Cancer Treatment & Palliative Care

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls for the Central Government to review the shortage of oncologists and the need for palliative care in the country.

Dr Tan comments on the media reports about the shortage of oncologists in Malaysia.

Apparently, about 50,000 new patients are diagnosed as having cancer every year in Malaysia and there are only 60 oncologists in public and private sectors. Only Universiti Malaya offers a four-year training for Masters in Clinical Oncology. It is said that on 27 cancer centres can offer training in radioptherapy for new graduates in private and public sectors.

Besides oncology (the treatment of cancer such as radiothery, chemotherapy and surgery), cancer and other patients with terminal illness require palliative care. There must be facilities to train specialists for this type of care. Universiti Malaya has palliative care. Other univerisities and hospitals would have to consider this specialty.

It takes at least five years to train a proper oncologist. It also requires similar duration to produce a specialist in palliative care. Even in UK, USA and Australia, there is shortage of oncologists and palliative care specialists. Doctors tend to go for other specialties.

The Health Ministry must look at oncology and palliative care seriously. Attracting specialists from Malaysian diaspora overseas to return to the country may be one of the measures.Meanwhile, having funding and creating the facilities should be the priorities.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Community Hall Projects From the RM6.7 bn Economic Stimulation Package

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw stresses that the allocations from the RM6.7 bilion economic stimulation package must be used effectively. They must truly reach the people for whom they are intended.

Some of the economic stimulation package projects are through local governments such as the Kuala Lumpur City Hall. For example, Kl City Hall has identified two sites, one in Jinjang North and the other in Jinjang South, to build community hall. Each proposed project costs RM600,000. They must be completed by the end of this year.

The implementation of projects must be seen to be transparent and accountable.

Do residents want the proposed community hall project by the side of the playing field at East Road 14 (Jalan Jinjang Damai), Jinjang North?

On 19.5.2010, KL City Hall representatives met some residents at the above site, saying that from Economic Stimulation Package the Central Government allocates RM600,000 for each community hall project in Jinjang North and Jinjang South respectively. City Hall supervises these projects. The allocation has nothing to do with beautification of the playing field.

Since some people oppose the project, City Hall has given the residents a week, that is, before 27.5.2010, to decide. The project has to be completed by the end of the year.

Leaving aside temporarily whether the project is worth RM600,000, the residents must consider it carefully before making a decision. It consists of a lobby, corridors, multipurpose room, computer room, store, men’s toilet, women’s toilet, handicapped’s toilet, recycling room, rubbish house and circulation. It needs a management team.

If the majority reject the proposed project, it will be moved to other places, where people yearn for it.

Beginning from the evening of 20.5.2010, we are going to gather the opinion of the residents in and around the proposed site. The result will be submitted to the City Hall.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

We have to work harder after the Sibu by-election.

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw maintains that the party (PR) would have to work harder after the Sibu by-election, fulfiling the wishes of the people.

One major factor in the Sibu by-election is the unhappiness of the people on the greed, the corruption and the decadence. For example, they observe that some leaders build mansions and palaces. But, their legitimate incomes are not compatible with the conspicuous display of their wealth.

On 18.5.2010, Dr Tan ponders on the DAP Wong Ho Leng getting 18,845 votes against BN Robert Lau Hui Yew obtaining 18,447 votes, winning by 398 votes.

Walking in some parts of Sibu during May 8-16 by-election period, I have found that people are unhappy with things such as bureaucracy and corruption, in particular their perception on the Chief Minister amassing wealth of international proportion. What is the truth? There are people who help BN in order to get various projects.

The special feature of Sibu is flooding especially during high tides. The Rejang River is getting shallower because of silting due to upstream development and logging. Or is it the massive illegal logging of yesteryears? Are there ways to mitigate floodings?

DAP(PR) must study all the grievances of the people, trying to help wherever we can. We should work harder to push towards a change in the direction that people aspire.

Our members must continue to fight against greed, corruption and decadence. We ought to sharpen our machinery and campaigns, outlining our policies such as on education, merits and need.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Do we need more by-elections to get windfalls for schools?

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on the Federal Government to give annual allocations to schools including Chinese schools instead of windfalls during by-election.

The way the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak does it is to give allocations to institutions and others during by-elections such as in Hulu Selabngor and, now, Sibu. It seems that these institutions can benefit from the Federal Government only during by-elections. Those that need assistance pray for by-elections in their constituencies.

