True Colors of Malaysia

After reading, pls visit- http://furryfriendsfarm2006.blogspot.com/ to lend your helping hands. Remember, we can make this world a better place when we join our forces together.

About 300 stray dogs were rounded up by Pulau Ketam residents and deported to an isolated island to fend for themselves.

Over half of them are already dead and the remaining ones may not live long. A rescue mission is being mounted and your help is needed. Please read the full story here.

The residents of Pulau Ketam sent some 300 stray dogs to exile on a remote island where the harsh conditions almost certainly guarantee a horrible death. Of the 300 dogs sent there, more than three-quarters are presumed to be already dead. I traveled to the island with Sabrina Yeap of Furry Friends Farm and managed to save only one dog on this reconnaissance trip.

We did see several other starving and dying dogs along the mangrove shore. I am mounting an urgent rescue mission to capture and transport the remaining survivors back to Sabrina’s Furry Friends Farm animal shelter.

But time is running out and there might be only skeletons and carcasses left to collect on our next trip. Boat hire is expensive there. It is a tourist area and it has already cost me a few hundred ringgit for boat hire alone, so far. The rescued dogs cannot be transported on the regular ferries.

Almost nobody will lift a finger to help without a fee. This is understandable. The locals are already shaking their heads in disbelief that there are outsiders who want to save the animals they so casually discarded.

Instead of pointing fingers and antagonising them, we need their co-operation to help save the unfortunate creatures. In the process, we also hope to educate the islanders on better treatment of animals. It would be an impossible mission if we didn’t win their hearts.

If you are unable to help directly, please help by forwarding this appeal to other compassionate folks who you feel might be able to make some monetary contributions.

Apart from boat hire, we need money to buy cages, to pay people to help catch them, to hire land transport to send the rescued animals to veterinary clinics, pay for vet fees, send the recovered ones to the shelter and to feed and house them for life. I can go on!

To donate or help, e-mail TV Smith at tvsmith@mycen.com.my or Sabrina Yeap at yeapwen@yahoo.com

Fellow bloggers, you can also help by embedding the appeal poster above to your blog and linking to http://www.mycen.com.my/rescue

We are aware it is a monumental task and appreciate all forms of support, assistance, suggestions, encouragement and your prayers.

Thank you and don’t forget to view the pictures of the dogs in order to appreciate their plight.

TV Smith

Update for Precautions

MALAYSIA:
A current announcement from the Ministry of Health Malaysia has reported no cases of Influenza A(H1N1) infection in Malaysia.

GLOBAL SITUATION:
A current update from the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that as of 06:00 GMT, 5 May 2009, 21 countries have officially reported 1124 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection.  Mexico has reported 590 laboratory confirmed human cases of infection, including 25 deaths.  The United States has reported 286 laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death.

The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths – Austria (1), Canada (140), China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (1), Costa Rica (1), Colombia (1), Denmark (1), El Salvador (2), France (4), Germany (8), Ireland (1), Israel (4), Italy (2), Netherlands (1), New Zealand (6), Portugal (1), Republic of Korea (1), Spain (54), Switzerland (1) and the United Kingdom (18).

The current WHO Pandemic Alert is at Phase 5:

where Phase 5 is characterized by human-to-human spread of the virus into at least two countries in one WHO region. While most countries will not be affected at this stage, the declaration of Phase 5 is a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short.

WHO advises no restriction of regular travel or closure of borders.  It is considered prudent for people who are ill to delay international travel and for people developing symptoms following international travel to seek medical attention, in line with guidance from national authorities.

Individuals are advised to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water on a regular basis and should seek medical attention if they develop any symptoms of influenza-like illness.

Below is the current WHO pandemic alert:

Phase 4 is characterised by verified human-to-human transmission of an animal or human-animal influenza reassortant virus able to cause “community-level outbreaks.” The ability to cause sustained disease outbreaks in a community marks a significant upwards shift in the risk for a pandemic.

Phase 4 indicates a significant increase in risk of a pandemic but does not necessarily mean that a pandemic is a forgone conclusion.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES FOR YOU

YOU are advised to take the following hygiene precautions:-

1) Wash your hands:
- Regularly and thoroughly with soap and water
- Before and after preparing food
- After going to the toilet
- Before and after eating
- After coughing and sneezing
2) Do not spit on the floor
3) Sneezing and coughing should be done into tissue paper which should be carefully disposed of
4) Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.  Germs spread that way
5) Avoid sharing of cups, cutlery etc
6) Avoid physical contact like shaking hands
7) Practice good health habits including adequate sleep, eating nutritious food, and keeping physically active.

World Health Organization advises no restriction of regular travel or closure of borders. It is considered prudent for people who are ill to delay international travel and for people developing symptoms following international travel to seek medical attention.

