A friend email this to me. It is rather long but since the
author took such great pains to write it, I thought I should do him
justice by reproducing it wholesale
Date: 12 September 2005
>
> To: PM Lee Hsien Loong
>
> cc: Dengue Inter-ministerial Committee:
> Chairman/MEWR Minister Yaacob Ibrahim
> Member/MOH Minister Khaw Boon Wan
> Member/MOH Snr MoS Dr Balaji Sadasivan
> Member/MHA Snr MHA Ho Peng Kee
> Member/MND Minister Mah Bow Tan
> Member/MND 2nd Minister Lim Swee Say
>
> NEA Board Chairman Simon Tay
> NEA Board Member Halimah Yacob (GPC Chairman/Health)
> NEA Board Member Dr Satku Kandiah (MOH/DMS)
> NEA CEO Lee Yuen Hee
> NEA Director-General of Public Health Khoo Seow Poh
> NEA Head,Environmental Health S Satish Appoo
>
> Head of Civil Service Perm Sec Peter Ho
> Former Head of Civil Service Perm Sec Lim Siong Guan
> Public Service Division Perm Sec Eddie Teo
> Public Service Division Perm Sec Lim Soo Hoon
>
> Members of Parliament:
> MP Dr Amy Khor (GPC Chairman, Environment/Nat'l Devt)
> MP Dr Lily Neo
> MP Chiam See Tong
> MP Low Thia Khiang
> NCMP Steve Chia
>
> From: Mr See Leong Kit
>
> NEA DENGUE FIASCO: Open Letter to PM Lee
>
>
> Dear Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong,
>
> INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
>
> 1 Just like you, I am an eldest son. But unlike you, I was
not
raised
> with a silver spoon in my mouth and grew up in the poorer
quarters
of
> Geylang.
> The poverty of my youth has put the steel in my subsequent
resolve
to
> SPEAK UP FEARLESSLY on issues of public interest and
concern.
>
> I owe much to my illiterate but wise mother who taught me
this
> Cantonese saying at a very young age: "If what you SAY or DO
are
the
> RIGHT THINGS, you need not fear the LIGHTNING BOLT* striking
you
> dead." [*such as that depicted in the PAP logo!]
>
> I studied hard and earned a place at Raffles Institution,
where a
> dedicated teacher also taught me this: "Do not be afraid TO
SPEAK
UP
> to RIGHT a WRONG."
> [ I had also participated under the RI school contingent in
our
very
> first National Day Parade, having underwent many long hours
of
> training under the hot sun.]
>
> I next earned a Colombo Plan scholarship to study at a
British
> university --- where I learnt how to think/analyse logically.
So I
am
> very clear in my mind that as a scholarship holder (whether
Colombo
> Plan or S'pore Govt), I am certainly beholden to SINGAPORE
but
> definitely not the PAP --- as the scholarship was not paid out
of
PAP
> party funds.
>
> Upon receiving my degree, I returned to serve my full-time
National
> Service some 30 years ago. I went through rigorous training
under
> both roasting hot sun and drenching rain --- but found it to
be no
> big deal.
>
>
> 2 (a) Over the past 30 years (more than half of my now 57
years), I
> have written extensively to newspaper forums as well as
directly to
> politicians/bureaucrats --- mostly on education/social issues
and
> particularly issues of PUBLIC HEALTH and of PUBLIC
SAFETY.
>
> I may not be a Medical Doctor, but on the latter issues, I am
well
> read, well researched and speak with a STRONG SOCIAL
CONVICTION.
>
> (b) I had dared to speak up on subjects deemed "taboo" (to be
swept
> under the carpet and kept from public view) --- such as the
disease
> threat of AIDS and student suicides (with such "shameful"
social
> statistics: From 1997 - 2001, 20 primary students [ie under
age 13]
> have jumped to their deaths. Figures for 2002 onwards
were
strangely
> undisclosed! )
>
> Why should I bother to do so? --- which is probably what
former PAP
> MP Lau Ping Sum would have asked, until his own son tragically
took
> his life at a British university.
>
> (c) Why should I speak up about public safety issues and
persevered
> OVER 4 LONG YEARS to finally "corner" the laid-back,
bird-brained
> bureaucratic buffoons at LTA to install the concrete
safety
bollards
> now seen at bus stops (to protect the daily countless
adults/students
> who have to wait at such places) [Details at Annex A para
1]?
> --- which is probably what former Snr Minister of State Peter
Chen
> would have asked, until his own wife died in a tragic
accident
> involving a heavy vehicle driven by a reckless driver.
