Dec 23, 2008 By Suganthi Suparmaniam and Brenda Lim
KUALA LUMPUR: Non-governmental organisations and religious bodies have lashed out at Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin for suggesting that people who are HIV positive be quarantined and not allowed to marry.
Tenaganita director Irene Fernandez said quarantining a HIV positive person was a violation of his or her human rights.
"It is inhumane. Why quarantine? HIV is not like cholera or dengue. The virus can only be transmitted through four ways and controlled through behavioural changes," she said, adding that Nizar lacked awareness on HIV and AIDS.
She said denying a HIV-positive person the chance to marry was also a violation of human rights and those who wanted to marry should instead be counselled on how to manage their marriage.
"This kind of response, after so many years, shows we are still a long way off in giving a more humane and dignified treatment to those with HIV."
Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism president Datuk A. Vaithilingam said he was disappointed with Nizar's statement.
"My advice is for him to visit the Malaysian AIDS Council and spend at least two hours there. Get a good briefing for a better understanding of the disease."
However, the council's Selangor chairman Joseph Thambiah agreed that HIV victims be quarantined -- but only through persuasion.
He said this would reduce the opportunities for contact between sufferers and the public, thus reducing the chances of more infections.
He said AIDS was different from diseases such as diabetes and described it as a "socially contemptuous disease".
Malaysian AIDS Council president Prof Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman described Nizar's comment as "very regretful".
National Council of Women's Organisations deputy president Datuk Ramani Gurusamy said not allowing people with HIV to marry would be to infringe on their human rights.
Pengasih drug rehabilitation centre president Mohd Yunus Pathi said separating people with and without HIV would not solve the problem.
Instead, he said, people with highly contagious diseases like tuberculosis should be the ones who needed to be quarantined.
Perak Umno liaison committee member and Umno Lumut division chairman Datuk Dr Zambry Abd Kadir was aghast with the suggestion.
"How long do you want to quarantine them? For their entire life?"
Gerakan deputy president Datuk Chang Ko Youn said Nizar's suggestion would only alienate HIV carriers from society and push them to be secretive about their condition rather than openly seek treatment, thus fuelling the spread of the disease.
"This idea has been condemned internationally and is an unacceptable form of solution to the AIDS problem."
Ipoh City Watch president N. Sreethararaj said individuals who tested positive for HIV should be given counselling and treatment rather than be quarantined.
Screening for HIV would help the government compile a database on those infected with HIV and formulate programmes to handle the disease, such as taking preventive measures in the states most affected by HIV, he said.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Najib: No multinational corporation has left the country - Sun
PUTRAJAYA ( Dec 23, 2008):
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak stressed today that no multinational corporation (MNC) had left the country following the slump in the world economy.
He clarified that most of the MNC's had only reduced their operations.
"Some are downsizing their operations but are not leaving," he said after chairing the National Land Council meeting here.
Meanwhile, asked about the possibility of small and medium industries (SMIs)closing down next year as a result of the economic unstability, Najib said: "The government is ready to consider ways to assist.
"The SMIs are facing an extraordinary situation which has caused a shortfall in the demand for their products."
He also expressed the hope that the Ministries concerned would forward their suggestions to the government. -- BERNAMA
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak stressed today that no multinational corporation (MNC) had left the country following the slump in the world economy.
He clarified that most of the MNC's had only reduced their operations.
"Some are downsizing their operations but are not leaving," he said after chairing the National Land Council meeting here.
Meanwhile, asked about the possibility of small and medium industries (SMIs)closing down next year as a result of the economic unstability, Najib said: "The government is ready to consider ways to assist.
"The SMIs are facing an extraordinary situation which has caused a shortfall in the demand for their products."
He also expressed the hope that the Ministries concerned would forward their suggestions to the government. -- BERNAMA
Tee Keat explains his dilemma on Soi Lek's request for a ministerial post - Sun
KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 23, 2008) : By Kong See Hoh
MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat says Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek has asked to be recommended for a ministerial post after winning the party No. 2 post.
