Target importers of hardwood instead

I read your report Unilever blacklists Indonesian Planter that Europe, and the world's top palm oil buyer has blacklisted an oil palm grower for its destructive policies on the Rain forest in increasing its oil palm acreage. While it's highly commendable that such a move be instituted, I feel that such a step in getting the message across has been directed not at the parties mainly responsible for the destruction of our diminishing rainforests. The effort by the Green groups should be directed to the American, European, Japanese and Chinese importers of hardwood for the building of their houses and furniture. Such felling has a Directly disastrous effect on the size of our diminishing forests, while it can be said that replacing trees with oil palms at least maintains the oxygen level of the Earth, I hope

Target Timber companies!
Deforestation: go after the real culprits!

Ineffective Govt machinery???

I refer to the letter Bureau urged to do own probe on environmental complaints! in which it was stated that the Public Complaints Bureau's " over-reliance on feedback from government agencies that it is investigating can undermine its ability to resolve recurring problems of over-development in Cameron Highlands..." I feel that the Bureau is trying to do its best in most instances, and in my experience writing to the Bureau, I observe that it has been proactive. However, I do agree with the writer that just writing to the departments concerned regarding the public complaints, and waiting for their replies, is not the best way to deal with most Government departments and authorities. In my experience, most of our letters that are written to the management (email addresses that are listed in the PM's website) have been returned with the message "mailbox full" or "non existing address"! In some cases, replies to our email enquiries are answered by the secretary, or the driver. However, most of the time, it's a great silence. It shows up the general "couldn't care less" attitude of the officials who are in charge of the various departments and functions. To address the problem, and to ensure the efficacy of the PCB, it is suggested that the PCB be required to made mandatory reports to a Sub-Committee in the Parliament, similar to the Public Accounts Committee(PAC) on a regular basis. Such accountability would make its role more effective.

Forest Reserves,,, what are they?

I refer to the letter written by the Malaysian Nature Society, PROTECT THE FORESTS, SCRAP THE KLORR PLAN in which it was stated that "the proposed Kuala Lumpur Outer Ring Road (KLORR) would go from Selayang to Cheras and cut through the Klang Gates Wildlife Reserve and the Ampang and Gombak Forest Reserves.." I would like to ask the Government and the local authorities what is actually meant when a certain tract of land has been designated as a "reserve"? Can it then be arbitrarily decided by later politicians to "re-designate" those lands and use it for whatever purpose they deem suitable for the moment? If I am not wrong, the Klang Gates Reserve is also essential as part of the water catchment area, besides preserving our dwindling wildlife such as the endangered tapirs. It would be interesting to hear from the authorities, if a comprehensive Environmental Impact Study (EIA) has been conducted, and the results published. Please, let us mean what we way, when we announce proudly that Malaysia supports the moves to contain global warming and a greener Earth.

On the same subject, it is heartening to read in your paper that the Selangor state government has aborted the Cementery Project in the form of a promise not to develop the Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve. It is also commendable that the State govt has announced plans to make the area a recreational forest for the enjoyment of its denizens.

Nut dropped near spine has patient very worried..

Nuts! When I read this news report, Nut dropped near spine has patient very worried.. I didn't know whether to feel very relieved, or, very worried. Relieved that we poor citizens are protected from the wrongdoings and negligence of rich and influential members of the medical profession. But worried tool because it looks to me that unless we appeal the the MCA Complaints Department, and the influential Datuk Michael Chong, we may not be able to seek adequate recourse. If such a case had happened in the USA, UK or even in HK or Singapore, the doctor would have been sued till "his pants are down". Why, in Malaysia, we have to seek the MCA Complaints Department for help? Are Malaysian patients being trampled over by those whom they seek for help in their hours of need? Coming back to this case, I can't imagine anyone telling anyone else that a foreign object accidentally left in the body during an operations, can be safe, and knowing that it has been left there, NOT taken the effort to take it out at that time... This is really a nut case (sorry for the pun). It's time we discuss openly our rights in such cases of Medical negligence

