Voice of Malaysian » Society

Diabetes among children on the rise

Haikal — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 02:52:10 +0000

KUALA LUMPUR: More young people, some as young as seven, are suffering from Type 2 diabetes (T2D), a disease that generally hits those in their 50s.

Doctors say more primary school students have been diagnosed with T2D in the last decade, a fact that is alarming since the disease is usually linked to those much older.

The doctors found that the young diabetics were usually obese, and their condition could be traced to eating too much unhealthy food and having a sedentary lifestyle.

They said the disease was not just about having excessive sugar in the blood system but could also affect the patient’s vital organs like the heart, kidneys, nerves and eyes.

“The children’s bad dietary habits of eating burgers, nuggets, fried chicken, fries and carbonated drinks are also contributing factors,” Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre senior consultant paediatrician and paediatric endocrinologist Prof Dr Wu Loo Ling said, adding that long hours of homework, watching television and playing computer games added to the problem.

“Cases of children and teenagers with diabetes are increasing at a faster rate,” said Dr Wu. “Between 30% and 40% of children in Western countries are overweight and the problem of overweight Malaysian children is also on the rise.”

Endocrinologist Dr Lim Soo San said T2D was more apparent in people aged between 18 and 29.

“We even came across children who are below 10 years old and have T2D ,” Dr Lim said.

The Registry on Diabetes in Children and Adolescents (2006-2007) showed that 56% of the 42 T2D cases involved obese individuals.

Dr Lim said parents continued to feed their children with “junk food” due to their lack of awareness of the disease.

Dietician Mary Easaw-John said apart from bad eating habits, irregular eating hours had also contributed to the rising trend of T2D among younger people.

“People tend to eat out instead of packing food from home nowadays. And fried food is common in eateries,” said Easaw, who is Dietetics Food Services of the National Heart Institute senior manager.

The Third National Health and Morbidity Survey, conducted in 2006, showed that there was a high prevalence of overweight primary school children, and over 20% of them were obese.

Statistics pointed that Malaysia had the fourth highest number of diabetes cases in Asia, with 800,000 in 2007. The number is expected to jump to 1.3 million cases this year.

The recent survey also revealed that more than 43% of Malaysian adults were overweight or obese, twice the figure a decade ago.

No ‘religious ban’ on MU jerseys, says Perak mufti

Haikal — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 02:49:26 +0000

KUALA LUMPUR: There is no “religious ban” on Manchester United jerseys despite statements by several prominent Islamic scholars urging Muslims not to don the Premier League club’s shirts because the emblem features a devil.

Perak mufti Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria said jerseys with devils, crosses or skulls promoted the wrong values for Muslims but that did not mean they should be banned.

“A fatwa on the matter is not necessary as it is clearly wrong for Muslims to wear shirts with devils and other unIslamic symbols because it is against the teachings of Islam,” he said yesterday.

Apart from Manchester United, which is also known as The Red Devils, other football teams whose crests carry images deemed unIslamic like the cross are Brazil, Portugal, Serbia, Barcelona and Norway.

“In Islam, Satan is our enemy … but I believe Satan is also an enemy of the non-Muslims.

“We advise people not to wear them,” said Harussani.

He added that Muslims had no reason to wear and glorify symbols that promoted wrong values.

Harussani said other ulama and mufti shared his opinion but they did not plan to pass any edict to ban the attire either.

Many Muslim football fans, he said, were actually unaware of the images on the emblems.

His view was shared by Johor Religious Council adviser Datuk Nooh Gadot, who had issued similar advice to Muslims on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, several Malaysian football fans have shown the “red card” to the advice by the ulama.

They voiced disapproval over social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook.

“What am I going to do with all my Manchester United jerseys? And my sons’ jerseys?” said a Twitter user.

Some even went to the extent of accusing the ulama of supporting Liverpool, Manchester United’s archrival.

Manchester United Malaysia Fan Club, which boasts 7,000 members, when contacted, declined to comment.

Checks at various sports retail outlets in shopping malls revealed that the famous red jerseys of the club were still on sale.

Sales personnel on duty said the new version of the club’s attire was selling like hot cakes as it had arrived just a few days ago after its global launch on July 15.