>
> (d) Mr Lee, why do I send you so many lengthy write-ups
[with
> detailed compelling arguments] on WHY our
POLITICIANS/BUREAUCRATS
> cannot afford to be COMPLACENT but MUST BE PRO-ACTIVE in the
fight
> against numerous emerging/re-emerging INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(such as
> SARS, Bird Flu, Superbugs, etc)?
>
> Remember how your own mother had a close shave with SARS at
S'pore
> General Hospital? Likewise, your one precious daughter
studying at
> NUS when an NUS researcher was infected by SARS at the
EHI
> Laboratory? (He could have wandered around the campus
and
> cough/sneeze near her, right?)
>
> (e) The following descriptions best sum up my experiences over
30
> years in Speaking Up Openly and in dealing with our mostly
laid-
back
> public officials:
> (i) "Talking to the Great Wall of China" in English.
> (ii) "Vomitting Blood" in Cantonese.
>
> (f) It is quite evident that, in supposedly First World
Singapore,
> our supposedly "World-Class" million-dollar ministers
and
> supposedly "First-Class" half-a-million dollar senior
civil
servants
> have yet to learn such invaluable lessons:
>
> (i) 2004 Thai Government Bird Flu Hush-Up/Cover-Up
Scandal.
> The Nation editorial --- "....the government has been caught
red-
> handed in lying to the people..."
> The Bangkok Post editorial --- ".... the government's efforts
to
> SWEEP THE PROBLEM UNDER THE CARPET have EXPLODED IN ITS
FACE,
leaving
> the poultry industry in tatters and the very SAFETY OF THE
PUBLIC
in
> jeopardy..."
>
> The parents of the first Thai (a 6-year old boy) to die from
Bird
Flu
> VOWED TO SUE the government [with PM Thaksin as first
plaintiff and
> his Cabinet the second plaintiff.]
> Mr Thaksin had admitted he had suspected "for a couple of
weeks"
that
> the disease had appeared in the kingom but kept it quiet for
"fear
of
> sparking mass panic".
> Boy's angry Father: "If the government had told us about the
spread
> of bird flu, we would have protected our son."
> Boy's angry Mother: "I REGRET VOTING for Thaksin. I will
NEVER
> FORGIVE them (the government) for this pain."
>
> (ii) 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami Tragedy:
> --- Expect the Unexpected. Be Prepared for the Worst.
> --- Practise "Worst-Case Scenario" Contingency Planning.
>
> (iii) Justified Public Anger at America's Bush Administration
for
its
> PATHETIC SLOW RESPONSE following Hurricane Katrina.
> "Has the U.S. Government become a CAN'T DO Government" (ST
headline)
> "WHAT TOOK THEM SO LONG? Petty turf wars, red tape and lack
of
> preparation were all factors in debacle." (ST 7.9.05)
>
> (iv) "MOSQUITO-BORNE DISEASE KILLS 650 IN INDIA. More than
3,000
> people warded with Japanese encephalitis in northern state."
(ST
> 12.9.05)
>
> (g) MISPLACED PRIORITIES of Singapore politicians:
>
> SO MUCH TALK about fighting TERRORISM.
> SIMILAR TALK on protecting/saving the ENVIRONMENT.
> BUT WHERE IS THE "OWNERSHIP & POLITICAL WILL"
> on "educating/preparing" the people to deal with disease
threats
> [viruses/bacteria being tiny/unseen "terrorists"] and possible
"bio-
> terrorism" ???
>
> (h) So, this is my SIMPLE MESSAGE to our
politicians/bureacrats (in
> particular) and fellow S'poreans (in general):
>
> Viruses and Bacteria may be very tiny but can cause SERIOUS
HEALTH
> PROBLEMS (and even DEATH) to ANYONE (whether young or old,
whether
> you are a politician, bureaucrat or ordinary citizen).
>
> Thus, ALL OF US had better wake up, sit up and join forces
to
tackle
> DISEASE THREATS ( with OUR POLITICIANS providing the
EXPECTED
> LEADERSHIP !!! Otherwise, what the heck are they paid
million-
dollar
> salaries for ???).
>
>
> THE NEA DENGUE FIASCO
>
> 3 Our current dengue "crisis situation":
> As of 3 Sep 05 --- 8 deaths (incl 10-year old schoolboy).
8,850
cases
> (with high percentage of 80% [ or 6,000 people]
requiring
> hospitalisation).
> [Compared to 9,459 cases for the WHOLE of 2004, then
considered a
10-
> year record high.]
> With weekly cases of some 600 (or some 80 cases daily),
our
hospitals
> are bursting at the seams with resources fully
stretched.
> Hence, the various forum letters by angry S'poreans on being
turned
> away by hospitals or the long wait before admission.
