毫无收获的“现场”交流。。。ZZZzzzz……..

昨天下午，吃过午餐后，就从“面子书 (Facebook) 那里看到这个消息：NST Online 正在和我们的卫生部总监 Ismail Merican 做一场现场访问。大家只要到 NST 的网页 http://www.nst.com.my/NSTLIVE/pix/mailmecannst/index.html ，就可以向卫生部总监发问问题，做现场“沟通”。

反正善良君子近来已经变成了“问题少女”，所以也到哪里去看看。了解一下，我们卫生部作了什么，也不好老是怪罪尿布质量不好。。。

发文环节刚刚开始不久，所以就手痒问了几个近来总是出现在脑海，却得不到答案的问题：

１）　卫生部总是提醒人们有流感症状的时候戴口罩。可是流感病毒却有能力在流感症状还未出现之前，就能够　shedding，并且感染别人。那就是说，一个人可能完全不知道自己被感染，也同时在不知情的情况下感染他人。请问针对这件事，卫生部有什么应对措施？

２）　根据新加坡卫生部公布的数据，新加坡９０％的流感病例皆被证实为A(H1N1)，有专家指出，这流感会慢慢取代其他普通流感，成为季节性的流感。请问您怎么看？

３）　很多流感死亡病例，都是因为Pneumococcus 的 secondary infection，而造成肺炎死亡。一些医药人员建议采用pneumococcal 疫苗来降低A(H1N1)流感死亡风险（尤其是高风险群）。请问卫生部又考虑过把这个疫苗用于对抗A(H1N1)？［这个问题，基本上他有提到一点点。卫生总监说，A(H1N1)的肺炎个案大多是因为肺炎病毒感染，所以这个针对肺炎细菌感染的疫苗没有用。不过这点似乎连美国疾病控制中心CDC，也有所保留，他这么快就认定无效？］

４）　众所周知，口罩因为疫情水涨船高，越卖越贵。请问卫生部要如何帮助那些买不起口罩的低收入人民？这些人，有的甚至连三餐都成问题，如何有多余的钱买口罩？如果万一他们打了几个喷嚏，咳嗽了几声，却因为没钱买口罩而被控告，这种做法也根本解决不了问题。

“现场”访问从下午３点开始进行。回答问题的速度很慢。。。到我问了第４个问题后，第一个问题都还没有出来。当中，却看来来去去几个同样署名的人发问而已。一个人甚至来得及发问好几个问题。可是我问的问题却一个也没有出现，更没有被解答。蔡添强的“面子书”上，也有好些网友同步讨论着。大家各自都问了一些问题，却始终没有出现。蔡添强也说自己问了不下３个问题，却没有一个有答案。

下午５点整，“现场”访问结束。 卫生部总监 Ismail Merican 收工回家了。我们的问题／解答，还是没有出来。总监回答了共３１道问题。却始终围绕在“我国的疫情是否失控”，“学校应该不应该关闭”，“口罩要怎么戴”，“有人看见孕妇在医院等待了３个小时，只为了检验A(H1N1)，是不是应该让孕妇有优先权［拜托，这是 common sense 来的！］”等等的表面问题。这些问题，甚至可以按照课本来边读边回答。。。而且这些答案平时也在主流媒体听了不知道多少遍了。这些问题和答案似乎让人觉得，我们的问题已经被“过滤”，上得了台面的，都是经过筛选，容易回答的。。。这也是无可厚非的，自从政府说要安装类似“绿坝”的软件，还有内政部的民意调查如何一夜之间“风云变色”。。。这种“现场”互动被过滤，我并不觉得奇怪。

不过，最可笑的是当有人问：为什么没有一套标准的指导准则，来决定哪一些公众场合，例如：学校和大学，需要关闭？“国家流感流行应对计划”（NIPPP）中难道没有相关的准则？这样的准则不是应该要出现在这个计划当中的吗？

我们敬爱的总监回答：

“The guidelines are generic in nature and the schools should use the guidelines as a guide as to when they should close schools. Our recommendation is you only close schools if the school cannot function any more because there are too few students.”