Dr Tan comments on the RM18 million allocated by Najib to Sibu Chinese schools on the eve of the by-election on May 16,2010.

We hope that the allocation is actually given to the various institutions as stated such as RM 10 million to 60 primary Chinese schools, RM 5 million to five secondary Chinese schools, RM2 million to SMK Sacred Heart and RM1 million to St Mary primary school to build new classrooms and upgrade facilities. Nobody should siphon off the money.

Annually, the yearly allocation for education is about RM35 billion, nearly 24 % of the national budget. There are 7,643 primary schools and 2,165 secondary schools and 20 public universities and over 30 private universities in the country. The fund should be given fairly to these schools and universities.

The Prime Minister should try his utmost to ensure that the large educational allocation is not misappropriated in an atmosphere of greed, corruption and decadence. If we can avoid wastage of public fund, more money can be given usefully to schools and universities which require help.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

MACC needs adequate funds & good officers to fight corruption.

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw once again calls the Federal Government to allocate at least RM350 million for the budget of Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) which should show that it is really effective in combating corruption in the country.

The Coroner's Court should arrive at an unbiased judgement on Teoh Bing Hock case that has cast a dark shadow. Let justice be seen.

All Malaysians should be very concerned with bureaucracy, corruption and decadence. Just as the Independent Commission Against Corruption(ICAC) in Hong Kong, MACC should rise above all these and prove that it is truly relevant.

Dr Tan has spoken out on the funding for MACC and Malaysian Integrity Institute (IIM). If these institutions were to be effective, it would need adequate budget and efficient personnel who act without fear or favour.

We understand that there has been an economic downturn and that the budget of virtually all ministries has been cut. But, MACC should not have been affected.

This year, the commission asks for RM324 million. Instead, it has got RM167.8 million. It has proposed 900 new staff members. But, it has been given 76, which has been achieved by swotting only.

What is clear is that senior officials of ICAC have given talks to MACC that mirrors itself on ICAC, among others. ICAC has a ratio between personnel and cases of 1 in 4,whereas MACC has 1 in 12.

MACC should have better finance and better personnel. I shall repeat this in Parliament.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Let Hisham publish the panel report on Amirulrasyid shooting case.

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on the Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin to try his utmost to publish the findings of the report on the shooting of Aminulrasyid on 26.4.2010.

Hisham's comment today shows that he hesitates. He has to look at the concern of the public over police shooting of civilians. The people don't know the truth. Let them see what actually took place.

Yesterday, an eight-member panel on the police's fatal shooting of 15-year-old Aminulrasyid Amzah met. Apparently, the panel, chaired by Deputy Home Minister Datuk Abu Seman Yusop, comprised former Inspector-General of Police Tun Mohd Hanif Omar, Home Ministry deputy secretary-general Datuk Ahmad Fuad Ab Aziz and former Suhakam commissioners Datuk Seri Mohd Shafee Abdullah, Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria and Datuk Dr Michael Yeoh.

Also in the panel are crime analyst Kamal Affandi Hashim and Universiti Teknologi Mara deputy VC Assoc Prof Datuk Abdul Halim Sidek.

Hisham is still hoping that people would not talk about this tragic case, keeping his eye on political parties. After all. it is a sensitive case. We can only hope that the public will look at the case objectively. This is where the Home Ministry can help. Make the panel investigation as transparent as possible. The victim's family is asking for a royal commission to ensure that only the truth will come out.

Let the Home Ministry publish the panel findings as soon as possible.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Lets have an independent panel report on the Aminulrasyid case.

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on the Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein to help to form a truly independent panel on the death of Aminulrasyid. The report must be out as soon as possible. It has to be seen to be fair.

Dr Tan refers to Datuk Seri Hisham's statement yesterday that he wanted the people to be fair and not have negative perceptions of the police force.

Hisham said the death of Aminulrasyid Amzah, 15, on Monday should not have been extensively discussed by the public, adding it had created prejudice towards the police.

"An independent panel to monitor police investigation will be formed. We sympathise with what happened and want justice to take its course," he said.

Death causes public concern whether it is ordinary people, police or others. Let us have the truth.

The number of police personnel is approaching 100,000, the target being 120,000. Some are good and some are not so good. We need the police to be of higher quality and to be better paid.

If police are involved in the killing of civilians, people are very sensitive. We can see the response on the Aminulrasyid case.

The Home Minister should help to ensure that the panel of inquiry is truly independent and that the report is published as soon as possible.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw