OMG!! WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE!!!~~

This was the first reaction in my mind when i read about this article on Malaysiakini. Apparently, without even a hint to the media or the general public at large, 6000 genetically modified mosquitoes was released at an inhabited site in Pahang. This hallmark scientific trial is suppose to be an experiment to combat dengue fever.

Below are excerpt from the Malaysiakini article

The Institute of Medical Research (IMR), which was tasked with carrying out the trial, said the experiment was conducted on Dec 21 to "study the dispersal and longevity of these mosquitoes in the field".

"The experiment was successfully concluded on January 5, 2011," the institute said in a statement today, adding that no further releases are planned until the trial results are analysed.

The insects in the experiment have been engineered so that their offspring quickly die, curbing the growth of the population in a technique researchers hope could eventually eradicate the dengue mosquito altogether.

Females of the Aedes species are responsible for spreading dengue, a deadly disease which killed at least 134 people last year in Malaysia alone.

Seriously speaking, are the government out of their minds?? Did hair suddenly grow out of their balls one day that they did not even try to implicate the ecological disaster that may happen from such an uncontrolled environment? I can more or less understand if they did this experiment in a huge controlled greenhouse like environment but NO, the iron ball scientist thought it would be safe to release this genetically modified, potentially mutating "insects" in an inhabited site. HELLOOO!!! MOZZIES CAN FLY LAH!!~~

Maybe its just me seeing too much horror movie but for the mosquito mutate and creating even more resistant mosquito may be possible right?

Maybe later in the years we will hear people falling sick in Pahang due to some mystery fever or flu. But by then it may just be the beginning of the end............


P.S I may have exaggerated a bit but GM animals be it insect or not should be handled with care. There is no guarantee of what the consequence this action may do. Only time will tell.

Abused Dog Video on Facebook

I was gobsmacked and totally restless today after watching a video on facebook on a dog being abused. The video shows a man trying to teach the toy poodle how to stand on 2 legs and bashing him continuously for not doing it right. There were even instances in which the guy threw the dog across the room. The girl that was filming the whole thing did nothing to stop her boyfriend.

At the moment, there seem to be a witch hunt for the guy in the video. Many FB'er's are frantically trying to identify the abuser and it seems that they may have found the culprit based on clues from the video. For certain, the culprit is from Malaysia.

I hope the authorities finds out about this and do something.

However, i am doubtful if the authorities would do anything in regards to dog abuse.

You can see the video here

Please be warned that this are really disturbing scenes in my opinion.

Inspiration

I am sitting in my office right now inspired by a piece of article i read on Malaysiakini.

I am sure many of you like me are sick and tired reading political bigamy that is spewed out by mainstream as well as alternative media nowadays from both the political divide. There is just too much hate, all talk and no tangible work being done. However from time to time, we do see service being done above politics and this article is definitely one of them.

If every politician irregardless of their alignment are like this then we would all be living in a better country.

Below are a cut and paste of the article i just read.

A BN vote bank is aided by Pakatan

Terence Netto
Jan 22, 11
10:59am

The Temiar of Sungai Siput have long been a reliable vote bank for the BN, something like 9,000 of them domiciled on the banks of tributaries of the Sungai Perak that crisscross the constituency, giving the ruling coalition 99 percent of the vote in the general election of 1999, 96 percent in 2004, and 90 percent in 2008.

In all that time, the recipient of this largesse, MIC's S Samy Vellu, confined reciprocation to the giving out of presents to headmen while the Orang Asli Department (JHEOA) periodically supplemented the trickle with handouts.

Apparently, from whom a lot is given little is required.

A rather bleak situation, one might say, to a prospective MP trying to break the cycle of servitude in which the Temiar are immured.

But Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj of the Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), since 1999 a rival claimant to S Samy Vellu for the allegiance of Sungai Siput's voters, decided that even if naught is to be had for service to the Temiar by an opposition politician, service must still be rendered.

Thus when the 400 Temiar of some 50 households in Kampong Perje in Pos Legap needed money in 2009 to buy new cables to secure a rickety bridge over the Sungai Pelus, used by them to ferry the latex they tapped from rubber trees off the banks, they approached their newly elected MP.

“We decided that because their conditions were wretched, their needs overrode other considerations such as their solid support for the BN,” said Jeyakumar, who was elected in March 2008 on a wave for the opposition that year.

“Also, representatives of Kampong Perje continued to attend meetings we held to discuss Orang Asli needs even after the fall of the Pakatan state government in February 2009,” he said. “Reps from other Orang Asli villages kept away out of fear,” he added.

Popularly known as 'Dr Kumar', the PSM activist had made forays into Orang Asli villages deep in the interior of Sungai Siput even when he was not their elected MP prior to 2008, to see what could done for them.

“They are a terribly marginalised group and they needed all the help they can get,” he rationalized.

So when Pos Legap's Temiar wanted new cables for a dilapidated bridge, Dr Kumar and his crew of PSM stalwarts in Sungai Siput decided that it would be better to build a new bridge a kilometer away from the site of the old one.

“The old one was too rickety,” he said. “There was little point in shoring it up with new cables.”

But where to get the money for the new bridge, given that opposition MPs are deprived by the federal government of constituency allocations rendered to the tune of RM2 million a year to BN legislators?

PAS leader steps in to help

Dr Kumar, who was elected on a PKR ticket because PSM were no yet a registered political party in March 2008, asked help from his Pakatan Rakyat cohort in Sungai Siput.

The PAS leader in the constituency, Ahmad Mazlan Othman, a retired army engineer who had been a candidate for the Lintang state seat in the 1999 and 2004 elections, was instrumental in getting his party to contribute RM5,000 to the overall cost of the new bridge which was estimated at RM70,000.

The rest of the budget was raised from the MP allowances for Dr Kumar (RM35,000), from sundry friends of his (RM20,000) and from two Catholic groups (RM10,000).

In short, the money for the new bridge came out of a Pakatan-like collaborative effort by assorted groups. From whom much is deprived, not a little can be got.

Construction of the bridge, which was supervised at every stage by Ahmad Mazlan, began in August 2009.

A squad of PAS volunteers helped out at every stage of the construction. PSM activists M Sukumaran, M Augustine, S Nagentiran and Alexis Paulraj did turns helping out with the technical and other inputs.

Jointly and severally, this motley crew pooled their slender resources which Ahmad, with his professional expertise, ably marshaled to bring the bridge to near completion.

“There is only a little more work left to be finished,” said Dr Kumar, “which Ahmad says would be completed this weekend or over the next.”

There will be no opening ceremony for this bridge that a Pakatan-like 'gotong royong' has almost brought to pass for the Temiar of Pos Legap and no plaques to honour the selfless band involved in its conception and construction.

Whether the bridge would shift the Temiar's voting allegiance is a question of some irrelevance to Dr Kumar.

“The wretched must inherit the earth,” said Dr Kumar in typically socialistic, Franz Fanon-like, style.




(source : Malaysiakini)

Malaysia Today : Optometry Now

I have been asked many question about the eyecare industry and how it would shape up in Malaysia in the next 5-10 years.

Most common question by most aspiring eye care professionals would be :-

Should I study to become an Optometrist or an Optician??


If you are unsure what is an Optometrist compared to an Optician, read here

My answer would be take your Optometry course now and forget about the latter.


My reason is based mainly on a 3 factors :-

1) There is currently 6 (if i am still correct) Universities offering Optometry course in Malaysia. That means in the next 2-4 years, we would be churning out 200-300 optometrist per year. In the next 5-10 years numbers of Optometrist may well be at par with number of registered Opticians if not more.

2) As you know, the government are now discouraging the public to take up medicine that have been experiencing a glut in recent years. At the moment, the ratio of Houseman to Tutors are way off the charts resulting in the fear that the profession is suffering from a deterioration in quality. This will inevitably cause prospective student to look at other health related fields in Malaysia and Optometry is definitely up there. This may result in more universities offering Optometry courses and resulting in more Optometrist in the general market.

3) There is now a better awareness among the public between what is an Optometrist as compared with an Optician. This awareness will only increase as the years go by.

This 3 factors alone will propel Optometrist as the main eye care practitioner in the Optical Industry.

This in 7-10 years would result in the government to amend the Optical Act to make it compulsory for every optical outlet to have a registered Optometrist (like in Pharmacist to a Pharmacy). Many people are skeptic when i tell them this but i really beg to differ.

Furthermore, even before the act is amended, public awareness on the role of Optometrist as compared to an Optician is already on the rise. Not too long from now, i am sure most consumer may even insist that they have their eyes refracted by an Optometrist rather then an Optician.

This will also see the government tighten the already existing legislature on contact lens sales. At the moment all optical outlet are selling contact lens but the Optical Act states that only Optician with Pink Form and Registered Optometrist can dispense them to the general public. This may constitute to less then 50% (25% is my gut feeling if you include rural areas) of the optical outlets out there. An alarming figure indeed. As more Optometrist come out in the open market, pressure will be on the relevant department to enforce the already existing legislature.

For Opticians that have already been practicing in this industry, there will be challenging days ahead with the slowly but surely revolution of the industry. They will eventually have to work with Optometrist to ensure there is a more comprehensive approach in eye health care (if not also for their own livelihood). In UK, Optometrist are normally confined to their sight test room and sales are done by Opticians. This may be a good way forward.

One thing for sure, the change is coming and it is for the betterment of not just the industry which at the moment are degraded into somewhat a "pasar malam" culture but also to the consumer at large.

Focus Point admits mistake, offers IPO exit option

Finally, an official announcement from Focus Point (From Business Times).
So that means even after this fiasco, Focus point will only equipt 30 of its outlet with professionals that can dispense contact lens legally.

Makes you wonder about the other optical chains in Malaysia.

The below abstract can be found here



Focus Point admits mistake, offers IPO exit option


Focus Point Holdings Bhd has admitted that 38 of its stores have broken the law on contact lens prescription and it has offered investors the chance to get their money back.

The country's largest professional eyecare chain said 38 outlets were found to have dispensed contact lenses without the presence of a qualified optometrist or optician.

Although over-the-counter sales of disposable contact lenses is a common industry practice, this is against the Optical Act 1991. Focus Point said it has ceased doing so from yesterday, it said in a statement to Bursa Malaysia.

The group had to postpone its listing on the stock market at the eleventh hour on July 27 following an anonymous allegation about its business. One of the complaints is that there were instances when contact lenses were prescribed by unqualified staff.

"Prior to this cessation, as at December 31 last year, 38 of the group's 64 eye care centres were found to have been dispensing contact lenses over the counter without a qualified optometrist or optician," the company said.

There were instances where certain outlets dispensed contact lenses without the physical presence of these qualified personnel.

Focus Point said its remaining outlets were serviced by 13 optometrists and three opticians qualified to prescribe and dispense contact lenses. It currently has 144 outlets nationwide.

President and chief executive officer Datuk Liaw Choong Liang in a press statement issued later in the evening said the company has given its full cooperation to the regulators.

Focus Point said it has extended an exit option to investors who have subscribed for its shares under the public issue.

"Investors can exit, should they, for any reason wish to do so," the company said. Its new listing date is on August 23 2010.

Focus Point plans to have either an optometrist or optician qualified to prescribe and dispense contact lenses at each of its top 30 professional eye care centres

Contact Lens : Are optical outlet selling them legally in Malaysia?

I am encouraged to write this new post by a few of my friends as they have been reading about the Focus Point incident lately in the papers. (latest update can be read here)

The main question that was thrown to me was :

When I buy contact lenses in an optical outlet, how do I know the person selling me the contact lenses are legally allowed to do so (as in only registered pharmacist can dispense prescribed medication)?

Answer : I will explain the answer in 2 parts.

Firstly, in Malaysia, only 2 group of people are allowed to prescribe and dispense contact lenses to the public

1) Optometrist - This group of people holds a degree in Optometry and are fully equipped with expertise to examine your eye for any eye defects as well as dispense contact lens to you

2) Qualified Optician with "Pink Form" - This group of people holds a "Fellow of British Dispensing Optician" after finishing a year and a half course at Axismatic College after their SPM. On top of that they will also need to take a contact lens qualification exam certified by the Ministry of Health. Once qualified, they are given a pink form stating that they are qualified to dispense contact lenses. This "pink form" must be displayed prominently at the optical outlet.


So, how do we identify this 2 group of people when we enter an optical outlet?

The answer lies on the certification that is given out by the Malaysian Optic Council (MOC) that is the regulatory body of the optical industry.

Optometrist is certified with a green coloured form stating his name and qualification

Optician / Juru Optik is certified with a blue coloured form stating his name and qualification and IF he is qualified to dispence contact lenses, he will have another pink coloured certification stating that he is qualified to dispense contact lenses.

The regulatory body in Malaysia (MOC) has also in the past few years issued photo certification to be prominently displayed in optical outlet. This yellow coloured certification contains the photo of the Optometrist / Optician (Juru Optik) that is working in the outlet as well as his name and also what services that can be provided. Optometrist and Optician (Juru Optik) with pink form will have 2 sections, the first stating that he is allowed to prescribed and dispense opthalmic lenses (prescription spectacle) and 2nd section stating that he/she are allowed to prescribe and dispense contact lenses. If an Optician (Juru Optik) do not have a pink form, his photo certificate will only have one column stating he can prescribe and dispense ophthalmic lenses and frames ONLY.