“准则范围很广，当面对是否关闭学校的问题时，学校应该用来参考。我们建议校方，除非是学校太少学生，以致无法正常运作得情况下，才关闭学校。”

我们卫生部总监的一番话，想必吓死了不少拥有正常思考能力的人。“学校太少学生，以致无法正常运作的情况”是什么样的情况？学生全都中了流感？还是学生全都死翘翘？

原以为可以这样“现场”和卫生总监交流是很有“面子”的事，也可以顺便拿到“第一手”答案来解开我心头的疑问（顺便当作写blog，车大炮的题材）。结果，却令我大失所望。

唉。。。尿布的素质已经不太好了，现在就连擦屁股的大便纸的素质也好不到哪里去。。。

这个年头，东西涨价的利害。。。素质却也差的厉害。。。

咳嗽不戴口罩？小心吃牛肉干！

廖部长又有新的举动了。这次，廖部长说，咳嗽感冒没有戴口罩，就罚款最高一万令吉。

（大山脚17日讯）卫生部长拿督斯里廖中莱指出，该部将援引疾病控制法令，提控那些患上感冒或咳嗽，却没有戴口罩出门的人士。

根据该法令，罪成者最高刑罚为罚款最多1万令吉，或监禁最高两年，或两者兼施。

他强调，人民患上感冒或咳嗽等流感病征时，有戴上口罩的责任。

他指出，在1988年疾病控制法令第12(1)条文下，感冒者若没有戴上口罩，卫生部可提控他们。– 17/08/2009 《中国报》

When the public see people with ILI without masks, tell the district health office so we can take action by issuing summonses and charging them under the Disease Control Act. — 17/08/2009 <The Star>

廖部长似乎除了每天在口罩上玩花样，就没有什么新鲜动作了。

如果是这样，卫生部要如何“取缔”那些没有戴口罩的人呢？如果喉咙干痒，咳嗽了两声，算吗？谁有权“监督”身边的陌生人是否有戴口罩呢？就算身边的陌生人被你怀疑感冒没有戴口罩，我要怎么办？和他拿姓名电话号码，告诉他：我怀疑你生病了没有戴口罩，要去卫生部告发你，你最好坐着等警察来 tangkap？还是直接拔腿就跑？然后再致电卫生部，说在某 pasar malam 看到有个不知名字的人打了喷嚏却没有戴口罩？(我很怀疑我国是否有那么多好公民，会站在那里等人来抓)。

今天一大早去了邮政局一趟。前阵子太忙了，竟然忘了驾驶执照过了期。坐在我身边一个小女孩咳了好一会儿。我不知道她是不是因为吃威化饼，没有水喝所以喉咙干到咳嗽。我总觉得不自在，但也总不可能就这样打电话叫卫生部官员来把他们母女俩带走吧。。。

发烧了，感冒了，戴口罩是应该的。是一种对自己负责人也对别人负责人的做法。道德课上，这个叫做“公德心”。但是强制性的可行性可以有多高呢？如果有能力，如果有钱，如果口罩随处有的卖。。。那还无所谓。但是眼下物价高涨的年代，那些生活都成问题的人怎么有钱抗疫？我妈还刚刚打电话过来，说口罩越卖越贵，还供不应求！

根据 CDC （Centers for Disease Control and Prevention）的报告，流感病毒感染人体后有可能在人体还未“发病”之前，就有能力从主体“脱落”（viral shedding），并开始感染其他人。

Duration of viral shedding

The duration of shedding with novel influenza A (H1N1) virus is unknown. Therefore, until data are available, the estimated duration of viral shedding is based upon seasonal influenza virus infection. Infected persons are assumed to be shedding virus and potentially infectious from the day prior to illness onset until resolution of fever. Infected persons should be assumed to be contagious up to 7 days from illness onset. Some persons who are infected might potentially shed virus and be contagious for longer periods (e.g. young infants, immunosuppressed, and immunocompromised persons).

病发时才来戴口罩，只怕是为时已晚。。。

或许，卫生部更加应该告诉民众这一点，就算没有感冒/发烧的症状，一个人，也有可能已经被感染，甚至有能力感染周围的人。而不是单单给民众一个错觉：戴了口罩就万无一失。

又或者，卫生部可有想过效仿上次汽油涨价后的“汽油津贴”，也来一个“口罩津贴”？津贴一下没钱买口罩，又害怕被“三万”的百姓？

是疫情失控？还是自然定律？

卫生部说，我国的 A(H1N1) 疫情已经失控。

真的，失控了吗？“失控”的说法，有对，也有不对。当然，这都是因为卫生部的 statistic 不够完整，资料搜集不够齐全，分析不够透彻所致。

几乎每个人都尝过感冒的滋味。很多时候，大家都是煲凉茶，吞两颗Panadol，盖被子冒一身汗。。。过一晚就没事了。有谁试过去医院做检查，看看 自己是被 H 什么 N 什么感染的？老实说，上个星期我也感冒了。就在去了801集会没几天。 我甚至怀疑就是 A(H1N1) 作怪。 如果是真的，那我就可以对A(H1N1) 免疫了。

卫生部天天公布有人病逝，但是卫生部没有告诉我们，其实普通感冒也有死亡风险。和普通感冒相比，A(H1N1) 的死亡病例是不是真的多得高关？我们知道很多流感去世的病人，都是有其他并发症的。他们的免疫系统根本已经有问题。那么说来，一个普通的感冒，搞不好也一 样会要了他们的命。更何况是一个新的流感？