Steyr and Mamak ring members shot dead

Haikal — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 02:48:18 +0000

PETALING JAYA: Remnants of the notorious Steyr and Mamak Gangs that merged into a new gang were involved in a shootout with police following a failed robbery attempt in Kampung Orkid Subang on Thursday night.

Two of the four gang members were killed after police blocked their escape vehicle in the 9pm incident.

Selangor police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar, who confirmed the gang members’ identities, said police were on the hunt for two other members.

“The two, including the gang’s mastermind, managed to escape,” he said.

DCP Khalid said the gang had been involved in at least 16 robberies in Selangor involving RM400,000 in valuables and cash.

It is learnt the gang has been active for about one year.

The two deceased gang members have been identified as Hamizan Effi Bani, 32, from Selayang Indah and 30-year-old Mohamad Nizam, who had six prior criminal records for robbery.

Hamizan’s younger brother, who declined to be named, said his brother, who was married with three children, used to be a skilled football player before he got involved in drugs.

“He was jailed for six months about two years ago,” he said after claiming Hamizan’s body at Sungai Buloh Hospital yesterday.

The Steyr Gang, named after their weapon of choice, first became known in August 1999 when they robbed a bank in Puchong.

They had armed themselves by infiltrating an army camp in Kamunting, Perak and stealing four Steyr rifles on July 27 that year.

After numerous bank and jewellery heists, including bloody run-ins with police, the last-known gang member was arrested in August 2000.

The Mamak Gang gained notoriety when they stole 300 gold bars belonging to Brinks Air Courier Australia Pte Ltd at the MAS Cargo Terminal, Subang Airport on Aug 31, 1994.

M’sian charged with sexual harassment in S’pore

Haikal — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 02:47:24 +0000

A MALAYSIAN waiter working in Singapore was charged in court for asking an underage girl to take off her clothes and insert her finger into her genitals.

Sin Chew Daily reported that Pan Hock Hoon, 25, was charged on Thursday on six counts, including sexually harassing the minor, inducing sexual acts and possession of pornography.

It was reported that Pan befriended the 13-year-old girl via the Internet.

In September 2008, he allegedly asked the girl to remove her clothes at a flat. He also asked her to touch her breasts and put her finger into her genitals.

For the offence, he faces a jail term of up to five years, a fine or both.

The accused has also been charged with sexually harassing another girl whom he befriended through the Internet in October of the same year.

He faces a jail term of up to 10 years, a fine or both. A pre-trial was set for Aug 16.

> The same daily also reported that a 48-year-old Singaporean who has been living in Terengganu since the age of one was fined S$5,000 (RM11,663) for not doing National Service (NS).

Seow Wei Sin left Singapore in 1962 with his parents. He became a Malaysian permanent resident when he was 17.

He returned to Singapore for the first time last year and was charged in court for not doing NS when he was aged between 16 and 40.

The daily reported that he was initially sentenced to 18 months’ jail.

However, the Singapore High Court allowed his appeal and he was fined instead. It was reported that the judge had considered the fact that Seow was staying in Malaysia and was ignorant of NS.

The judge deemed that Seow did not take advantage of the privileges available to Singaporeans.

Nabbed – man who trained son to steal

Haikal — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 02:46:19 +0000

LUMUT: Police have arrested a man who had trained his five-year-old son to steal at business premises in this district.

Manjung police chief ACP Mohd Jamil Osman said the 35-year-old was detained at the Sitiawan Food Centre, near here, early on Monday after police received reports from several victims.

“The suspect would give his son RM100 so that he could pretend to buy something from a shop or restaurant. When the owner leaves the counter to look for change, it was the signal for the boy to rummage through the counter and take whatever cash and other valuables that can be found,” he told reporters here yesterday.

Police recovered RM4,700, three identification cards, five mobile phones, several bank cards and a plastic bag believed to contain cannabis from the suspect’s car.

“Investigations revealed that the suspect was involved in several theft cases – one in Hilir Perak, four in Manjung and three in Perak Tengah,” he said.