Dear fellow readers,
I have received an email with some facts about the the swine virus issued by Singapore’s Raffles Medical Group. Please read:

The Swine Influenza Virus Present Situation

The Ministry of Health is monitoring the situation closely and will update the public should there be any new developments. Meanwhile, border screening has been implemented At Changi Airport for all flights coming in from affected countries. There are currently no known cases of human swine flu in Singapore as advised by MOH. MOH has informed all healthcare practitioners of the outbreak of human swine flu and urged them to be vigilant for any suspect cases during this period.

This virus has currently affected citizens in the following countries: namely USA, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, Australia and Middle East. Human deaths are recorded in Mexico only.

Background on this virus

Swine influenza, or “swine flu”, is a highly contagious acute respiratory disease of pigs, caused by one of several swine influenza A viruses. This virus is usually in the H1N1 subtype, but other subtypes are also circulating in pigs. The current virus is multi-strained and resistant to anti-viral drugs.

Transmission Method

The virus spreads among pigs by aerosols, direct or indirect contact and asymptomatic carrier pigs. Many countries routinely vaccinate swine populations against swine influenza. Outbreaks occur throughout the year with an increased incidence in the fall and winter in temperate zones.
People usually get swine influenza from infected pigs, however, some human cases lack contact history with pigs or environments where pigs have been
located. Human-to-human transmission has occurred in some instances but was limited to close contacts and closed groups of people. It is safe to eat pork and pork products from infected pigs as the virus is killed by cooking temperature (usually about 70 degrees Celsius).

Symptoms On Infection

Symptoms of swine flu in humans are similar to that of regular human seasonal flu. An early symptom is having a high fever, and this can be associated with cough, sore throat, breathlessness and severe body aches.

Treatment

Anti-viral drugs may be administered by the medical practitioner for treatment of all probable cases. There are also no vaccines against the swine influenza virus but the seasonal influenza vaccine is recommended. Anybody who is unwell should see a doctor immediately.

Friends, Below is the story I received by email. Please copy and forward this so that your friends and family know about it.

Dear friends,
Kepada kita yang suka melancong ke luar negara …………… satu peringatan.
I would like to relate to you all an incidence… …………… quite recent, i.e. about two weeks ago……… ..

After my daughter’s wedding in early February, I had gone to Shanghai (saja nak enjoy lepas penat menguruskan
perkahwinan) and my cousin went to Bangkok with his wife and brother in-law.. Dia orang ni pun penat juga menolong
buat hantaran dsb.

Nak dijadikan cerita, waktu nak pulang ke KL menaiki Air Asia, my cousin dan isterinya berbelanja di Duty Free Shop
di airport. Mereka membeli chocolates untuk cucu-cucu dan rokok untuk dirinya sendiri. Mereka telah diberitahu
bahawa pembelian chocolate mereka ada free gifts berupa chocolate juga. Semuanya ini mereka letak di counter
bayaran. Waktu hendak membuat bayaran, mereka ternampak ada sebungkus rokok diletak di atas 1 karton rokok yang diletak
di casher, berupa rokok dari brand yang sama. My cousin telah membayar kesemua chocolates dan 1 karton rokok
tersebut dan meletakkan ke dalam beg untuk di bawa keluar, tanpa memperdulikan sebungkus rokok yang terletak di atas
karton rokok beliau.

Nak dijadikan cerita, isterinya menunjukkan kepada rokok yang sebungkus itu yang sangkanya diberi percuma. My
cousin terus mengambil sebungkus rokok tersebut dan berlalu untuk ke dewan berlepas (departure hall).
Sewaktu di Dewan Berlepas, beliau telah didatangi oleh seorang sekuriti dan bertanya kepadanya sama ada my cousin
ada membeli rokok. Dengan ikhlas my cousin telah menunjukkan chocolate dan rokok yang dibelinya di Duty Free
Shop tadi….. bersama dengan rokok sebungkus yang disangkanya diberi percuma.

Sekuriti menuduhnya mencuri rokok tersebut dan mahu membawanya ke balai polis untuk didakwa. My cousin offered
to pay for the cigarettes kerana salah faham beliau.. Tetapi pihak sekuriti nenolak dan masih berkeras untuk
membawanya ke balai polis. Manakala isteri my cousin disuruh pergi menaiki kapal terbang. Isteri my cousin
tidak mahu meninggalkan suaminya di sana dan berkeras untuk ikut sama ke balai polis.
Di Balai Polis (yang terletak di kawasan lapangan terbang itu juga) my cousin telah diminta membayar ganti rugi
sebanyak RM30,000 jika mahu dilepaskan. Kalau tidak beliau akan ditahan sehingga wang tersebut dibayar. Oleh kerana
mereka tidak mempunyai wang sebanyak itu, my cousin telah dimasukkan ke lock-up di situ disamping ramai lagi tourists
yang mendapat nasib yang sama. Manakala isterinya menumpang di rumah salah seorang kenalan mereka di Bangkok
. Bersama beliau di lock up itu ada seorang tourist dari India telah berada di lock up itu lebih sebulan lamanya
kerana keluarganya belum dapat mengumpul wang sebanyak US$70,000 kerana beliau dituduh mencuri pen (padahal tourist
tersebut mengambil pen tersebut untuk membuat pembayaran di kaunter. Waktu mencari kaunter pembayaran, beliau
terkeluar sedikit dari kawasan kedai tersebut, terus ditangkap dan didakwa mencuri!)

