RAKYAT ABOVE ALL ELSE!!!

Posted by Unknown On Sunday, April 4, 2010 36 comments
Health care is both a medical and social issue which is so vital to ensure that we have a healthy population that can actively contribute to the country's development in clear and tangible ways. Ultimately, the higher the level of health care, the more competitive would be our human resources internationally. Sadly, the state of health care in our country merits more careful attention and commitment. It was with great disappointment that I read about the problems plaguing the RM482 million Shah Alam Hospital HERE and also about the Kota Kinabalu General Hospital HERE and HERE. At the end of the day,the we have to ask ourselves - does it seem that the rakyat's needs have been overshadowed by other factors?

It was only last week that I discovered that Kota Kinabalu does not have a proper general hospital. The Queen Elizabeth Hospital there was first built in 1957. Then, it had 343 beds that catered to the needs for a small population of 30,000 people. However, in November 2008, the twin tower blocks of the hospital were closed. Even at that time, it had only 589 beds for the 1/2 million people of Kota Kinabalu. The QEH home page here speaks volumes. From various websites and chats with doctors, I discovered to my horror that patients to go to outlying district hospitals as far as Beaufort, Kuala Penyu and Tuaran because of the problems created by the closure. Ironically, cases from district hospitals were previously sent to to Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Is this progress for the rakyat?

From my conversations with various doctors, I discovered that it is not only patients who have been suffering. Doctors and staff in KK have to suffer great inconvenience shuttling here and there the various buildings (some at their own expense) especially when supplies have run out. In such a scenario, have we seen any practical and coherent plan to resolve such problems not only in KK but also in other parts of Malaysia? Instead, we see many arguing over the feasibility of private hospitals. I am sure that the people concerned knew about the closure in advance and yet had does not seem to have put any contingency plan into action if any. My friends in the medical fraternity are very saddened because the needs are there and not been met. People are dying while other sick people and their families are made to endure further pain and suffering, and probably avoidable deaths.

According to THIS SITE:

Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) assured people that a petition will reach Prime Minister urging him to immediately solve the more than one year crisis beleaguering Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), here.

SAPP Information Chief Chong Pit Fah said the party was prevented to hand over the petition to Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Saturday at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport, here, due to obstruction from the authority.

Chong said SAPP understands the plight of the people statewide who yearns for better health and medical care services when the main tower block of QEH was declared unsafe since November 2008.
Most shocking that they were not able to hand over the petition because of obstruction from who else??? I have yet to know the latest. From a contact in KK, it appears that there were structural problems in the building. Are we surprised?

And then we read about how the Shah Alam Hospital may be delayed because of disgruntled contractors - one of whom may be declared a bankrupt as reported over HERE. I am not going to say much about this hospital because it is such a complicated issue but am posing the extract here:

MH has issued a March 31 notice of demand to Sunshine Fleet under section 218 of the 1965 Companies Act.

According to the section, "The court may order the winding up if ... the company is unable to pay its debts." Winding-up is a process where a company's assets are seized and used to pay its debts.

In the letter, hand delivered to Sunshine Fleet last Thursday, GMH is demanding that the Tengku Arafiah's company - the main contractor of the massive hospital project - repay the amount owed.

"We have been instructed to demand from you, which we hereby do, that you are to pay to us as solicitors, the sum of RM10 million, only being the sum you owe our client as a result of our client paying on your behalf the advance payment bond or bank guarantee placed with Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR)."

Sunshine Fleet is owned by the Selangor sultan's sister Tengku Arafiah (70%), her son Putera Azamuddin Shah Abdul Aziz (10%), and her uncle Tengku Abdul Samad Shah Sultan Salahuddin Abd Aziz

On winning the contract in 2007, Sunshine Fleet has first sub-contracted the project to ailing construction firm Isyoda. Isyoda was unable to complete the project after it was delisted from Bursa Malaysia, and is in the process of being declared bankrupt.

The project was later sub-contracted to GMH.

GMH claimed that when it took over last year from Isyoda, it had to fork out RM10 million to repay the ailing construction company for the bond the latter placed with the Public Works Department (PWD) on Sunshine Fleet's behalf.

According to standard procedure, the bond should have been paid by the turnkey contractor Sunshine Fleet as the main contract holder.

Sources informed Malaysiakini that the inability to agree over 'money matters' has also caused a fallout between Sunshine Fleet and Isyoda.

