nembiak. Pom PKBS tu penerang bekaul enggau pemutus peresa ujung taun ke dipansut ninting ujung taun.

Iya mega bedawa pom PKBS nya mega dipansut ngagai genap sekula primari di negeri tu lalu format nya sebaka iya nya raban bansa asal Sarawak ke ukai Islam dirintai nyadi bansa Melayu.

“Tu ukai bekaul enggau pengilap ke diisi opis pelajar tauka opis menteri pelajar. Nyema silap semina mimit aja raban nembiak ke kena bungkur penanggul tu. Tu enda, semua nembiak sekula bansa Iban di sekula nya dirintai nyadi bansa Melayu. Tu meri empas ke besai ti tau ngujungka identiti Iban lenyau,” ku semetak jaku iya baru.

Nitihku Dr. Johnny baru, penanggul tu udah lama nyadi lalu nadai bisi seiku pan peduli bekaul hal tu.

“Sebedau tu aku bisi ninga berita selebubu bekaul enggau pekara tu nyentukka apai nembiak empu datai betemu enggau aku lalu mantaika penanggul tu ngambika ulih diasur ngagai tikas ke tinggi agi ngambika mantah format ke dikena opis pelajar enggau opis menteri pelajar di menua kitai tu.

“Kitai ngarapka semua raban ke bekaul ambika chunto semua opis pelajar di pelilih mit, pelilih menua, bagi menua tauka nengeri betati lalu ngemetulka baru format ke dikena dalam pom PKBS. Enti pekara tu enda ulih diputarka lalu majak nyadi, tu tau ngujungka opis-opis bukai nunda atur tu enda ngira sesebengkah raban bansa.

“Opis Menteri Pelajar aruh nyerenih sereta ngemetulka format PKBS laban empas nya besai lebih agi di Sarawak. Nya alai, raban ke tinggi ti bekaul enggau opis tu, sida aruh bejejimat lalu enda nyima ati raban bansa bukai,” ku  iya.

*Diambi ari Borneo Post Online.Berita silik ba http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/03/18/ubah-format-pom-pkbs/#ixzz1pS71phQ8

Proposed 6 Percent Service Tax Sends Jitters Among Prepaid Users

The rumour that the government may have finally decided to allow telco companies to charge 6 per cent service tax on prepaid subscribers starting July 1 has created an outcry from the public at large.

Bernama national news reported yesterday that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) had issued a memo to all the industry players instructing them to be technically prepared for the launch on July 1.

The Borneo Post went for a street poll yesterday and found mixed views regarding the matter.

Martin Rushwaya, 24, a student from Zimbabwe who studied in one of the higher learning institute in Miri, said that the prepaid service tax would be a burden to students.

“Mobile phone communication and broadband access is an essential in our daily life, not only to get connected with friends but also family back home, which is already expensive but necessary for a person away from home,” he stressed.

Thus, he said the introduction of service tax on the prepaid services would increase his monthly expenditure on phone alone.

With the service charge at 6 per cent, a RM10 reload will now cost RM10.60 while RM15 prepaid reload cost RM15.90 and RM30 reload, RM31.80.

Martin said it was rather inconvenient as consumers were used to paying RM5, RM10 and RM50 without loose change.

Danny Kasi, 22, also agreed that having a mobile phone is an important device for connecting with people and has become a necessary part of modern living, no more a luxury. Not having a mobile phone is no longer an option.

“The cost of living has already risen tremendously in recent time, and if the 6 per cent service tax is charged on prepaid subscribers it will increase my monthly expanses while salary remains stagnant,” he added.

Moreover, he added, it will affect the low income earners more as they normally go for prepaid services.

For those who have more than one registered number for different purpose, they effectively pay 12 per cent in service tax.

Daniel Ho, 26, a postpaid subscriber believed the implementation would attract more prepaid users to change to postpaid, as it would be cheaper compared to the prepaid line.

Madu Lanyau, 18, a Celcom sales assistant said in agreement that more users would subscribe to postpaid plan as it was cheaper than prepaid usage.

