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Mahathir remarks on second DPM proposal nauseating

Posted: 28 Oct 2011 07:20 PM PDT

Unless a DPM is given for them (and the current DPM was agreeable to this during the Upko congress where it was voiced out by Tan Sri Bernard Dompok) the two states will continue to suffer and lose. Now, I wonder if Mahathir's opinion in the matter is of any relevance at all. Why do reporters still think his remarks have so much value?

Daniel John Jambun

I have for a long time thought of Mahathir as a former great man who had lost some of his sense of balance, after reading his many irritating comments about a lot of issues. We notice that of all the many former chief executives of nations anywhere in the world, he has gone on record as the most the most acidic and the most sarcastic.

Tun Mahathir has been so aggressive in his criticism of the West and the Jews that he has been called "The Last Mohican of Asia," but he is also a kind of warrior whose war is not yet finished, so he is still on a rampage to bulldoze everything he thinks is against his beliefs. Humility and moderation are very far away from his mind, thanks to the 21 years of wielding power. And now in active 'retirement' he feels he is free to say whatever he wants, even at the embarrassment and expense of the current Prime Minister. But a long period in a powerful post doesn't make one right in everything. In fact arrogance often sets in and can make one make a lot of mistakes, even delusional.

His comments on the proposal to introduce a second prime minister for Sabah and Sarawak is a case in point, in which he is now on record as having said, "Why Sabah and Sarawak? What about other states? I think Kedah also wants a deputy prime minister. Everybody wants a post. There should be a MCA deputy (PM), an MIC deputy (PM), a Gerakan deputy (PM). And if Pakatan Rakyat wins, everybody will want to become prime minister. Whether you're deputy (prime minister) or not, if you can serve the people, that's fine. If you don't serve the people, you'll suffer the fate of (Muammar) Gaddafi."

The irritation you get from this wild and arrogant ranting simply gives you nausea, and make you want to puke out of pure disbelief. Firstly, the second deputy PM post is not asked for by Upko for somebody in Upko, but for someone from Sabah or Sarawak. So saying other BN components also want the same thing is taking it totally out of context out of sheer sarcasm. And then saying "Whether you're deputy (prime minister) or not, if you can serve the people, that's fine" is saying you can serve the people the same way whether you are an Assistant Minister or a Deputy Prime Minister.

And how did he come up with the silly idea that Kedah wants to have a DPM as well? How come he equates Sabah and Sarawak to Kedah, a small state in the Peninsular which itself is smaller than Sarawak? Doesn't he see the logic in having a DPM for the Borneo states knowing the huge size of the area and its 2,000-mile distance from KL, and having hugely different historical and cultural backgrounds? Perhaps he just can't admit that the two states have suffered half a century of economic discrimination, and even neglect in many aspects.

And as to the grossly crude remark "If you don't serve the people, you'll suffer the fate of Gaddafi," I would like to ask Mahathir if what he meant was some leaders in Malaysia should be shot dead for not doing their jobs? What about those who stole tens of millions from the national coffers through kickbacks? Should they be dragged in shame through the streets as well? I remember that at one time during the Libyan revolution Mahathir sympathized with Gaddafi, perhaps because in 2005 Mahathir received, in Tripoli, the Gaddafi International Prize for his human rights contributions.

In pointing to Gaddafi's example for injustice and tyranny, at least Mahathir is showing a lot of rational thinking – wrong is wrong and right is right, regardless of who you were. History can't be changed because in the end, truth always does prevail. And Mahathir, as a former leader of international status, should know more than anyone of us that reckless statements will not go unnoticed, and will always come back to you, and often you have to swallow them yourself.

Assunta Hospital Dilemma

Posted: 28 Oct 2011 03:19 PM PDT

By A Specialist

Assunta Hospital was indeed set up as a charity hospital. It received tax-free status almost immediately. It grew almost exclusively from public donations. When the hospital was established, the doctors were all on salaries. It then decided to employ specialists who were also on salaries initially. It was hoped that what the specialists earned from private fee paying patients would offset the costs of treating poor and indigenous patients.

That has all changed. Where does the money go now? The following is not a complete list.

The Board initially consisted of 4 people. It is self-appointing. The nuns at the Catholic church has no power to appoint members of the Board. The Board now has, I believe, 28 people. They are all relatively well-known and rich people. Yet they and their families enjoy free medical treatment. The annual cost of this free treatment to relatively rich people has not been disclosed. It could run into millions of Ringgit.

The specialists continue to be paid a salary which is raised annually because of inflation. In addition they charge fees which have also risen sharply. Only a small portion of these fees is deducted for the hospital. However this is paid back by way of EPF contribution.

Many of these specialists therefore earn millions in their EPF and millions by way of fees. They have become multi millionaires.
   One of these specialists has also been appointed to the Board. This is a conflict of interest because he is able to control the other members of the Board who are his patients. The Board therefore agrees to anything that this Board member recommends. It is an incompetent Board.
    There used to be a retiring age. No more. Doctors serve at the pleasure as their member of the Board. They continued to be paid salaries and earn EPF even if they have reached the age of 70 and beyond.
    All patients pay even if they are poor. A small discount is given for those admitted to 4-bedded wards.
    About 15 years ago one private physician working with an American administrator from the US found out that many new hospitals in the US were closing down. They were able to buy relatively new equipment from these closing hospitals for about 10% of the original cost.   These two parties made the following proposal to the Assunta Board:
        Through an independent company they would purchase at their cost a cardiac cathlab, an MRI machine, 2 state of the art echo machines, an EB heartscan, 2 stress test machines, an intensity modulated radiotherapy machine (for cancer), a digital jukebox retrieval image system for doctors to read images acquired in the privacy of their rooms, several on-line viewing monitors and an electrophysiology lab. To run the EP lab in private practice they would recruit the services of a Phillipino specialist on contract for 3 years.
        All this was free to Assunta. What was required from Assunta was space for which Assunta could charge a rental.
        Any profits accrued after deducting costs would be shared on a 50-50 basis with Assunta since they enjoyed a tax-free status.

    It was anticipated that the pay-back for this capital investment would be about 5 years. The proposers wanted tenancy for 12 years. At the end of 12 years all equipment including goodwill would be transferred to the Assunta Foundation free of charge. This would enable Assunta to provide low-cost treatment for poor patients.
    This plan was rejected by the Board. Reason – sources informed the proposers that some directors including the doctor wanted this business to be a stand alone private enterprise in which they wished to have a share. This was not acceptable to the proposers. The proposers then abandoned this plan.
    This experience shows that Assunta Hospital has become transformed into a money making machine for the doctors, members of the Board and the Manager. They now use business promotion and employ debt collectors who behave like loan sharks.
    What is the remedy? First the doctors and consultants should be on salaries only like IJN and the Mayo Clinic. The hospital should allow more doctors to work in Assunta as private contractors. This is now prevented by the entrenched doctors. What all doctors can earn as fees must be capped on a sliding scale. All directors and their families must pay full fees and costs. Second, there must be a new charity supervisory Board. An independent audit department must audit all payments now paid to doctors.
    The nuns who are left still live modest lives. They have lost control. And so has the Catholic church and the Bishops.
    This sad state of affairs has been condoned and promoted by the Minister of Health who has always been from the MCA. It is about time that this hospital be removed from the control of the MOH and come under the Minister of Finance.

Kredit: www.malaysia-today.net

Sabtu, 29 Oktober 2011

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

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