ACP Mohd Jamil said the suspect’s son would be placed under his uncle’s care temporarily before being sent to a Childcare Centre in Penang after investigations were completed. — Bernama

Bail for baby racket suspects

Political Guru — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 02:34:40 +0000

KUCHING: The VIP couple and six others detained in connection with the baby-for-sale racket were released on police bail.

Their remand, which was extended two days, ended yesterday.

Magistrate Nelson W. Angang ordered their release but three other suspects had their remand extended.
Of the 17 suspects detained, six were still under remand, including the 53-year-old baby supplier and a 32-year-old Indonesian woman who were picked up last Monday.

Tension was high at the court yesterday as the VIP’s relatives and friends obstructed photographers from taking pictures. Some even threatened the photographers.

A NST photographer bore the brunt of the assault as he was continually harassed and almost had his camera snatched by the overzealous group.
“Don’t take their pictures. Don’t you know what we had been through?” shouted someone in the group.

The situation eased only after a lawyer told the family that the photographers were just doing their job.

Only 12 dive sites off-limits

Political Guru — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 02:33:43 +0000

KUALA LUMPUR: Except for 12 dive sites, all marine parks in the country are still open to visitors.

The ban on recreational activity issued by the Marine Park Department following coral bleaching applies only to certain areas.

This does not mean complete shutdown of those affected islands.

In allaying fears expressed by tour and dive operators, a department spokesman said yesterday that tourists could still go to the islands or dive spots as usual.

“Only certain areas are banned and these off-limit areas are clearly marked.” The Marine Park Department issued the ban on all recreational activities, including diving and snorkelling, on 12 dive sites on nine islands, after widespread reports of coral bleaching.
Its director-general, Abd Jamal Mydin, said on Thursday that the situation was critical, with some of the reefs in the 12 dive spots suffering up to 90 per cent bleaching.

Famed Pulau Redang has only one off-limit site at Teluk Bakau while Pulau Perhentian Besar has two at Teluk Dalam and Tanjung Tukas Darat-Tanjung Tukas Laut.

The ban which took effect early this month remains until October.

Businesses on the islands, especially in the east coast, are expected to see a slight dip in profit as operations will be closed in November when the monsoon season starts.

Businesses will only reopen in early April.

Worried tour and dive operators have been bombarding the department since the announcement, with some claiming that they have not been informed of the closures.
Redang Mutiara Beach Resort operator Mohd Khairul Azizie Mohamad, 24, said he expected about 20 per cent loss due to the ban.

“There is no point coming here if those two activities (diving and snorkelling) are prohibited,” he said.

“It is a relief the sites will be closed after the school holidays. We are not anticipating much loss then.” Fellow tour operator Zamros Mohd Dom, 50, of Seri Sentosa on Pulau Tioman, said some clients had cancelled their bookings.

“It is hard to answer their queries about the ban. Most of them did not know that not all areas here are closed and it’s business as usual for those unaffected spots,” he said.

Marine Park Department officials had met operators prior to the ban but not all attended.

They are expected to hold anotherbriefing soon.

Coral bleaching happens when the colourful algae that gives coral its food and colour dies, turning it bonewhite.

It is reported that a temperaturerise of more than 1º Celsius and excessive sunlight triggered the singlecell algae zo ox a n t h a l l a e to attack the c o r a l s.

In defence, the corals expel the algae, making it vulnerable.While the process is reversible depending on the period of exposure, it takes years for corals to recove r.

Muslims should not wear ManUtd jerseys

Political Guru — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 02:32:16 +0000

KUALA LUMPUR: Muslims must not wear the famous Manchester United red jersey because of the “devil” emblem on its team crest, Malaysian clerics said today.

Manchester United and the rest of the English Premier League are massively popular in Muslim-majority Malaysia and the rest of the Asian region, but conservative religious scholars said the jersey is un-Islamic.

Also off limits are the shirts of teams including Brazil, Portugal, Barcelona, Serbia and Norway, all of which carry images of the cross on their team emblems.
“This is very dangerous. As a Muslim, we should not worship the symbols of other religions or the devils,” Nooh Gadot, a top Islamic cleric from the southern Johor state, told AFP.

“It will erode our belief in Islam. There is no reason why we as Muslims should wear such jerseys, either for sports or fashion reasons,” said Nooh, an advisor to the Johor religious council.

“Even if it (the jersey) is a gift, we should decline it. It is even more sinful when people realise this is wrong and still buy these jerseys to wear,” he added.
Nooh said there was no “fatwa”, or religious edict, against the shirts but that one was not needed when it was clearly wrong for Muslims to don such a garment.

“These Muslims should repent, repent immediately,” he said.

Another leading cleric, Harussani Zakaria, a cleric from northern Perak state, agreed that devils should be shunned, not celebrated.
“Yes of course in Islam we don’t allow people to wear this sort of thing,” he told AFP. “Devils are our enemies, why would you put their picture on you and wear it? You are only promoting the devil.”

Malaysia is a generally moderate Islamic country, but conservative clerics have issued controversial edicts in the past including a ban on the ancient practice of yoga, which is criticised for including Hindu religious elements. -AFP
Read more: Muslims should not wear ManUtd jerseys http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/MuslimsshouldnotwearManUtdjerseys/Article#ixzz0uYym2uQf

Census: Why wasn’t I asked all 51 questions?

Political Guru — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 02:30:58 +0000

I REFER to the report “Rural folk prove more helpful to census workers” (NST, July 20). I was surprised to read there were 51 questions to be answered in the census form.

On July 16, a woman officer came by my house about 4pm, introduced herself and flashed her identification card. She didn’t ask to come into my house and started asking questions at the gate as she filled in the form.

The names of my family members, number of residents, number of vehicles, income range, business/employment status and religion were all entered into the form with a pencil.
When I asked why she was writing the answers in pencil, she replied that the answers would be transferred into a computer later.

She took less than five minutes to ask me the questions. She then gave me a card to stick on the wall.

If there were 51 questions in the form, I wonder what she would write as answers to the questions she did not ask me in order to complete the form. If the information entered without my knowledge into the data sheets are wrong, would I be liable if, at a later date, someone says the information given was not accurate?
Are these personal data sufficient for the census? And how accurate will the exercise be?

K.L.W.
Petaling Jaya,
Selangor

Source: Nst

Using children to do it

Political Guru — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 12:17:12 +0000

ELAN PERUMAL provides a first-hand account of his close encounters with vagabonds over a two-month observation period.

I WAS surprised to find beggars and their children all over the place when I first entered their “territory”.

They were in the thick of action and I realised that they were well known among the petty traders and shopkeepers in the area.

Things were so intense that I was almost immediately approached by the young beggars.

Working partners: Sofinah and Salim taking a break after a long day of begging.

But they soon began to sniff something amiss – it was as if they knew that they were being followed and photographed.

Several traders even asked me why I had been photographing the beggars. They were worried that the beggars’ “livelihood” would be affected, and that enforcement action would follow.

From my observations, I learnt that the beggars operated under various modus operandi, depending on the age of their children.

The ones with babies would normally use a more “direct approach” by moving around in crowded areas to attract sympathy.

One of the mother beggars whom I thought was the most “hardworking” was identified as Sofinah.

She does not only operate along the terminal at Jalan Pos Baru but often gets onto buses to plead for money.

But after she kept seeing me, she disappeared.

Sofinah was afraid of me after I started taking her photographs.

She seemed to be the only one who was accompanied by her husband, Salim, who was physically handicapped. This guy only begged on the buses.

After several hours, Salim would go and enjoy teh tarik at a nearby restaurant while his wife continued to beg. The couple often sat next to each other at the bus stop.

Other beggars with very small children would wait at strategic spots such as the back lane near Plaza MPK. They would make their children sit in front of them, holding a bowl.

On weekends and public holidays when human traffic was heavy, the mothers would leave their children at a strategic point before moving to another location to beg. But they would often return to watch over the young ones.

Beggars with children who were independent sat along the pavement in front of shops or under trees near the terminal area.

I noticed that many of these mothers had more than three children.

There were those with five or six children “working” alongside them.

I witnessed how the children would run to their mothers with their collection. The mothers would quickly insert the coins into a pouch which they kept in a sling bag.

For the children, the area is not only a place for them to help their families eke out a living but is also their “playground”. They take time-off to rest and play with their friends.

Source

Voice of Malaysian » Society

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