This problem has again soured ties between Sunshine Fleet and its new sub-contractor GMH.

NONESunshine Fleet will have 21 days from the receipt of the letter to repay the RM10 million or face further actions.

"If you neglect to repay the sum as herein above demanded or to secure or compound the same to the reasonable satisfaction of our client, you will be deemed to be unable to repay your debts and appropriate actions be taken for your winding-up," said the letter of demand.

Acting on the sub-contractor's behalf is legal firm Gunaseelan & Associates.

Calls for probe

This altercation is the latest in a series of tussles between the two disgruntled partners in the 300-bed Shah Alam Hospital project being built in Section 7.

Malaysiakini has reported last year that Sunshine Fleet was accused of siphoning off funds from the project to the detriment of GMH, which had to bear the costs.

The matter was deemed serious enough to draw the attention of DAP parliamentarian Tony Pua, who demanded that the scandal be investigated by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

The troubled hospital drew the concern of transparency advocates over the directly-negotiated government contract, despite being earlier announced as an open tender.

The allegedly overpriced Shah Alam Hospital is yet another government project which has been called into question over gross irregularities in its award and implementation.

Although initially announced as costing “about RM300 million”, the eventual contract has come to worth a whopping RM482 million - a mark-up of RM182 million.

The PWD has however issued a statement claiming that the project was 'clean' and proper. CLICK HERE to read more.




And we are talking about 1Malaysia Clinics. What will happen to the rakyat? I am sure there are more problems in many other areas. But will we ever know? I sincerely hope and pray that the authorities concerned MUST always remember that the rakyat comes first above all else.

If you have time, please check out my other posts on THE CRY FROM A DOCTOR'S HEART and also THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF HEALTH CARE.

Please leave a comment to share your views and comments. I hope more readers from Sabah and Shah Alam, in fact I hope as many readers will comment and share their experiences. Thanks! Take care and have a blessed day!
________________________

Update on 6th April

Dear readers,

Something is wrong with my blog...I cannot read my old comments even though it shows that they are there numerically.

The error shown is

bX-y462he and a few other errors.

You can email your comments to me at

mwsunplugged@gmail.com and I will post them with your name/nom de plume.

I have already reported it to blogger and hope the problem will be resolved as soon as possible.

If this problem does not resolve within the next few days, I will direct you to another site.

Thanks for your patience.

Best wishes

36 comments to RAKYAT ABOVE ALL ELSE!!!

  1. says:

    Anonymous I’ve never had the misfortune to visit any government hospitals ever in my life, but I gotta say this:

    The good and entrepreneurial ones leave after their bondage (if they are bonded), to set up their own private practice.

    The good but cautious ones leave to join private hospitals where pay and working conditions are far more superior

    The good ones disillusioned with racial discrimination, migrate.

    The really good ones never really returned after graduating overseas.

    Sitting behind the desk in the government hospitals, with a stethoscope strapped around their necks, are mostly “dogtors” who will not even touch your hands if they can help it.

    What else can I say? (Sigh)

    StraightTalking

  1. says:

    Anonymous Hospital projects?
    Better ask Liow Tiong Lai.
    He should have all the facts and figures!

  1. says:

    Apa Nama If you are not sick but just need a medical check-up, go to a government hospital.
    If you are slightly sick, go to a government clinic.
    If you are half sick, go to a 1Malaysia clinic.
    If you are sick, go to a private clinic.
    If you are really sick, go to a private hospital.

    Remember: This is Malaysia!

  1. says:

    Anonymous 'StraightTalking', the good doctors don't gravitate into Management position with the Gomen bureauvratic service ; only lousy ones do. And that's where they lose sight of everything except how to please their upstairs boss in the Ministry as well as also joining the contractor sharks(wrt extension, renovation projects etc) in feathering their own nest while seeking also promotion via "special connections", and elitist titles.

    They take care of their own Wealth, not your Health!

    ~wits0~

  1. says:

    Catherine What has MACC to say about the problems plaguing the RM482 million Shah Alam Hospital? It happens in Selangor, the PR-controlled state!

    MACC, don't you think it's the right time to prove your worth?

  1. says:

    ahoo Zulkifli laughed when told Najib had called him a principled man.

    ~~ Malaysian Insider

    A Frog Above All Else....
    Haha, Mahathir must have made a big blunder!