Sewaktu my cousin ditahan di balai polis tersebut, adik iparnya yang menaiki MAS tidak mengetahui kisah yang berlaku
kepada abang iparnya. My cousin’s wife menghantar SMS kepada adiknya menyatakan kisah yang terjadi kepada
mereka. Tetapi oleh kerana adik ipar ini telah memasuki pesawat, beliau tidak boleh keluar lagi. Setiba beliau di
KL, beliau berpatah balik ke Bangkok dengan menaiki pesawat MAS juga. Disamping itu keluarga my cousin di KL telah
cuba menghubungi Kedutaan Malaysia di Bangkok dan beberapa kenamaan yang lain. Pihak polis Bangkok tidak
memperdulikan semua rayuan yang dibuat baik oleh Menteri-Menteri di Malaysia maupun pihak Kedutaan kita di
Bangkok .

Keesokkan harinya setibanya adik ipar my cousin ini dengan pesawat MAS dari Kuala Lumpur, beliau terus saja ke lock up
untuk melepaskan abang iparnya. Dari RM30,000 telah diturunkan ke RM20,000…. . tapi adik ipar my cousin ini
tidak punya wang sebanyak itu. Beliau hanya ada RM11,000. Maka setelah beberapa lama berbincang, akhirnya
pihak polis bersetuju dengan pembayaran sebanyak RM11,000. Belum pun sempat my cousin keluar dari balai tersebut,
polis-polis ini telah membahagi-bahagikan wang tersebut sesama mereka dengan bangganya. Mereka juga menunjukkan
wang-wang yang diperolehi yang terdiri dari matawang asing……. .. dan mereka sedikit pun tidak menunjukkan
rasa bersalah dengan rasuah yang diperolehi itu.

Keesokkan harinya my cousin telah dibawa ke mahkamah (pesalah hanya berjumpa majestret melalui tingkap saja).
My cousin telah disuruh mengaku salah dan didenda sebanyak 2000 baht (what happened to the RM11,000? Tak disebut
pun……… …..). Nasib baik my cousin teringat kisah tourist yang didakwa bersama beliau yang keluar tanpa
meminta surat dari pihak berwajib tentang penahanan beliau, lalu ditahan kedua kalinya sewaktu mahu pulang di airport
Bangkok . My cousin meminta mereka mengeluarkan surat menyatakan kes beliau telah selesai dan beliau dibenarkan
pulang.

Sewaktu mahu membeli tiket kapal terbang pulang (tiket ini diuruskan oleh pihak imigresyen Bangkok ) beliau telah
diberitahu bahawa semua tiket Air Asia telah habis terjual. Yang ada cuma tiket MAS yang ternyata lebih
mahal. Oleh kerana my cousin tidak punyai wang yang banyak, beliau mau menggunakan kad kredit untuk membeli
tiket MAS. Yang peliknya bila my cousin kata nak bayar tunai tiket air asia, tiba-tiba saja pegawai ni kata ada
tiket lagi dengan air asia …….. …….. (nampaknya semua peringkat yang mengambil kesempatan)
Pihak imigresyen Bangkok telah mengecop Pasport my cousin dan isteri beliau sebagai ‘Thief’! Bukan itu saja,
my cousin telah digari untuk di bawa ke pesawat.

Setiba di pesawat pasport beliau telah diserahkan kepada pihak Air Asia dan apabila sampai di KL pihak imigresyen KL diminta mengiring my cousin ke pejabat imigresyen di Lapangan LCCT. Waktu di pejabat tersebut my cousin telah diberitahu bahawa kejadian ini setiap harinya terjadi kepada rakyat
kita…….. …. tapi yang peliknya kenapa perkara ini masih dirahsiakan dari kita semua? Pihak kedutaan kita pun
menyatakan perkara yang sama…… dan menasihatkan my cousin supaya memberitahu keluarga dan sahabat handai untuk
tidak ke Thailand dalam waktu yang terdekat ini sehingga keadaan politik di negara tersebut kembali stabil.
Sekiranya ini tidak terjadi kepada keluarga saya sendiri, saya pasti tidak mempercayainya. ….. macam cerita wayang
saja……. tapi percayalah.. … memang ini kisah benar.

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