早在上个月，新加坡卫生部的报告就说：新加坡如今90%的流感病人其实都是患上了A(H1N1)。

如果你现在患上流行性感冒，那你九成是感染了仍在全球流行的甲型H1N1流感病毒。

本地流感病例激增，而甲型H1N1流感的传播也进一步扩大。卫生部回复本报询问时说，当局最新的流感监测显示，超过90%的流感是由今年流行的最新甲型H1N1病毒所导致的。换句话说，前称猪流感的甲型H1N1流感已经成为当季的主要流感。

对于甲型H1N1病毒成为主要流感病毒，家庭医生学院主席吴立言受访时并不感到意外。

他说：“刚开始时，这个大流行的病毒同其他病毒链并存，但当它站稳地盘后，慢慢地就会只剩下它一种主要病毒，其他的病毒都被击退。这就 是我们说的流行病。然而，在达到顶峰后，病毒的传播一定会减少，因为大多数人都有了免疫力，剩下来让病毒感染的人就很少了。这是大流行病的自然发展规律。 ” — 31/07/2009 《联合早报》

由于工作的关系，同事们经常都会（被逼）阅读许多关于传染疾病的研究报告。这几天，也和他们聊起了A(H1N1)。

一些人说，比较担 心A(H1N1)是否会结合本地流感病毒的基因而变种了。。。 不过就算如此，我们既然已经“习惯”了本地流感，就应该不需要担心这层。因为就算真的如此，相信对于我们的影响，还不如A(H1N1)自己本身那么大。 毕竟我们“天真”的免疫系统对 A(H1N1) 还是比较陌生。

来自日本，远嫁大马的师奶由佳博士说，她的想法和我一样。她觉得 A(H1N1)已经渐渐“普及化”，甚至会取代普通流感。我们每天从卫生部那里得到的数据，都是经过政府医院检验的结果。但是国人很多时候生病，都是先到私 人诊所/家庭医生那里求诊。大马诊疗所无法像日本的私人诊所那样，提供快捷准确的A(H1N1) test kit （由佳的丈夫是医生）。所以通常医生也只是给患者感冒退烧药。如果病人不见痊愈，才到政府医院做进一步检验。很多时候，病人吃了药后就痊愈。根本没有人知道他们是否也患 上了 A(H1N1)。

如果这些病人是真的患上 A(H1N1)，那么就是说实际感染人数比卫生部公布的数据还要多。。。也不只多了多少倍。还有那些自己吞了 Panadol，两天后就没事的人呢？如果他们也曾经感染了 A(H1N1)， 就是说死亡病例和实际感染病例的比例，其实非常，非常的小。由佳也说，在日本，普通季节性流感也一样有不少死亡病例。和新型流感A(H1N1)相比，也少 不到哪里去。 只是大马人之前从来没有“季节性流感”的概念，也很少听到大马人有每年到诊所/医院打流感预防针的习惯。

我曾经在某处读 过：A(H1N1)流感刚刚开始在墨西哥肆虐不久，研究人员就发现患者/死者都是20-30来岁的壮年。我们身体的免疫系统，是一把“双刃剑”。受到外来 病毒细菌侵袭后，就会激起免疫细胞的激烈反应。这些反应，可以杀死细菌病毒。反应不够，身体会被病毒细菌弄垮。但如果病毒细菌难以控制，长期的抗战，免疫 系统也会对身体有害。所以一些研究人员相信，年轻人活跃的免疫系统因病毒引起过分反应，才是导致流感死亡的原因。

病毒细菌和人体之间的“互动”，在科学家的眼里，仍然是一个难以理解的谜。很多时候，都是在大胆假设，小心求证。由佳说，她也有读过类似的报道。死者大多数是20-30岁（甚至更年轻）的人，因此还有一个假设。就是老一辈的人，可能经历过类似 A(H1N1) 病毒流感爆发。所以不知不觉中，对A(H1N1)免疫。而我们这些3，40岁以下，后来出世的一辈，不曾接触过这种类似A(H1N1)的病毒，所以还未能免疫。

亚洲人的免疫力，天生就比较好。或许是我们的生活水准和卫生条件没有西方“文明”社会那么好，什么东西都往肚子里塞。。。长期下来练就的免疫力。如果现阶段是疫情的顶峰期， 那么希望不久，大马能像新加坡家庭医生学院主席吴立言接受《联合早报》访问时说的那样： “在达到顶峰后，病毒的传播一定会减少，因为大多数人都有了免疫力，剩下来让病毒感染的人就很少了。”

看吧！媒体访问一位称职的专业医生，不是好过浪费时间访问一个“前生态学教授”，听他废话“自慰和同性恋性行为会导致感染A(H1N1)”吗？还有，我国的卫生部，何时才能像邻国新加坡的卫生部那样专业？除了病例数字，也可以发表一些专家学者的研究和观察结果？