>
> 4 I have been closely monitoring the dengue situation here for
the
> past 15 years (1992 spike at 3,000 cases, 1998 spike at 5,500
cases
> and 2004 ten-year record spike of some 9,500 cases ---
reflecting a
> worrying rising trend!)
>
> [ Some years ago, my own mother nearly died of DHF. She
required 6
> bags of blood transfusions and took 4 long months to
recover
> completely.
> I was naturally worried sick --- since I happened to know that
the
> risk of contracting AIDS or other blood-borne diseases from
blood
> transfusions may be low but can NEVER BE ZERO, as confirmed by
our
> Health Ministry.]
>
> 5 Over the years, the ENV/NEA handling of the dengue threat
can be
> rightly described as laid-back, complacent and pathetic:
>
> (a) For sure, the current "crisis situation" did not just
happen
> overnight --- there was a DISCERNABLE build-up since END OF
2004
> (i.e. some TEN MONTHS AGO).
> In short, if Minister-IN-CHARGE Yaacob and his NEA officials
have
> been PRO-ACTIVELY monitoring the situation closely over the
PAST
TEN
> MONTHS, they would have seen it coming.
>
> The January 2005 dengue death of a 10-year old schoolboy would
have
> sent alarm bells ringing --- but did all these highly-paid
public
> officials really care or was it just a "hard-luck"
conveniently-
> forgotten death statistic??? [Death toll so far has gone up to
8]
>
> (b) I have never failed to notice that each time dengue cases
rise,
> these same public officials will fall back on the same
standard
LAID-
> BACK REACTIVE approach of just calling on Singaporeans "to
play
their
> part"!
> OF COURSE, any fool will agree that Singaporeans must play
their
part
> and co-operate.
>
> As the saying goes: mere TALK IS CHEAP (and easy!).
> BUT how are you going to get the people to play their part
when NEA
> HAS YET to mount a programme to EFFECTIVELY EDUCATE S'poreans
on
the
> SERIOUSNESS of the Dengue Threat (as many S'poreans have
this
> complacent approach of leaving everything to their Damn Good
PAP
> Government or "si beh ho cheng hu" in Hokkien) ???
>
> So WHEN is our NEA officials going to WALK THE TALK?
>
> In fact, last year on 8 Mar 04 (i.e. 17 MONTHS AGO), I took
the
time
> and trouble to write in to then ENV Minister Lim Swee Say with
this
> suggestion:
>
> "Make use of TELEVISION (as a powerful graphic medium) to
EDUCATE
as
> MANY people as QUICKLY as possible (to "prepare" the people
to
handle
> A POSSIBLE LARGE-SCALE OUTBREAK.)".
>
> This is what is called PRO-ACTIVE CONTINGENCY PLANNING.
> Alas, Minister Lim did not bother to reply to my suggestion,
even
> after I sent him my 29 Mar 04 reminder.
> Thus, my file records showed he had maintained a DEAD SILENCE
not
> once but TWICE.
>
> On 17 Nov 04 (i.e. 11 MONTHS AGO), I revived the same
suggestion
with
> his successor MEWR Minister Yaacob Ibrahim. Alas, it too fell
on
deaf
> ears!
> With my two reminders on 22 Dec 04 and recently on 27 Jun
05,
> Minister Yaacob is on record of maintaining a DEAD SILENCE not
once
> but THRICE to a citizen's well-meaning feedback.
>
> (c) On the latter date of 27 Jun 05 (i.e. more than TWO
MONTHS
AGO),
> I had sent an email titled "DISEASE THREATS IN SINGAPORE
---
> Unanswered Questions" to PM Lee and Ministers Yaacob,
Khaw,
Tharman,
> Lim Swee Say.
> It took me four weeks to prepare this lengthy
comprehensive
> submission containing my feedback/insights/suggestions on
fighting
> these various disease threats --- SARS, Bird Flu, Dengue,
HFMD,
> Tubercolosis, Meningitis, Superbugs MRSA & VRE, Polio and
AIDS.
>
> Its Section 10 on DENGUE reads as follows:
>
> (a) Two types --- Dengue Fever (with 4 strains of virus) and
the
more
> deadly Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (internal organs
bleed/potentially
> fatal).
>
> (b) FEW S'poreans know these FACTS:
> --- Since 2003, 10 people here have died from Dengue.
> --- HDB/private flats are just as prone to dengue outbreaks
as
landed
> homes.
