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1Malaysia?

Anil Netto
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Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister George Chan says Sarawakians should reject all candidates standing under the ticket of Semenanjung-based opposition parties.

He claimed they would only listen to their political masters from Semenanjung Malaysia and forget about the interests of Sarawak people and their well-being, according to a Borneo Post report.

“At least all the state BN components are truly Sarawak parties. We have been and shall continue to defend and protect the rights, interests and well-being of all the people here.

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Sicko, ‘Health Care America’ and Apco

Anil Netto
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Did you know that Apco was created in 1984 as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Washington, DC-based law firm of Arnold & Porter?

Now, it has been reported, Apco played a behind-the-scenes role in the debate over universal health care vs private health care/private health insurance in the United States.

When award-winning film-maker Michael Moore came out with the acclaimed documentary Sicko advocating universal health care for all, the health insurance industry in the United States panicked.

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Mukah: Mystery illness raises suspicion

Anil Netto
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3

A mystery illness has reportedly struck native families living in Rumah Bansan longhouse at Sungai Bedengan near an aluminium smelting plant in Mukah.

The public needs iron-clad guarantees from the Sarawak government – certified by truly independent health and environmental safety engineers/inspectors – that there is no link between the aluminium plant, which is 300 metres away, and longhouse illnesses since September 2009. Failing which, the state government, which has very little credibility, can hardly be believed.

From Free Malaysia Today:

Explaining the ‘mysterious illness’, Tuai Rumah (longhouse chief) Bansan said the community has been “experiencing all sorts of health problems such as breathing diffuculties, coughing and skin diseases” since the construction of the smelting plant.

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Experiencing brain drain in Melbourne

Anil Netto
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While our public hospitals groan under the weight of so many patients, many Malaysian medical personnel, including specialists, prefer to work in public hospitals abroad.

Blog reader SH files in this report from Down Under:

Hey, 100% true story below. Happened in Melbourne, Australia.

10 Nov 2010
1. Arrived early at hospital, so decided to walk down the street to check out an expensive shop by famous Melbourne-based designer. Was pleasantly (but sadly) surprised to learn the ‘local designer’ was a Malaysian whose entire family migrated from Malaysia!

2. Went back to hospital. Was registered by a loud receptionist who was Malaysian whose family migrated from Malaysia!

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Sg Pinang improves to Class 3

Anil Netto
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Sungai Pinang, only a few years ago regarded among the seven most polluted rivers in the country, has improved in water quality from Class Five to Class Three (moderate contamination).

The improvement came after the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) and IWK spent RM120,000 to fix a water discharge system at an abattoir along River Road and channel the waste water to the IWK treatment plant in Jelutong.

Well done, MPPP and DID; that’s the way to go. (One question: who absorbs the RM120,000 cost? The abattoir, MPPP or IWK?)

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Hospitals struggle to cope with crowds

Anil Netto
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Some of our underfunded general hospitals appear to be overstretched as staff struggle to cope with the large number of outpatients. And to think they want to build a 100-storey tower while others want to promote ‘medical tourism’.

Waiting to pop your card in the box at the counter, and then waiting to get a waiting number(!) and then waiting to be called to see a medical officer
Waiting for a waiting number!
Finally waiting to see a doctor - notice the crutches and the wheelchairs

I happened to be at the orthopaedic outpatient treatment section at the Seberang Jaya General Hospital this morning and this was the scene that greeted me. Young and old, of all ethnic groups – people in wheelchairs, others in arm slings and still others holding crutches – they are accustomed to waiting and waiting and waiting to be called.

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Live – Penang local council polls

Anil Netto
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Welcome to updates from the Penang local council elections to determine civil society nominees to serve as MPPP and MPSP councillors for 2011. It is the first step in the journey towards the full restoration of local government elections.

Penang residents packed the hall for the Penang Forum 3 today

US charm offensive in Asia

Anil Netto
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Suddenly, it seems that the United States is on a charm offensive in Asia. It’s amazing what an economic slowdown or recession can do.

A flurry of high-level visits by top US officials appears aimed at reasserting American influence in the region as China flexes its economic muscles. These high-level US trips around the  G-20, Apec and the East Asia Summit (EAS) may also be seen as attempts to secure access to important markets (and cheap labour) and shore up US footholds in the region.

The US of course is also concerned about China’s growing naval power. America has large long-term bases in Japan and South Korea and military facilities and strategic arrangements elsewhere in Asia.

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15 candidates vie for MPPP, 9 for MPSP

Anil Netto
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A total of 24 candidates will contest in elections to determine civil society nominees to serve as MPPP or MPSP councillors for 2011. The elections this Sunday will see 15 candidates contesting for five MPSP positions and nine for five MPPP positions.

Have you registered as a voter already? Deadline is 5.00pm today! The following is a statement released by Penang Forum:

Penang Forum 3 (PG3) akan berlangsung di Penang Chinese Girls School Alumni Hall (di hadapan St Nicholas), Jalan Bagan Jermal pada hari Ahad, 14 November. Acara ini membuka peluang kepada penduduk-penduduk Pulau Pinang untuk mendengar, membuat pertanyaan, dan mengundi bakal ahli-ahli majlis mereka.

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Khalid Ibrahim and the mega tower

Anil Netto
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I can’t say I was surprised to read reports that the Selangor MB appeared less than unequivocal in expressing opposition to PNB’s proposed mega tower.

His subsequent back-tracking on his initial apparent support for the project was reported in the Malaysian Insider here.

Apparently, the 240,000-strong Facebook opposition to the tower didn’tt seem to count for very much – nor Anwar’s and Khalid Samad’s vocal opposition to the tower. As if PKR didn’t have enough problems as it is!

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