究竟是真的疫情失控？还是自然定律？我不知道。但是尿布，始终还是一块尿布。。。 唉。。。

疫情失控 – 卫生部教育民众失败？

大马流感疫情失控，近来几乎每一天都有好几宗的死亡个案。叫人感到担心。前几天，奶茶大哥的部落格上，大家也因为这件事聊了许多。。。让大家百思不得其解的，是我们卫生部长廖仲莱究竟在搞什么？

早在第一宗A(H1N1)流感确诊病例被发现开始，我已经在担心政府是否能胜任，做好瘟疫爆发时候的 outbreak management。原以为我国卫生部会吸取之前SARS的经验，不会搞出太大的问题。谁知道，卫生部这么久以来，并没有好好的监控疫情。甚至还担心我们过渡紧张，会导致游客流失。除了频频说，“我们不要引起大众恐慌”以外，还坚持错误诠释A(H1N1)为“猪流感”。。。我不知道是不是因为这样一下子H1N1，一下子selesema babi的，搞到大家不知道要防范什么，才弄到今天的田地。

我希望看到的，是卫生部除了公布数字，可以有更具体的讯息。告诉人民究竟为什么会突然那么多死亡病例。这些人是不是都有并发症，而感染H1N1 并不是真正致死原因？哪一些人是高风险一群？本地病毒是否出现变种？

如果死亡个案都是因为其他疾病的并发症，那么一般健康成年人是否没有这个风险？如果烟霾是导致患者呼吸道过敏而死亡。是不是近来常吸二手烟的国民变成了流感高风险群。。。那我们是不是应该向邻国表示一下？或者知会世界卫生组织？如果病毒变种，是否有专家研究，看看现阶段对付流感的药物是否仍然有效呢？

疫情到了这个阶段，究竟是烟霾引起的？ 还是因为病毒变种了？卫生部似乎对这个没有什么兴趣。更没有看到/听到卫生部给于任何相关的资讯。

回应奶茶大哥文章的Wendy，告诉大家 Chlorine dioxide 是一种很好的家居消毒剂。外国研究也已经证实，比普通漂白水，clorox 更有效对付A(H1N1)病毒。遗憾的是本地根本找不到这种消毒剂。Wendy 甚至还从外国买回来的。这些，不是卫生部应该要告诉人民的资讯吗？如果真的有效防疫，卫生部不是更加应该把这种消毒剂引入我国，让医院还有人民也能够使用？

大街上，大家戴着口罩满街跑。看起来很安全。仔细一看，才发现大大不妥！许多人根本不知道要怎么正确戴口罩！好好的一个surgical mask，上下颠倒，内外倒反。。。有些人更厉害。明明口罩就是要防止呼吸道被病毒入侵，他们戴口罩时候只是盖着嘴巴，鼻子却曝露在外，完全没有防护！

其实，根据标准，普通这种口罩无法过滤比细菌细小的病毒。只有 N95 和 N100口罩，才能够有效过滤病毒。最过分的是，我曾经看过世面上有奸商，把工业用来过滤木屑灰尘的口罩，当成N95 和 N100来卖（因为样子很相似）！卫生部除了没有好好教育公众，也没有好好防止这些奸商趁火打劫！

刚刚看到这则马新社 （Bernama）的新闻，我简直快要吐血了。

Unconventional Methods To Prevent Influenza

By Sajad Hussein

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 9 (Bernama) — Avoiding masturbation and homosexual activities are among preventive measures one could take against Influenza A (H1N1), according to an eminent practitioner of complimentary therapy.

Dr. V. M. Palaniappan said that such activities caused the body to develop friction heat which in turn, produced acid and made the body hyperacidised.

“Thus, the body becomes an easy target for H1N1 infection,” he told Bernama, emphasising however, that normal sexual union between members of the opposite sex was absolutely safe.

The former associate professor of ecology at Universiti Malaya has authored several books on complementary therapy called, ‘Ecological Healing System’.