> --- Severe cases may require blood transfusions (with an
attendant
> AIDS risk, which can NEVER BE ZERO -- as confirmed by
MOH)
> --- Both young and old people are vulnerable [ In one
Yishun
> outbreak, a 2-year old infant and a 68-year old woman were
both
> hospitalised]
> --- The year-end mosquito breeding season coincides with
important
> year-end school/university exams. [An 18-year old DHF victim
had to
> sit for his important A-level exams in a hospital, with
his
> performance naturally affected by the ordeal]
>
> (c) DO NOT EVER ASSUME these large-scale dengue outbreaks
CANNOT
> happen in tiny densely-populated Singapore:
> (i) Mar 2003 Indonesia Dengue Outbreak
> [ over 50,000 infected/ over 500 dead (mostly children)]
> (ii) May 2005 Thailand Dengue Outbreak
> [ 7,000 infected(mostly children under 9 years), 16 dead so
far]
>
> (d) Feb 2004 --- NEA announced its Mozzie Buster programme to
get
> primary students (initial target: 2,000 students) to
seek
> out "potential mosquito breeding sites"!!!
>
> Yet another "incredibly stupid idea" ---coming from former
NEA
Public
> Health Commissioner Wang Nan Chee --- as this would expose
the
> students to the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes and
contracting
> DF/DHF.
> Interesting Question: WHY didn't ANYBODY in both NEA and MOE
(who
> allowed the scheme to be introduced in schools) EVER GIVE A
THOUGHT
> to such risks for the students?
> [ Some years ago, an 8-year old schoolgirl had died of
dengue.
> Recently, a 10-year old schoolboy also died of dengue.]
>
> >>> Question No 1 (for Minister Yaacob) --- I had
previously
written
> extensively to your predecessor Lim Swee Say (who did not
bother to
> respond) to have the scheme scrapped rightaway to safeguard
the
> health of our school children.
> I now seek the following answers from you: Has the Mozzie
Buster
> scheme for students been scrapped? If so, indicate when it
was
> scrapped. If not, please explain fully WHY NOT?
> [ THINK (IBM slogan) --- If your own children were in
primary
school,
> would YOU allow them to participate in such a
stupid/foolhardy
> scheme?]
>
> (e) There are still many older HDB/private flats installed
with
> sloping bamboo-pole holders which can harbour stagnant rain
water --
-
> and so breed mosquitoes (VERY FEW S'poreans know this).
[See
today's
> ST 12.9.05 Forum letter "Dengue threat in HDB laundry
pole
holders".]
>
> NEA's Dengue public education programme SHOULD thus be:
> (i) PRIMARY Objective --- Make use of TELEVISION to EDUCATE as
MANY
> people as possible (to QUICKLY "prepare" the people to handle
a
> possible large-scale outbreak).
> Show on TELEVISION a homeowner or maid carrying out ALL the
various
> simple measures to prevent mosquito-breeding in homes eg
covering
up
> bamboo pole holders, overturning pails,etc,etc ["monkey see,
monkey
> do"]
>
> (ii) SECONDARY Objective --- Next, carry on with its
"grassroots
> approach" to "reinforce" the messages in the TV
education
programme.
> If NEA just do this "time-consuming" approach (as currently),
by
the
> time it finish going around the numerous grassroot bodies,
many
> S'poreans (including possibly our politicians/bureaucrats!)
may
have
> already died of Dengue!!!
>
> >>> Question No 2 (for Minister Yaacob) --- Are you
going to direct
> current NEA Public Health Commissioner Khoo Seow Poh to
undertake
> approach (i) RIGHTAWAY (no time to lose, as we had big spike
in
> dengue cases early this year)? If not, please explain fully
WHY NOT?
>
>
> 6 Mr Lee, please note the following:
>
> (a) From the above revelations, IF Minister Lim Swee Say
had
> seriously heeded/adopted my said suggestion 17 MONTHS AGO and
IF
> Minister Yaacob had done so 11 MONTHS AND TWO MONTHS AGO,
the
> current "crisis situation" could have been avoided (and
with
possibly
> FEWER DEATHS!)
>
> How Pathetic And Pathetic (PAP) --- so many OPPORTUNITIES and
so
much
> LEAD TIME to educate/prepare the people for a large-scale
epidemic
> wasted i.e. "gone down the mosquito-infected drain" !!!
>
> (b) So, if there are more deaths to come (especially of
young
> children), Singaporeans can rightly hold Ministers Lim Swee
Say and
> Yaacob Ibrahim ACCOUNTABLE and ANSWERABLE for the laid-
> back/complacent/tardy handling of the dengue threat leading up
to
the
> current crisis.
>
> And the grieving relatives of such victims can also sue
such
million-
> dollar ministers. ( Since PAP ministers like to sue people so
much,
> it would be a nice welcomed change for the people to sue them
! )
>
>
> CONCLUDING REMARKS
>
> 7 The NEA Dengue Fiasco is JUST ONE of our numerous Fiascos
after
> Fiascos ( as listed in Annex A below).