Disclosing this during an interview with Oriental Daily News two months after the party elections, Ong said Chua's request put him in a spot as the latter's victory in the election did not exonerate him over the sex video scandal.
"I don't want to judge values, I am talking about an objective fact. Under this situation, you tell me, what type of logic should I apply to handle it (Chua's request)?
"The case of the sex video scandal is still there. Under this circumstance, what kind of wisdom should I use to handle it?"
These questions underline Ong's feeling of helplessness.
On the seeming lack of cooperation between him and Chua, Ong, who exchanged verbal blows in the press with his deputy during the party elections, said in any organisation, there is only one leader.
He said if certain people, owing to their own agenda, choose to take an opposing stand, they have the right to do so but that would only expose their agenda.
He admitted that all the bickerings (with Chua) stemmed from the "ministerial post".
Chua was the one who had kept harping on the ministerial post, he said.
Although by convention, Chua should hold a ministerial post as party No. 2, Ong seems to be holding the the sex video incident, which he deems an undeletable scandal, against him.
He also disclosed that before he took over the party helm, several complaints, including on the sex video incident, were lodged against Chua.
Ong, who was them the vice-president, said he only came to know about it after he took over from former party president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting.
He said the disciplinary cases (against Chua) are still there.
Asked if the party would look into these cases again, Ong said: "Not (whether to) reopen the files (or not), but (we) haven't wrap up the cases. We have to give the complainants an answer."
Pressed further what would the party do, he said he would leave it to the party disciplinary committee to decide.
In a departure from the norms in which the party No. 2 usually heads the disciplinary committee, Ong appointed veteran leader Datuk Ng Cheng Kiat to the post when he announced his party line-up on Nov 18.
Asked if he is not worried that a probe into the cases might result in another party infighting, Ong said the party cannot ignore public opinions or be devoid of basic ideas that conform to the social values framework.
MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat says Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek has asked to be recommended for a ministerial post after winning the party No. 2 post.
Disclosing this during an interview with Oriental Daily News two months after the party elections, Ong said Chua's request put him in a spot as the latter's victory in the election did not exonerate him over the sex video scandal.
"I don't want to judge values, I am talking about an objective fact. Under this situation, you tell me, what type of logic should I apply to handle it (Chua's request)?
"The case of the sex video scandal is still there. Under this circumstance, what kind of wisdom should I use to handle it?"
These questions underline Ong's feeling of helplessness.
On the seeming lack of cooperation between him and Chua, Ong, who exchanged verbal blows in the press with his deputy during the party elections, said in any organisation, there is only one leader.
He said if certain people, owing to their own agenda, choose to take an opposing stand, they have the right to do so but that would only expose their agenda.
He admitted that all the bickerings (with Chua) stemmed from the "ministerial post".
Chua was the one who had kept harping on the ministerial post, he said.
Although by convention, Chua should hold a ministerial post as party No. 2, Ong seems to be holding the the sex video incident, which he deems an undeletable scandal, against him.
He also disclosed that before he took over the party helm, several complaints, including on the sex video incident, were lodged against Chua.
Ong, who was them the vice-president, said he only came to know about it after he took over from former party president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting.
He said the disciplinary cases (against Chua) are still there.
Asked if the party would look into these cases again, Ong said: "Not (whether to) reopen the files (or not), but (we) haven't wrap up the cases. We have to give the complainants an answer."
Pressed further what would the party do, he said he would leave it to the party disciplinary committee to decide.
In a departure from the norms in which the party No. 2 usually heads the disciplinary committee, Ong appointed veteran leader Datuk Ng Cheng Kiat to the post when he announced his party line-up on Nov 18.
Asked if he is not worried that a probe into the cases might result in another party infighting, Ong said the party cannot ignore public opinions or be devoid of basic ideas that conform to the social values framework.
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