– Bernama, August 09, 2009 16:08 PM

马新社访问了一位不知道从哪里冒出来的“专家”。专家说，要“避免自慰和同性性行为”。因为这自慰和同性性行为会导致A(H1N1)感染。。。不过呢，两性之间的性行为，却是安全的。 言下之意，就是说两个健康的同性恋者，每天关在自己家里做爱做的事； 同性恋被感染A(H1N1)的几率会比一个天天到红灯区找不同的妓女干那回事的男子还要高？

再看看这位专家的底细：前马大生态学副教授。天啊！！！ 马新社为什么不去正正经经的找一个传染病学家，病毒学家，病理学家，或者一个医生。。。来访问？生态学？如果我国的花草树木，动物植物，大自然受到破坏，你要找生态学家来访问，那还差不多。可是眼下是流感病毒大规模爆发啊！

这就是我们政府用来教育民众的的流感资讯。我们的官方资讯，什么时候才可以成熟一点？像样一点？专业一点？拜托， 拜托。。。莱士亚丁，请先“过滤”一下马新社的新闻， 然后才来考虑过滤色情网站好了。

疫情失控了，我们需要的是真正的专家学者的意见。。。不是马新社不知道从哪里找来的什么生态学家知少少，扮代表！

Cyanide toxicology: facts and nonsense

Somebody (Kit Lee) wrote this to MalaysiaKini on 4th of June: Nonsense to claim someone can get sick from cyanide.

He has been involved in exploration and mining for 40 years. And he claimed that using cyanide is perfectly safe. Well, what can you expect from a miner? Of course he would tell you that mining using cyanide is safe.

He started the article by introducing how to process gold using cyanide, and how SAFE it should be. He also mentioned how to denature cyanide after it is used. He also listed out 6 steps to limit the dangers of contamination. That’s is the ideal process according to ICMC (International Cyanide Management Code). Gold mining in Raub SHOULD BE SAFE IF THEY FOLLOW ICMC guidelines.

But the problem is: DO THEY FOLLOW THE CODE?

Kit Lee said, cyanide can be disintegrated under UV light exposure, therefore it is not toxic. However, the problem is, how long it takes to 100% disintegrate? What if the amount of cyanide being released is too much for the UV to disintegrate it? What if cyanide leaks to underground water and out of the reach of UV?

According to a review on 1997 approved EIA by Dr Glenn Miller from Nevada, US, he said the company did not follow the ICMC guidelines properly. They proposed a smaller scale of processing plant to apply for permit, but the exact facilities and the tailing processed per year is actually larger then what they proposed. Dr Miller called it “bait and switch”. If, there is a possibility the company being ‘dishonest’ in this way, how can we be so sure they follow the safety measurements according to ICMC guidelines?

Kit Lee also mentioned that cyanide can be denatured using chlorine, iodine and common hydrogen peroxide before discharge. But what about the big tanks of sodium cyanide before used? What if there is leakage from these big tanks? The cyanide that stored in their facility, haven’t being denatured? Also, what will happen if there is failure of tailing ponds and release the cyanide into local ponds or river?

Also, we must remember that, the facility located TOO CLOSE to residential area. Only a road away from residential area. No buffering zone between facility and houses, shop lots and even school. Is there the ideal place to store such a big tank of sodium cyanide? If there is any spills, the residents will not have enough time to evacuate. Besides that, according to Dr Miller’s report, the company proposed a smaller scale when they apply for permits. Is their risk assessment and management designed according to the smaller scale they proposed or exact scale they have now?

In the last paragraph of Dr Miller’s review, he said:

Thus, the 1996 EIA, in addition to being inadequate even at the time it was written, does not now even consider some of the major impacts of waste rock dumps, major milling and metallurgical processes that would be required to process the new ore being mined. The human and environmental risks of the tailings and contaminated water that will drain from the tailings are of such magnitude that it is my opinion that the entire EIA process should be started over, using current international standards for an environmental analysis.

If ICMC is the “golden rules” in setting up a gold mine, then Dr Miller’s advice is what we should follow, as he was one of the expert who involved in drafting the ICMC.

Indeed, just like what mentioned by Kit Lee, cyanide occurs naturally in many roots especially unripe tapioca and the indigenous people have been using these to ‘poison’ fish and yet the fish is edible.

I couldn’t agree with Kit Lee that cyanide is SAFE TO EAT. If cyanide is SAFE, why the fish are dead? Small dosage of cyanide, is enough to kill fish, but not enough to kill a healthy adult (yet). It is due to our body’s mechanism to get rid of mild cyanide ingested (from fish, tapioca or some other plant). It will be converted into thiocyanate, which is 7X less toxic and discarded from our body via urine. However, high level of thiocyanate  will still be able to cause damage to our body. And with ENOUGH dosage of cyanide, it can kills a normal, healthy, young adult. In some cases, people died of eating too much cassava/tapioca (cyanide overdose).

Indigenous people has been using cyanide to poison fish. But it seems like Kit Lee doesn’t know what devastating effect it causes. In many places (countries) where indigenous people using cyanide to poison fish, coral reefs and marine life were threatened. We lost many valuable species of corals and marine life due to cyanide poisoning. Colouful corals died and whole marine ecosystem disturbed. Do we want the same thing happen in Bukit Koman? Even a small dosage of cyanide can cause such a long term effect to marine ecosystem, just imagine what a big tanks of sodium cyanide can do.