>
> The ROOT CAUSES of all these fiascos lie in the Basic
Principles of
> Political Governance & Public Service (as spelt out in
Annex B
> below) --- which can be summed up as follows:
>
> (a) control/manipulation of Press/TV media (people only hear
"feel-
> good" news and not "the good,the bad and the ugly" aspects of
a
> society) = yes-man journalists
>
> (b) mollycoddling civil servants (through condoning
their
> shortcomings/mistakes in serving the people) = yes-man
civil
servants
>
> (c) using the law as a political weapon through defamation
suits to
> deal with differing/dissenting views (i.e. Fear
Factor,Singapore
> Edition) = yes-man citizens
>
> Simple mathematical equation:
> yes-man journalists + yes-man civil servants + yes-man
citizens
> = perfect recipe for fiascos/cock-ups/screw-ups/cover-ups
(with
HUMAN
> LIVES possibly at stake)
> = SINGAPORE going "down the drain" (infested with dengue
mosquitoes!)
>
>
> 8 Remember, at a PAP 50th Anniversary function, you said to
this
> effect: Don't just sit there! DO SOMETHING! Don't be NATO
(No
> Action,Talk Only)!
>
> [ "DPM Lee promises a more open Singapore". "I don't make
promises
I
> can't keep: DPM Lee" (ST & Jan 04) ]
>
> Internet readers of this Open Letter will rightly expect you
(as
the
> PRIME MINISTER ) to demonstrate the requisite POLITICAL
LEADERSHIP
as
> follows:
>
> (i) DIRECT all your ministers and senior civil servants to put
an
> IMMEDIATE STOP to all the DEAD SILENCE (a most ARROGANT
and
> DISRESPECTFUL ACT towards citizens [like myself] who try
to
> participate/contribute to the well-being of Singapore.
>
> For if they continue to do so, Singaporeans (who are paying
for
their
> salaries) have EVERY RIGHT to treat such public servants as
DEAD
and
> should thus be struck off the public payroll! (WHY should
our
people
> pay for the salaries of DEAD public servants???)
>
> (ii) ADVISE Minister Yaacob to set the proper/correct example
to
> civil servants in not maintaining any further DEAD SILENCE to
the
> long-outstanding Questions No 1 & 2 stated in para 5(c)
above.
>
> I will be expecting his PERSONAL email reply (i.e. as MEWR
Minister-
> IN-CHARGE,thus any passing-the-buck to NEA officials is
unacceptable)
> by 5 pm WED 14 September 2005 [as per Civil Service 3-working
day
> Response Directive].
>
> After this deadline, I will proceed to download over the
Internet
the
> following to help fellow S'poreans judge/decide for
themselves:
> --- this Open Letter
> --- Minister Yaacob's email reply (if any)
> --- Your response to this Open Letter (if any)
>
> [ Note: My feedback on SERIOUS ISSUES (Disease Threats) are
the
> contributions of a SERIOUS-MINDED educated 57-year old
S'porean who
> has "eaten more salt than 50-year old Minister Yaacob has
eaten
rice"
> (in Cantonese). So Minister Yaacob will do well to take me
VERY
> SERIOUSLY! ]
>
>
> 9 Mr Lee, the current dengue crisis has completely vindicated
by
> persistent feedback efforts to our politicans/bureaucrats
on
various
> disease threats (and not merely dengue).
>
> I am not a member of any political party. I speak as an
educated
> concerned citizen. And coming from the same alma mater
Raffles
> Institution (as your Famous Father and SM Goh), I cannot be
such a
> stupid Singaporean as to make unfounded statements.
>
> Firstly, I have documented file records. Secondly, I am
raising
> issues of public health (involving human health and human
lives)
and
> so am confident of the people's backing.
> Therefore, any clever attempt to cook up a defamation suit
against
a
> Public Health Whistle-Blower will result in a hugh backlash
of
> justified public anger as seen in the NKF Disgraceful
Debacle-cum-
> Shameless Scandal.
>
> In your planning for the coming General Elections, here are
some
> invaluable/honest feedback taken from Internet postings of
younger,
> better-educated, Internet-savvy S'poreans:
>
> (i) Hi ALL, notice these glaring similarities in the NKF and
PAP:
> --- a deplorable Lack of Transparency and disgraceful
disrespect
for
> donors/citizens.
> --- using defamation suits to threaten the people's right to
ask
> questions.
> --- officials paying themselves very handsome, so-called
"peanut"
> salaries.
>
> Wah lau, if such high salary is "Pea-Nut", then the salaries
of the
> majority of Singaporeans must be "Pee-Sai", hor?