  1. says:

    Justice Transparency?
    Accountability?
    Open tender?

  1. says:

    Hafiz b Shukor Proudly displayed on the signboard in front of the construction site of the Shah Alam Hospital is :
    'Projek Kerajaan Barisan Nasional'.

    So, BN. What say you?

  1. says:

    Anonymous Sunshine Fleet is owned by......
    No way MACC can do anything!

  1. says:

    QQ I see only too clearly that there is something fishy going on somewhere!

    Do Malaysians, irrespective of who they are, have no shame?

    Or, is RM482 million just a meager sum for some?

  1. says:

    Anonymous i have only one question, why was the contract was given to a royalty, do they have a brain for construction (i bet RM100 if they know how a cement looks like) or was is for the commission (rent seekers)

    if govt can stop this kind of a**h*les, we don't need GST or better petrol price reduce to RM1/ltr

    just plain stupid

    sultan sulu

  1. says:

    Penangite Is it a RM2 company?
    Remember Zahrain Mohamed Hashim?

  1. says:

    Selvi Dear Penangite,

    Are you such a loyal friend of Zahrain that you want us to remember him for good?

    To be frank, the mention of this idiot nauseates me!

  1. says:

    Unknown Dear StraightTalking

    You have expressed yourself in a most candid manner. Thanks for such an accurate take on the situation. Take care and God bless you!

    warmest regards

  1. says:

    Unknown Dear Anon @ 2.38pm

    It is rare to have a Health Minister who is not a doctor. Sighs...

    So is he likely to give us answers then?

    Cheers

  1. says:

    Unknown Dear Apa Nama

    What a realistic and heart-wrenching warning....True but tragic too!

    Thanks for sharing!

    Cheers

  1. says:

    Raymond How cruel it is to have our hard-earned money being wasted!

    Why is the Selangor government keeping quiet about this?

    Or, has Khir Toyo any comment?

  1. says:

    Raymond To have a Health Minister who is a doctor?

    Well, Dr Chua Soi Lek is a good choice then, haha!

  1. says:

    Anonymous PKFZ = in Selangor
    Shah Alam Hospital = in Selangor
    Khir Toyo's mansion = in Selangor

    No wonder Najib wants Selangor back.

  1. says:

    Unknown Dear Catherine

    I haven't seen any statement yet. Perhaps it is the weekend...Let's see what happens this week.

    Take care and have a great week.

    Cheers

  1. says:

    Unknown Dear ahoo

    Thanks for sharing. This does not sound like your usual commenting style :-). Take care and hope you had a blessed Easter. Have a great week too!

    Shalom

  1. says:

    Unknown Dear Justice

    I am just as stunned - am sure many other like-minded Malaysians as well.

    Take care and God bless you!

    Best wishes

  1. says:

    Unknown Dear Saudara Hafiz

    Thanks for that reminder! Let's wait for their 'official' statement, if any is forthcoming.

    Take care and have a good week.

    Salam

  1. says:

    Unknown Dear Anon @ 6.16pm

    If they have the political will to serve the country, idealistically speaking, I believe they can do something ;-). We will have to wait and see for action speaks louder than words.

    Thanks for swinging by. Have a great week.

    Cheers

  1. says:

    Unknown Dear QQ

    Thanks for sharing your comment which reminded me of Johnny Nash's composition "I Can See Clearly Now":

    I can see clearly now, the rain is gone,
    I can see all obstacles in my way
    Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
    It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
    Sun-Shiny day
    It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
    Sun-Shiny day

    Oh yes I can make it now, the pain is gone
    All of the bad feelings have disappeared
    Here is the rainbow I've been prayin' for
    It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
    Sun-Shiny day

    Look all around, there's nothin' but blue skies
    Look straight ahead, nothin' but blue skies

    Unfortunately, unlike the song, the more clearly Malaysians can see, the MORE obstacles are detected in our way...

    The darker the clouds looming above us...

    The deeper the pain we feel, especially for those who are suffering from all the harsh realities of life here...

    BUT

    The stronger our resolve to effectg change
    The more determined our effort to persevere
    The deeper the hope that things will get better...

    Only if as many as possible vote wisely.

    RM482million is a lot of money. Imagine the number of hospitals or schools or low cost housing that we could build!

    If that does not open our eyes, what will?

    Thanks for sharing.