Kit Lee said: “The current concerns by the Bkt Koman villages are due to misinformation, fear-mongering and emotion. It is nonsense to claim someone can get sick from cyanide. If you consume too much you just ‘suffocate’ and die, you do not get sick”.

How true is the statement? How many scientific publications he read? How many medical references he refers to? I wonder who is MISLEADING the readers here.

Read this – a report published by U.S. Department Of Health And Human Services:

Memory impairment has been reported as a delayed effect in individuals who survived a cyanide poisoning incident with antidotal treatment. A female developed difficulties with short-term memory 5 months after ingesting an unknown amount of an unspecified cyanide compound (Chin and Calderon 2000).

Well, I hope he won’t suffer memory impairment when he grows old one day and forget what he wrote to MalaysiaKini. Cyanide can bind to an important enzyme that carries oxygen in our body. Once cyanide binds to the enzyme, the enzyme can no longer carries oxygen into cells. Cells do not get enough oxygen. In a healthy normal adult, mild cyanide can be detoxed from body. But what about small children, babies or senior citizens? They do not have a terrific detox system to get rid of toxic in their body. And how can our children grow up healthily in such a oxygen deprived environment?

Is Kit Lee a doctor? NO. He is a mine operator. He has insufficient knowledge to tell us how safe cyanide is to our body. He claimed he operated a small ‘Heap Leach’ operation in Kelantan in the 1990s with no cyanide hazards. I do not know how SMALL his operation is, but Bukit Koman is definitely BIG.

We need answers from experts – a real expert; a doctor; a reseracher; an environmentalist… But definitely not a mine operator.

This is just like listen to Raub Australian Gold Mining company telling you that their mine in Bukit Koman is SAFE and environmental friendly; or a politician telling you that politic is CLEAN.

Bukit Koman residents welcome developement and wealth brought by gold mining activity. But with such an amout of cyanide storing just one road away from their residential area is just like living with a time bomb.

Kit Lee, if that is your own village where your family and kids live in, I wonder if you would say the same thing?

MCA Liow Tiong Lai’s reply on Bukit Koman Cyanide issue

This video was taken by an MCA blogger who is concered about Bukit Koman residents’ plight. He asked the question on a MCA 60th Anniversary function at Penang recently.

This is how MCA Liow Tiong Lai replied on Bukit Koman Cyanide issue. As a Health Minister, his focus wasn’t on the effect of cyanide to Rakyat’s Health or impact on environment. Instead, he blamed the whole thing on:

- Pakatan Rakyat magnifying the issue;

- Cyanide problem being politicize by Pakatan Rakyat;

- Pakatan Rakyat use cyanide problem to attack MCA in the last GE and caused the lost of few BN seats in Pahang and MCA will take necessary steps to solve this problem (regarding the attack of PR on this issue, not cyanide problem);

- MCA tightly monitor the gold mining activities in Pahang;

- Residents in Bukit Koman has no objection to cyanide-gold mining method….

Bukit Koman people has NO OBJECTION???

Is he living in the same dimension/world as we do?

From where he heard that Bukit Koman people were happy about it? Then why do Bukit Koman people cry upon hearing their request for judiciary review was dismissed by high court judge?

不要塑料袋，真的达到环保效果吗？

槟城7月开始每周一，实行“无塑料袋日”。这真的是一个很好的消息。使用塑料袋，消费者必须多付20仙，并将多付的钱，捐给慈善机构。这样的方法，消费者肯定会慢慢改变态度，记得携带环保带出门购物。根据槟城州政府的估计，如果檳州人一天不使用塑膠袋，垃圾堆就会少了不下於10萬個塑膠袋！

不过，商家不派塑胶袋，消费者自己携带环保袋就真的可以减少塑料袋的使用量，达到环保的效果吗？

大家先来回想一下，自己回怎么处理每次购物时收到的塑料袋。

我喜欢Jusco的塑料袋，因为可以分解（虽然他们仍然适用以石油为原料的分解塑料袋）。我经常会把塑料袋拿来装垃圾。如此一来，垃圾到了垃圾处理场后，打包垃圾的塑料袋也会一起分解。这也是为什么，我仍然不太积极的自备环保袋到Jusco买东西。我要用他们的分解袋装家里的垃圾。反而是偶尔到楼下杂货商店买东西时，我不会要老板们的给我无法分解的塑料袋。

我相信 很多人都和我一样（尤其是精打细算的消费者），都会利用百货公司的塑料袋来打包家里的垃圾。试想想：如果商家（百货公司）不在派发塑料袋，消费者们家里的垃圾，要用什么来打包呢？再说，当消费者需要买一些湿淋淋的东西（例如：鱼，虾，肉等等）。。。肯定希望使用塑料袋，而不是环保购物袋。