>
> (ii) This Andrew Kuan Wayang Show. Why can't they stage the
show
> themselves, instead of making use of civil servants?
> They also make use of civil servants to fiddle electoral
boundaries.
> This is not fair to civil servants, lah. Civil servants
are
supposed
> to be non-political, mah.
>
>
>
> ANNEX A: Other Fiascos (involving Human Health and Human
Lives).
>
> 1 LTA Bus Stop Safety Fiasco.
>
> My 15 Sep 2004 STREATS published letter "I,not LTA, wanted
bus-stop
> bollards":
>
> ".......In his letter "Bollards make me feel safer" (Streats,
Sept
> 7), Mr Tan Kok Tim had mistakenly commended the Land
Transport
> Authority (LTA). Allow me to set the record straight.
>
> In 1998, a runaway car ploughed into a bus stop, killing one
and
> injuring two students. In 2000, a similar tragedy happened,
with
two
> students and two women seriously injured.
>
> Many concerned commuters then suggesed putting "some form
of
barrier"
> at bus stops. The LTA persistently argued that such barriers
impede
> passenger movement and merely advised motorists to drive
"more
> carefully"!!!
>
> In 2001, I wrote directly to former LTA CEO Han Eng
Juan*,
> asking "Who says you have to erect massive or continuous
barriers?"
> and suggested concrete bollards (even providing a sketch).
[*
former
> S'pore Navy top-brass]
>
> Regrettably, the LTA dithered on the matter with exasperating
lame
> excuses. The correspondence "ding-dong" went on for three
months!
>
> In 2003, I revived the issue with LTA. Were it not for for
my
dogged
> persistence, the concrete bollards would never have been
installed
> recently. Still, it has taken the LTA FOUR LONG YEARS to act
on
such
> a simple and inexpensive safety measure to protect adults
and
> students who have to wait at bus stops......"
>
> 2 AIDS Risk Through Blood Transfusions.
> In my published 25.1.93 ST Forum letter "Can MOH explain why
I
can't
> donate blood to my son?", I had publicly raised this concern
---
> which was clearly not taken seriously by MOH officials.
[Then
Health
> Minister Yeo Cheow Tong, PS/MOH & DMS Dr Kwa Soon
Bee]
>
> FIVE YEARS LATER, in 1997, the tragedy that was "waiting to
happen"
> did happen to not one but two innocent adult S'poreans
who
contracted
> AIDS through blood transfusions.
> MOH officials then "downplayed" this double tragedy, promising
to
pay
> the victims' medical bills. This was SCANT CONSOLATION to
their
loved
> ones, as both victims died of AIDS not so long after.
>
> MOH also had to FINALLY and PUBLICLY admit to the following
(which
> was previously kept from the public for many years):
> ".....No procedure can reduce the risk of infection from
contaminated
> blood to ZERO...." [ then MOH/DMS Dr Chen Ai Ju ST
17.11.97].
>
> Food for Thought --- That is, even if the risk of contracting
AIDS
> from a blood transfusion is so remotely low as one in three
million
> [our citizen population], how would ANY S'porean like to be
that
ONE
> unfortunate statistic ???
>
> [ Additional Note: Currently, Donated Blood are routinely
screened
> for AIDS and Hepatitis B/C.
> However, there also VARIOUS OTHER "blood-borne" diseases (incl
Mad
> Cow Disease) that could be transmitted through a blood
transfusion.]
>
>
> 3 Our 2000 HFMD Outbreak Fiasco.[ some 4,000 infected/ 7
young
> children dead ]
>
> The 1997 Sarawak and 1998 Taiwan HFMD epidemics showed
this
> contagious disease could spread quickly to large numbers of
young
> children. (But, alas, our ENV/MOH officials didn't pick up
the
> lessons.)
>
> ENV Public Health Commissioner Wang Nan Chee was then Chairman
of
the
> HFMD Task Force. He was caught napping, slow to react and
his
> deplorable "smug complacency" were revealed through these
burning
> questions:
>
> (i) WHY did he not adopt the PRO-ACTIVE APPROACH of making
the
> disease LEGALLY NOTIFIABLE when the Task Force was set up in
1998?
> [ Doing so would have enabled it to track cases, anticipate
an
> impending epidemic with more time to alert
parents/childcare
> operators.]
>
> (ii) WHY WAIT until the death of a 2-year old toddler on Sep
10 to
> annouce making it notifiable as from Oct 1, and not
rightaway?
> [ Anyway, for the 20 days after this was done, some 2,200
cases
were
> notified --- confirming that an epidemic was ALREADY AT
HAND!!! ]
>
> (iii) WHY WAIT until the deaths of two siblings* on Sep 30
to
HASTILY
> announce the SUDDEN closure of childcare centres in a BELATED
bid
to
> halt the growing epidemic?