Furore over missing jet engines to be "explained"

The 2 pieces of news that appeared in The Star today sadly illustrates the sorry state of affairs in our country, in terms of integrity in the Government, and the courage to face up to the truth. Whereas Thailand, in spite of being mired in serious political instability and a dangerous situation in the South has chosen to be upfront and honest when confronted with corruption in its Govt Thai Health Minister quits in graft scandal (also in the Star 30/12) I quote " Thailand's Public Health Minister resigned on Tuesday after being implicated in a corruption scandal over a health care scheme .... Witthaya stepped down after an investigation found he was negligent in his handling of a three-year, 86 billion baht ($2.57 billion) procurement project. ....The panel recommended that Witthaya and his deputy, Manit Nopamornbodi, be disciplined for backing ministry plans to build facilities and buy medical equipment deemed unnecessary and grossly overpriced by local health officials....... "

In our local front, in the comments made by our politicians in the wake of the "missing Jet Engines" Furore over missing jet engines to be "explained" the relevant Minister just said.. " We will reply to criticisms from the opposition who had used the missing jet engines and other issues to confuse the people...." His comments have left a dirty taste in the mouth. I would like to ask the Govt., if the missing engines were a result of 'opposition manipulation', what about the Report of the Auditor General? Why do we get the feeling that the latest Report has been filed and has started to collect dust? I am not even going to waste anybody's time to repeat concerns about the PKFZ and the Teoh BH /MACC inquest, among the many unresolved corruption cases that have come to light in the past year or two. Suffice to say is this... Is the Government and the Prime Minister prepared to walk the talk in 2010, stifle political shenanigans in the dealing with dishonesty among the conniving politicians and make 1Malaysia more than just an empty slogan , which is what it is now :-(

Happy New Year and don't 'screw' up our lovely country

vacation in China.. be careful with what you buy!

This is a true story. I met my friend VC last week; we were going to the wedding of a friend's son, having not seen him for almost 2 years after our vacation to Philippines together. I was shocked at his condition! He was pale and weak and had lost some weight, more than 5 kilos. When we expressed our concern, he showed us his legs, which were still reddish as if covered with angry rash, and told us that he is almost fully recovered. He had suffered from Hyper sensitivity Vasculitis..for more than 3 months, and had spent 10 days in HUK (Hospital UK in Cheras), What brought on this disease, we asked. He had gone for a tour of Beijing, China with his wife, and in one of those 'mandatory' visits to a pharmaceutical company in Beijing, he was "diagnosed" by a very slick 'doctor' who had correctly guessed that he has been having cholesterol and blood pressure problems since he was in his 30's (he is 60 now) and warned him not to take 'too much' medication. The 'doctor' suggested some health supplements which he eagerly bought, together with his wife, who was also told they were great for Arthritis too.. Cost RM10K. One week after taking those health supplements, the symptoms started.. When the inflammation on his legs did not subside, and he almost could not walk because of the pain and the inflammation, he admitted himself to HUK, and that was when he discovered that the "health supplements" almost cost him his life.. The toxic stuff are filling up a landfill now..

Please be forewarned and trust your own doctors, even though sometimes they behave like vultures

VULTURE BRAINS AND LOTTO

Toto Players, read this, also in TheStar today ------> VULTURE BRAINS AND LOTTO

Quote: " Everybody asks for the brain. You see things that people can't see. For lotto, you dream the numbers,........... He prescribes mainly vulture heads, which he says bring visions of the future, endowing users with the bird's excellent vision that helps them fly out of nowhere to descend on carcasses....."

Comment: In Malaysia, we don't have those vultures, but we can replace it with brains of our Members of the Parliament, or Doctors... But don't expect to see a vision of the future with politicians' brains...hahahahahahh . ROFLOL