没有免费塑料袋，唯一的方法，就是另外购买垃圾袋。可分解的垃圾袋比较昂贵，或许很多人选择价格便宜的非分解塑料袋。也可能有些人根本不知道垃圾袋有分“能分解”和“不能分解”的垃圾袋。又有可能，一些地方的商店，没有售卖“可分解”的垃圾袋。

结果，塑料袋的使用量，一样不会少到哪里去。人们只是用另外购买的“垃圾袋”，取代了买东西时从商家那里拿的“塑料袋”。而且，消费者还必须自掏腰包另外花费一笔钱来买“垃圾袋”。

当然，槟城州政府这项举措，虽然不是最完美的解决方法，但却是一个好的开始。不管怎么样，我始终认为，与其限制商家不派塑料袋给顾客，倒不如立法规定商家一定要使用“可分解”塑料袋。　“可分解”塑料袋，除了有以石油为原料的以外，近年来，也有一些以植物为原料的”可生物分解”塑料袋（注）。这些塑料袋，除了可以被微生物，阳光，空气和水分解以外，当然也更加安全（植物为原料嘛！）。用来装食物也不会担心会产生什么致癌物质。

PLA是一種丙交酯聚酯，俗稱聚乳酸，它的原料主要是來自植物（例如：玉米），而非倚賴有限的石油資源，因此具有永續發展的特點。

更值得指出的是，PLA可以在土壤中被微生物分解成二氧化碳和水，沒有環境污染。在未來10十 年內，PLA將逐漸取代性質相近之塑膠如PET、PS成為最有前途的聚合物。而PLA可以在短期之內重新變成CO2和H2O進入自然界，再通過太陽光合作 用，變成澱粉，是真正無公害可再生的綠色環保塑膠產品。　– < 星洲日报> 2009-06-07

大马是个农业国，种植业一向是大马引以为傲的。政府和各研究机构应该更加积极的寻找其他（除了玉米和油棕）更加便宜的替代品来生产“可分解”塑料。

推广及立法规定使用“可分解”塑料袋，岂不是一个更好的方法？

注：　　“可分解”（degradable）和“可生物分解”（biodegradable）有所不同。一些以石油为原料的塑料可以被分解，但不是被微生物彻底分解／腐烂。而“可生物分解”的塑料袋则是由植物为原料，可以被微生物分解，“吃掉”，进入微生物的食物链。所以更加环保。

First, cyanide in Bukit Koman; now, radioactive waste in Kuantan!!!

An Australian company, Lynas Corporation Ltd. is now setting up a RARE EARTH processing plant in Gebeng, Kuantan, Pahang. It was reported that Lynas Corporation Ltd would invest RM1bil to produce lathanides – chemical products from rare earth minerals, which are a group of metal elements and RADIOACTIVE substances will be involved in this process.

Lets take a look at this study published in 1973 – Effect of dust of rare earth metals containing a radioactive component on incidence of reticulosarcoma of the lung:

The presence of the long-life radioactive elements uranium and thorium in mineral dust, occurring as isomorphic inclusions in the crystal lattice of natural minerals, may promote the onset of carcinogenesis in the lungs, for which the minimal carcinogenic dose is close to 1000 rad. Spontaneous lung tumors are rare in albino rats , and the term ‘lymphoma’ of the rodent lung which appears in the literature is simply the result of the absence of precise criteria of tumor growth in the peribronchial lymphoid tissue. This may account for the fairly higher percentage (6-7) of spontaneous reticuloblastomas of the lungs reported by a number of workers.

GREAT!!!

First, cyanide in Bukit Koman; now, radioactive waste in Kuantan pulak!!!

Both the Bukit Koman gold mining company and this rare earth processing plant was owned by AUSTRALIAN company and both were set up in PAHANG – one of the BN stronghold in Peninsular.

The company will harvest minerals from mines in Autralia, and send to Malaysia to PROCESS. Agian, they claim everything is under control and the radioactive substance has been take care of APPROPRIATELY. If it is so, why don’t they set up the processing plant in Australia? Lynas Corporation Ltd did apply permission from Autralia and China govt to set up processing plant in both country but was rejected by the govt. The question is, why Lynas was rejected by both Australia and China govt but get permission from Pahang state govt to set up their plant in Kuantan, and get their tax waived for 12 years?

The people near Gebeng only came to know about this plant about 6 months ago. They tried to have a dialog with the company. But the company fail to give a satisfactory explanation on how they get rid of the radioactive waste. The water released from the plant will be channeled into Sg. Balok. If there is any leakage, the water will be contaminated. Do they want to see tragedy in Kg Tanah Merah，Perak to repeat itself?