“Apart from being expensive, in Sarawak users’ view, particularly those in remote area, the 6 per cent service tax is not fair as network coverage in the rural area is below par from those in the big cities, thus, it will be nonsense to pay the extra when access to the mobile service has not improved,” she sighed.

According to the report, it expected DiGi to benefit the most if the rumour was to materialise considering that it had the highest proportion (86.6 per cent) of prepaid users, compared to Maxis (74 per cent) and Celcom (77.2 per cent).

Based on its estimation, DiGi, Maxis and Celcom would enjoy earnings uplift of six per cent, four per cent and two per cent respectively.

*Taken from The Borneo Post news portal.Read more at http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/03/18/proposed-6-pct-service-tax-sends-jitters-among-prepaid-users/#ixzz1pS2M89kF

Time To Reject Incompetent Politicians

It is an indisputed fact that incompetent politicians will ruin a decent economy and country.

Every local politician today claims to uphold democratic values and his ability to handle constructive criticism. This is a fallacy.

Some are truly in politics because driven by passion whereas others are committed to lying, abusing power and misrepresenting the public at large. There is no common desire to act with integrity and dignity.

All this setbacks are standing in the way of our democracy. Because of unscrupulous politicians the reputation of the country is seriously damaged abroad and this deplorable conduct undermines our domestic stability.

While stability has always been regarded a vital importance of our national values, stability appears to be the single most selling point internationally for the country.

But the critical question is how can we correct the past and present wrongs committed which appears to be the most crucial element if we collectively desire to improve and enhance our peculiar democracy.

There is an immediate need to stop politicians from violating, breaching and fundamentally flouting national policies and guidelines.

Our politicians in general are neither smart nor clever and neither they are strategists nor they possess the mental aptitude and intellectual intelligence to articulate and present in a cohesive fashion national policies and problems to the public at large.

The acute incompetence on the part of our politicians will cause votes to swing and may risk alienating the entire future of the voters and possibly confuse and frustrate them.

It is an indisputed fact that incompetent politicians will ruin a decent economy and country and even cause unemployment to rise, waste millions on failed projects, investments and may steadily cause a rise in national deficit spending.

Surely we do not want the country on the wrong track.

New political paradigm

There is no doubt by reason of this incompetence and lack of intelligence, our cradle of democracy is limping and the danger of the wrong track/tracking is looming and hanging over us like a sword.

Therefore a proper candidature is imperative for a strong victory and good candidates will ultimately change the existing relationship between politicians and the people in general.

We, the voters, most certainly must reject un-electable candidates and perhaps there is a need to vet incumbents too and refuse to vote them if they are inadequate.

The atmosphere of the 13th general election will be entirely new and not quite like the past elections.

This election will be more event driven and may even give rise to a political crisis not seen before.

Perhaps we Malaysians may be witnessing the birth of a new political paradigm which may not be a real cause to worry.

R Kengadharan is a lawyer and an ex-ISA detainee.

*Taken from Free Malaysia Today portal at http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2012/03/18/time-to-reject-incompetent-politicians/

Govt’s ‘Failure To Launch’ Projects

Does anyone think that the government with so much mismanagement and malpractice can lead the nation to successfully meet the challenges of 2020?

There are several projects by the government which can already be labelled as “Failure To Launch” under the “Status” column and a few more may be on the way.

Let us take a look at a few of their over-ambitious projects:

1. Civil Service New Remuneration Scheme

2. 68,000 jobs

3. 1Care Health Scheme

4. My 1st Home Loan Scheme

5. Minimum Wage of RM800/RM900

6. Equal Opportunities Commission

7. Vision 2020

The Civil Service New Remuneration Scheme was announced by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak in the Budget presentation on Oct 7, 2011 and launched in the beginning of January this year.

This scheme only managed to survive till early March thus giving it a very short lifespan of only two months before it was cancelled after Cuepacs (the civil service workers’ union) protested. This scheme certainly can go under the category of “Failure To Launch”.

Next is the great dream of job-creation. The PM announced recently that due to healthy foreign investments, there will be 68,000 new jobs. This is indeed encouraging news but one fact that was glossed over is that it is 68,000 new jobs by 2020 and not in 2012!