> [ *All three children in one family came down with HFMD, with
a 2-
> year old brother and 14-month old sister dying within hours of
each
> other. Altogether, 7 young children died in this
outbreak.]
>
> [ Note: In the above 2000 HFMD fiasco, senior civil servant
Wang
Nan
> Chee had demonstrated a deplorable "smug complacency". In the
2003
> EHI laboratory SARS case fiasco (para 5 below), he
demonstrated an
> equally deplorable "smug over-confidence". And in 2004, he
was
behind
> the incredibly stupid NEA Mozzie Buster scheme for
primary
students.]
>
>
> 4 Our 2003 SARS Outbreak [ 238 infected/ 33 deaths]:
>
> (i) We were DAMN LUCKY in that, THIS FIRST TIME, the disease
was
> largely confined to the healthcare setting --- so most victims
were
> HCWs (healthcare workers ie nurses/doctors).
>
> THE NEXT TIME, if the virus spreads to the WIDER COMMUNITY
through
a
> combination of Coughing/Sneezing AND Sharing Food, it
would
be "near
> impossible" to contain the disease!
>
> (ii) Beneath the SEEMINGLY CALM EXTERIOR, there was
UNDERLYING
PANIC
> and under-estimation of the threat:
> 01.03.03 Victim No 1 hospitalised at TTSH.
> 12.03.03 WHO global alert on "atypical pneumonia".
> 15.03.03 WHO named new disease as SARS. 16 infected
to-date.
> 18.03.03 21 infected (still early days)
> Amazingly, an over-confident Health Minister Lim Hng Khiang
told
> Parliament: "It will require us another 10-14 days, before we
can
> declare 'all clear' if all things go well". He also said there
was
NO
> CAUSE FOR ALARM (when this was just the BEGINNING of the
outbreak !!!)
> 30.05.03 Singapore taken off WHO SARS list. [Final tally
238
> infected/ 33 deaths]
>
> (iii) On extending the closure of schools, I had to send
then
> Education Minister Teo Chee Hean my 3 Apr 03 email to remind
him
> thus --- "The LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN are DEFINITELY MORE
IMPORTANT
> than the unavoidable disruption to curriculum, examinations
and
> holiday plans. With this new and little-known killer SARS
virus, it
> is DOWNRIGHT SENSIBLE to err on the side of caution."
>
>
> 5 2003 EHI Laboratory SARS case Fiasco.
>
> Singapore became the "laughing stock" of the international
medical
> community (first country in the whole world to have a SARS
case
> contracted in a laboratory!).
> Former NEA Public Health Commissioner Wang Nan Chee displayed
a
> deplorably "smug over-confidence" in his persistent denials
that
the
> SARS-infected NUS researcher could have picked up the
infection at
> its "world-class" laboratory.
>
> He was proven wrong by the International Expert Panel, which
also
> provided these very shocking findings. These VERY BASIC
laboratory
> procedures (for a lab dealing in "live" viruses!) were ABSENT
---
> restricted access to the lab; proper records; wearing
appropriate
> protective gear; using properly-sterilised equipment. [ Even
a
> secondary school Chemistry teacher would be shocked!]
>
> At the televised Press Conference on the findings, both
ENV
Minister-
> in-charge Lim Swee Say and Wang were conspicuously
absent.
> When interviewed by reporters the next day, Minister Lim
finally
> offered his Belated Apology (one day late).
>
> This incident is certainly no small nor laughing matter.
> POSSIBLE DIRE CONSEQUENCES --- WHAT IF the SARS-infected
NUS
> researcher is a "super-spreader" who then wander around
the
> university campus to start new clusters of SARS infection
amongst
NUS
> students???
> [ Note: PM Lee's one precious daughter was then an NUS
student.]
>
>
> 6 MOE Vietnam School Visit Fiasco.
>
> [ Minister-IN-CHARGE Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
> Perm Sec Lieutenant-General Lim Chuan Poh (Army top-brass)
]
>
> From my 16/3/05 TODAY published letter "Unwise to put pupils
at
risk":
>
> In 2004, 69 Singapore schools did "community work"
overseas.
> In Nov 2004, 6 teachers and 10 students from Choa Chu Kang
Primary
> School spent a week helping out in an orphanage in Vietnam
(around
> that time, Vietnam was having its major bird flu
outbreak!)
>
> Whatever the good intentions, the trip was "an incredibly
stupid
> idea" !!!
> The teachers/students were putting themselves at risk of
contracting
> bird flu AND PASSING ON THE INFECTION to fellow
> citizens/teachers/students upon returning to Singapore.