    God bless you!

  1. says:

    Unknown Dear Sultan Sulu

    There are many things that too many cannot understand. We remain befuddled, bedazzled by statistics and some could be beguiled.

    Until and unless truth is absolute, we will remain in this state.

    Very saddening.

    Take care and thanks for sharing.

    Have a good week.

    Best wishes

  1. says:

    Unknown Dear Penangite

    There could be many RM2 companies...in the first place, why is there such a ruling, even if it was enacted in the spirit of entrepreneurship?

    Take care and have a good day!

    Cheers

  1. says:

    Unknown Dear Selvi

    There are many issues which sicken many to the core.

    While some get fattened, others are suffering. The KK health care situation is one example.

    When will some learn to put the interest of the rakyat above all else?

    We are still waiting...

    Sighs.

    Take care and God bless you.

  1. says:

    Unknown Dear Anon @ 12.03 am

    Ah - there are many records that could be established or broken over there ...*winks*

    Take care and have a great week!

    Best wishes

  1. says:

    Unknown Dear Raymond,

    For once, they are keeping quiet.

    I wonder why....

    Thanks for sharing.

    ----------------
    :-) Re CSL, I am sure some have other ideas for his role :-). We will have to wait and see what happens.

    Take care and thanks for swinging by.

    Keep in touch! Have a great day!

    cheers

  1. says:

    ahoo As I'd said in an earlier post, I am still waiting for doctors to take the street in Putra Jaya. For even the Orang Asli, Lawyers, Bersih and others have done that.

    For me, a govt that is find wanting in healthcare and basic amenities, have failed their people. For billions have had been squandered and these plunderers are still around living in luxury while the poor are further marginalised.

    Let us not reach out and help someone in need today and everyday of our life. Let it be a lifestyle instead of chasing after the winds. We use our health to search for wealth and in old age we use our wealth to pay for health.

  1. says:

    ahoo Apology, typo :

    Let us all reach out and not as shown in bracket. (Let us not reach out)

    Left brain and right brain just doesn't comply with each other ?

  1. says:

    Unknown Dear ahoo

    Health care is an issue that not many would like to consider, particularly, those who could make a difference.

    Sadly, this is one area that affects almost everyone across the board from the east to the west, north to the south.

    How much has our government done in this secotr? Granted that in some places/areas, there have been progress but again there are question marks as to why that progress was made. Was it because so and so's son was going to be an intern that $$ was increased in certain areas? Was a multi-million dollar machine purchased because so and so's relative/family member was in need of that machine? So many doubts, so many answered questions.

    At the end of the day, if our government observes principles of transparency, integrity, accountability and honesty, and put the rakyat first above all else...what a wonderful Malaysia it would be...

    Take care and God bless you! Have a great day/week!

    Shalom

  1. says:

    Anonymous To Zulkifli : Like katak Ibrahim Ali said: Don't talk **shit*** - 3 times.

  1. says:

    The Phoenix Foundation MWS!
    Two days ago I received an plea via e, that a lady needed O -ve blood for her operation.
    The very next morning I reported to UMMC to donate - it was the most
    pleasent experience - all the staff were were extremely caring.
    Then this morning, my wife & I took my mother in law again to UMMC - she is 88 & a stroke victim - within 18 minutes , the registration was completed & MIL was attended to by Dr.Azanizah - youngish but extremely competent & professional & caring.
    Within the hour, MIL had gone through an ECG,Blood Test, Urine Test...., total cost a huge amount :RM55/-.
    So I do not care what the MACC or whatever is going on - I have the UMMC, whose staff & Doctors are par excelent!
    FYI: We had to take MIL, emergency to a "private hospital" prior - 10 days - RM 10,000/-.,not cured!!!!
    So perhaps we can send a message to all these Public Hospitals - Thank You!
    Surely the Government{Civil Service} is doing right - and hey -no racism!!!!!
    Godspeed.
    Jeya!

  1. says:

    Unknown Dear Mr Jeya

    Thank you for expressing your gratitude to the UMMC for their dedication and professionalism in attending to your MIL.

    There are dedicated doctors in public hospitals and my late father was also well taken care of by docs and nurses in the Neuro Ward of Penang GH. Yet, there are also other with nightmarish stories to tell...

    Wishing your MIL speedy recovery and good health.

    Take care and have a great day!

    Cheers

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