To summarize, ALL Optometrist can dispense contact lenses BUT only Optician with a pink form are allowed to dispense contact lenses.

And how do we confirm that the person is either of the above?

Ask or look for the photo certification or at the least see if the outlet contain a green or a pink cert with the name of the person that is serving you.


Hope this clears the air.

If you want to know more about Optometrist and Optician, you can read my previous blog here

Doodling

Its been a long hiatus since my last blog entree.

I am busy but honestly not to the point that I do not have time to blog. Its actually lack of inspiration and I have seem to have lost the passion to write.

Everytime i click on the "compose" button, my mind goes blank and I can't seem to be able to put things into words. Probably age catching up or just that my braincells have reached critical cut off point. I think i remember my biology teacher telling me that brain cells do not regenerate but keeps degenerating as you age. Thats the reason why you tend to be more forgetful as you get older. Geez.... i am already bloody forgetfull as I am. I'll be surprised that I would even be able to get to the toilet from my room by the time I hit 90 (if i live that long that is).

Oh yeah, recently I have been into finance megazines. Been subscribing Personal Money and SME Malaysia for the past few month. With the current economic conditions, i reckon that its good to understand more of your own finance and plan for the future. There are always good opportunities lying in a downturn.

Oh well, that's me done doodling.

Hope to be writing more in the future perhaps

The Vanilla Pudding Robbery

*Excerpted from an article which appeared in The Dublin Times about a bank robbery on March 2*


Once inside the bank shortly after midnight, their efforts at disabling the security system got underway immediately. The robbers, who expected to find one or two large safes filled with cash & valuables, were surprised to see hundreds of smaller safes throughout the bank.

The robbers cracked the first safe's combination, and inside they found only a small tub of vanilla pudding.

As recorded on the bank's audio tape system, one robber said, 'At least we'll have a bit to eat.'

The robbers opened up a second safe, and it also contained nothing but vanilla pudding. The process continued until all safes were opened.

They did not find one pound sterling, a diamond, or an ounce of gold. Instead, all the safes contained covered little tubs of pudding.

Disappointed, the robbers made a quiet exit, each leaving with nothing more than a queasy, uncomfortably full stomach. The newspaper headline read:

' IRELAND 'S LARGEST SPERM BANK ROBBED EARLY THIS MORNING'.

Aquisitions

I have taken tons of picture from the Free Health Screening that we did in conjunction with the World Kidney Day, however I have yet to have time to edit them and post them here.

The project was a huge success. We manage to screen 500 people which was more then our target of 350.

Anyways, I just bought a new wireless router for home. I've been wanting to get one for a while cause my sis needs to use it at home every time she comes over to visit. Before this, I had to bring my Zycel Wireless Modem from work home and back again which was a real hassle.

So after splashing RM190, this was what I bought


This is Linksys Wireless-G WRT54GC.

The installation was hassle free with a real user friendly configuration wizard to help you out with the initial set up. One thing I've learnt about buying gadgets it to stick to a trustworthy brand. You can be rest assured that setting them up would be more or less trouble free. I've had installation nightmares when it comes to cheap taiwan/china brands and would strongly suggest you avoid it.

Last Sunday, I was at Low Yat and I got this...

A shiny new 1 Terabyte External Hard Drive from Maxtor.

No more burning DVD's just because I got no more space on my Hard Drive

Well... at least for now :)

World Kidney Day - Free Health Screening

Life been a bit hectic with the up and coming World Kidney Day that my club is co-organizing this 12th March 2009. Basically we are doing a free health examination by the NKF (National Kidney Foundation) to the general public.

The health examination consists of screening on blood pressure, urine, body mas index, waist circumference, blood glucose, blood cholesterol and counseling.

This will be one of the biggest event that my club has co-organised as we will be having over 100 medical staff and an expected 500-700 walk-in. We have also manage to get the DTMM Raja Permaisuri Perak to officiate the one day event.

To those not working on a Tuesday, do come over and join us that day.

Date : 10th March 2009 (Tuesday)
Venue : Pusat Konvensyen Sungai Siput, Perak
Time : 8.30am to 3.00pm
Telephone : 1300 88 3110

Early Detection & Prevention Saves Lives!