As for the 1Care Health Scheme, Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai has said that it is still in the process or at the blueprint stage despite being pestered for details by the opposition Pakatan Rakyat MPs in Parliament and also outside of Parliament.

Let us hope that more information will be provided by Liow soon. If this scheme is not to the rakyat’s advantage, then hopefully it will be scrapped. A referendum ought to be held pertaining to this scheme. It is unhealthy to just force things onto the nation’s citizens.

However, the one scheme that has hit a major snag is the My 1st Home Loan Scheme with the participating banks reluctant to give loans to those earning below RM3,000 to purchase a house priced at RM400,000 citing these loans as risky and the borrowers may probably end up as defaulters due to the high monthly repayments. Pakatan lawmakers’ doubts on the success of this scheme have now been proven true.

Next on the list is minimum wage. With the loud protests from employers who are industry players, especially the factory owners, it is highly doubtful whether this scheme can be implemented without assistance from the federal government.

Pakatan MPs have proposed that the government assist the employers in the implementation in what is a win-win move for both the employers and the employees. Will the government, especially Najib, cave-in under the pressure of the industry players/factory owners? Let us hope not but instead the government will assist the bosses as proposed by Pakatan.

Replace the BN horse

Number six on the list is as dead as a dodo. The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), which was supposed to be part of the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP), has died a silent death due to pressure from certain NGOs. Nevermind, it was too much to hope for from the government anyway.

Last on the list is Vision 2020 wherein Malaysia’s target is to become a high-income industrialised nation in eight years time. Everyone looks forward to this as it will mean a better standard of living for one and all. But is this a Utopian dream?

Sadly, however, it seems that Najib is only interested in creating an elite group of billionaires and the low-income factory workers can only look at Vision 2020 as “the great Malaysian dream”.

As to whether this dream will be actualised or not, it is anyone’s guess but logically it certainly looks impossible for a factory worker who is earning RM600 or RM650 per month at this point in time to be earning RM4,000 by 2020.

The low-income earner’s wages have been stuck at the bottom level since the dawn of time. Even if he achieves the target of earning RM4,000 by 2020, the cost of living would have gone up in leaps and bounds by that time and the new benchmark may be RM10,000 and thus he will forever be chasing the elusive dream.

Be that as it may, it cannot be denied that from 1957 to now, the government has brought some development to the nation.

However, many have also been left behind and thus Malaysia has one of the worst income gap in Asia. This is a well known fact. And that is why Pakatan has set RM1,100 as the minimum wage in a bid to reduce the income gap while the Selangor state government has already set RM1,500 as the minimum wage while in Penang it is RM1,300.

From the looks of things, the government’s good intentions are having difficulty in materialising. This is when we look back at 1990 and thought that 2020 is still a long way to go but now it is only eight years away and there are many who think that perhaps Vision 2020 will only benefit a selected few.

Does anyone think that the government with so much mismanagement and malpractice can lead the nation to successfully meet the challenges of 2020? Will this BN project end up as “Failure to launch, mission aborted?” in the “Status” column?

*Taken from Free Malaysia Today news portal at http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2012/03/17/govts-failure-to-launch-projects/

 

Liow: Allegations Against 1Care Baseless

                                    

The Ministry of Health has rebutted claims that the proposed national 1Care health plan will burden Malaysians.

Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai told the Dewan Rakyat today that many of the accusations aimed at the 1Care plan were untrue.

He said this was because the government had not yet finalised the plan, much less reach a decision on it.

“What has been raised by (certain) irresponsible groups that are engaged in roadshows right now… there has been no decision made by any parties that are involved with the betterment of the health system right now. We have not come to a decision,” the Bentong MP said.

Liow also denied claims that the proposed system would be launched in March this year, as well as allegations that people would need to pay 10% of their salary to fund 1Care and that it would be privatised.

The minister was responding to a query by Kota Melaka (DAP) Sim Tong Him, who asked how much the government would spend on 1Care every year.

Sim also asked how many people would be expected to benefit from the programme, how it would be able to generate funds and if it was indeed a joint-venture with the private sector.