Tragedi yang menimpa penduduk-penduduk di Bukit Merah, Perak sekitar tahun 1982-87 eloklah dijadikan teladan. Ramai yang telah meninggal dunia akibat pendedahan kepada sisa-sisa radioaktif – leukemia, kanser, kelahiran bayi cacat dan sebagainya. – Menentang Sisa Radioaktif, 13 Jan 2009

Upon receiving complaints from the residents, Sahabat Alam Malaysia try to get EIA report from Jabatan Alam Sekitar Pahang. However, Jabatan Alam Sekitar Pahang refuse to reveal the report and later told them that the EIA was already approved by the Jabatan Alam Sekitar Pahang. So, what is so secretive about the report that JASP refuse to reveal?

Is Malaysia some kind of 3rd world country that other country can dump their toxic waste? Or carry out dangerous processes cause if any leakage happens, only Malaysians will be poisoned and not their country’s people?

What kind of role our govt plays to ensure our people’s safety besides keep telling us:

“Gold-mining using cyanide is safe IF HANDLE PROPERLY… blah blah blah…”

“Radioactive waste is safe IF HANDLE PROPERLY… blah blah blah…”

Things screwed up, even in an advance country like US.

How can we be so sure that in this Bolehland (with stadium collapse, parliament building leaking…), we can do a better job then those people?

Health and Justice for Bukit Koman Residents

In solidarity with Bukit Koman’s residents…

Bukit Koman’s residents live together and breath in CYANIDE – a highly toxic chemical that is used in gold mining. This chemical binds to important enzyme to carry oxygen (into our cells) once it enters our blood stream. In the end, cells die as a result of “SUFFOCATION”. Long-term health effects including heart and brain damage. It has been used as chemical agent in Iraq-Iran war in 1980S.

Some other studies revealed the wide usage of cyanide in mining had caused considerable damage to the health of the people in Canada, Romania, Guyana, Kyrgyzstan and Papua New Guinea. Therefore Bukit Koman’s residents fought hard against the gold-mining project in Raub. Sadly, they now fail to stop the gold mining activity in Bukit Koman.

And here are some info regarding ISRWT – Pahang Selangor Inter State Raw Water Transfer Project

Inlet – at Karak in Pahang
Outlet – at Hulu Langat town in Selangor
Capacity – 2,200 million litres of raw water per day
Water catchment – at Kelau and Bentong intak – running through Selangor – Pahang border near Gunung Nuang.

Just imagine what would happen if any leakage of cyanide in Bukit Koman… they are not the only people affected.

Dear fellow Anak Bangsa Malaysia, lets show your support to those people in Bukit Koman. They deserve to breathe and live in a cyanide-free environment.

Big tanks of Sodium Cyanide

Info and pictures taken from : Ban Cyanide Blogspot

GOLD vs LIFE…

Apparently to some policy makers, our life is much more cheaper then the GOLD!!!

And the MP of Bukit Koman, YB Ng Yen Yen, together with the whole bunch of useless 不唱高调，没有成效的 MCA, just pretend they don’t see the misery of Bukit Koman’s people.

They say cyanide mining method is safe, then why not just ask Ng Yen Yen to STAY IN BUKIT KOMAN, drink, eat and breathe in Bukit Koman to prove that?

Where are you, MCA?

Where are you, Ng Yen Yen?

大马确认第一宗A(H1N1)病毒病例

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia on Friday confirmed its first case of the A(H1N1) flu in a 21-year-old student who returned from the United States on Wednesday morning.

All passengers on the Malaysia Airlines flight MH091 from Newark on Wednesday are urged to contact the Health Ministry by calling 03-88810200 or 03-88810300

就在马六甲教育局仍然认为学生不需要戴口罩的时候，森美亞依淡警察訓練中心也传出了第二波的脑膜炎感染事件。让人惊叹大自然中，这小小病菌的破坏力有多大的当儿，又传来大马确认第一宗A(H1N1)病毒病例。

让我先和大家分享一下邻国新加坡针对A(H1N1)流感的防范工作吧！虽然至今新加坡还没有传出任何病例。不过吸取了上次SARS的教训，防范工作更是滴水不漏。

由于每天必须接触大量的游客，旅游景点的工作人员都戴上口罩和手套。公司和旅馆的员工，每天上班的第一件事，就是量体温。体温偏高或者稍微不适的员工都必须自我隔离，不准上班。医院内，就连探访病人的亲友家属都要排队测量体温，填写表格，呈报健康状况。体温不合格者一律不准探访。关卡的工作人员更是不厌其烦的为每一个进入新国 的人测量体温。

这一切，丝毫没有让游客和大众惊慌。看见戴着口罩和手套的工作人员在旅游景点，反而让游客觉得自己的健康被重视，而觉得安心。

内忧外患，希望有关当局可以正视疫情，不要为了担心游客流量少而疏于防范。为了自己的健康，大众应该不会计较看见戴着口罩的人。