According to Liow, an explanation for this would be difficult as the government had not yet come up with a blueprint on the proposed plan.

He added that the ministry was in the process of getting feedback from the public through hearings and dialogues.

Stakeholders will be consulted

During a press conference later, Liow said that the government hoped to come out with a blueprint for the 1Care plan within the next two years.

“Blueprint will be ready after the (public) feedback. When the blueprint is ready, then we’ll go back to the rakyat again…Then we will see how the response is from the public,” he said.

Liow also stressed that the approach to the plan would not be “piecemeal”.

He added that it would be “very detailed”, and would involve expert views from all stakeholders, including the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA).

Public feedback sessions, the minister added, would take place from the end of March until the end of the year.

He also said that the claim of people having to give up 10% of their salary was based off a study on how much people spent on healthcare.

“I want to reiterate that the 10% is actually based on a study carried out on how much you spend a year on health per household. That is the average that you spend out of your salary.

“I don’t know how they took it out (of context), and say that you’d have to pay 10% of your salary. It’s a totally different thing,” he said.

PKR wants more transparency

Meanwhile, in another press conference, PKR leaders urged Liow to be more transparent in the implementation of the 1Care programme.

Gopeng MP Lee Boon Chye questioned the success of the plan when public faith in the government health care services was low.

“According to figures in last year’s budget, 48 million people went to private clinics and only 27 million opted for government clinics,” he said.

He also asked on how the government health services could be improved when the ministry’s allocations have been declining over the past three years.

“According to last year’s budget, development allocation for the ministry was reduced through the years. It was RM3.7 billion in 2010, RM2.2 billion in 2011 and RM1.8 billion in 2012,” he said.

PKR vice president and Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh also urged more transparency from the health minister.

“The minister is claiming that the opposition is trying to sabotage the government’s intention but why can’t they just be more transparent? Just consult the stakeholders even before having a blueprint,” she said.

 

*Article taken from Free Malaysia Today news portal.

Pertikaian Simunjan: Lima Ditangkap,Jengkaut Dibakar

Satu lagi pertikaian hangat membabitkan hak tanah adat di Sarawak di Sarawak tercetus dan berakhir dengan polis menahan lima penduduk Iban di sebuah perkampungan di Simunjan kerana didakwa membakar sehingga 13 buah jengkaut milik sebuah syarikat kelapa sawit.

Syarikat itu adalah milik usahasama antara badan pelaburan Tabung Haji, dan agensi kerajaan negeri, Lembaga Pembangunan dan Lindungan Tanah (LCDA).Menurut Setiausaha Agung Persatuan Dayak Iban Sarawak (SADIA) Nicholas Mujah (kanan), pada mulanya, enam lelaki Iban telah ditangkap pada 13 Mac.

Bagaimanapun, seorang lelaki yang dikatakan adalah seorang guru kerajaan, dan hanya dikenali sebagai Ismawi, dibebaskan pada jam 6 petang pada hari yang sama.

Lima tahanan lain dihadapkan ke mahkamah majistret Simunjan pada jam 9 pagi semalam. Majistret membenarkan permohonan polis untuk lanjutan reman empat hari.

Penduduk kampung yang ditangkap itu adalah Kudie anak Jampong 52 dan Brandon anak Kudie, 36, dari Kampung Temiang/Mumong, Mang anak Maggat, 55, dari Kampung Keniong, Sebi anak Daka, 51, dari Kampung Sengkalan, dan Kendawang anak Mina, 65.

Semua mereka diwakili oleh peguam Dominique Ng.Menurut saksi, kira-kira 200 penduduk tempatan hadir di mahkamah, sebagai menunjukkan perpaduan mereka dan menyokong rakan-rakan yang ditangkap.

Kejadian terbaru ini hampir sama dengan peristiwa penahanan ‘Sebangan Tujuh’ pada 22 Oktober lalu apabila penduduknya membakar jentera dan bangunan di kem balak Loyal Billion, juga di Simunjan.

 

*Artikel diambil dari malaysiakini.com.Untuk artikel asal, sila klik pautan ini http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/192114