>
>
> 7 2004 Nicoll Highway Collapse Fiasco.
>
> Are these two incidents that were "WAITING TO HAPPEN"?
>
> In 1993, at the Clementi Station, an MRT train crashed into
a
> stationary train (156 people injured, some with severe
"whip-lash"
> neck injuries).
>
> DAMNING INDICTMENT of then Inquiry Panel --- ".....The seeds
of the
> collision were actually sown FIVE YEARS AGO in 1988. The
crash
COULD
> HAVE BEEN AVOIDED but for a series of "errors of
judgement,
omissions
> of communication, lack of initiative, over-confidence in
the
> automatic train protection system and a LACK OF A SENSE OF
DANGER
by
> groups and individuals prior to the collision........."
>
> ELEVEN YEARS LATER, the past lessons have clearly not
been
learnt !!!
>
> SAME DAMNING INDICTMENT in the 13 May 05 Final Report
(Committee of
> Inquiry into the Nicoll Highway Collapse) --- the collapse of
the
> section of MRT Circle Line and subsequent collapse of 100m
of
Nicoll
> Highway was a MAN-MADE DISASTER that COULD HAVE BEEN
AVOIDED.
>
> ST 14 May 05 front-page headline --- "Panel slams safety
at
worksite:
> RECKLESS, SLOPPY, INDIFFERENT"
>
> TNP 14 May 05 report "So many warning signs, but....." ---
FOUR
lives
> could have been saved. FOUR families would not be grieving. IF
ONLY
> the WARNING SIGNS had been taken more SERIOUSLY. But they
went
> UNHEEDED. Only simple patch-ups were done.
>
> Again, this incident is no small nor laughing matter.
>
> POSSIBLE HORRENDOUS CONSEQUENCES --- WHAT IF the
design/construction
> faults manifest themselves only AFTER the project was
completed?
Say,
> during peak hour traffic, the collapse occur. ABOVE GROUND,
many
cars
> and crowded buses plunge into a big gaping hole along
Nicoll
Highway.
> BELOW GROUND, many MRT commuters suffer the terrible fate
of
> being "entombed" to death. Total Death Toll in the
hundreds,
> thousands???
>
> ANNEX B: Basic Principles of Political Governance & Public
Service.
>
> 1 A VERY IMPORTANT DISTINCTION:
> SINGAPORE is a country with a 200-year history and belongs to
ALL
its
> 3 million citizens.
> The PAP is just a 50-year old political party with only some
15,000
> members.
>
> (Some years ago, academic-turned-PAP politican Koo Tsai Kee
almost
> committed "political suicide" when he BRAZENLY declared
that
> Singapore and the PAP are synonymous !!!
> He was immediately lambasted by many educated/thinking
S'poreans.
> Served him right! Over the Internet, many were saying he
was
> suffering from the deadly/incurable "Foot in the Mouth"
disease! )
>
> [ Million-Dollar Question --- If the PAP is really held in
such
high
> esteem by the people and with the attraction of
million-dollar
> ministerial salaries, WHY are there no long queues of
> educated/capable people lining up to join the PAP?
> Even they have publicly admitted they need to "drink a lot of
tea"
> to "persuade" people to join! ]
>
> 2 Similarities between CORPORATE Governance & POLITICAL
Governance:
>
> As FINANCE Minister, Lee Hsien Loong had preached the
following:
> --- Need for Good CORPORATE Governance through TRANSPARENCY
&
> ACCOUNTABILITY and CHECKS & BALANCES.
> --- Avoidance of Conflict of Interests.
> --- Recognition of Whistle-Blowers in exposing Corporate
Fraud.
>
> [ Million-Dollar Question for a Million-Dollar Minister ---
wearing
> his hat as PRIME MINISTER, WHEN is he going to practise what
he
> preached in introducing similar desirable requirements in the
even
> more important area of Good POLITICAL Governance?
> Educated/thinking S'poreans have been impatiently waiting for
such
> Political LEADERSHIP --- not least in their desire to have
more
> political choices through a level-playing field in our
political
> arena.]
>
> From the Internet:
> In America, Red Indians say White Men speak with forked
tongue.
> In Singapore, Singaporeans say Men In White also speak with
forked
> tongue.
>
> In Singapore's Political Governance, there is little TRUE
SUBSTANCE
> but hell of a lot of FORM such as political orchestration
("wayang"
> in Malay,"chor hee" in Hokkien); election
gerrymandering;
> mollycoddling of civil servants; flirtation with union
members,
> etc,etc,etc.
> This may be good for the PAP, but are DEFINITELY NOT GOOD IN
THE
LONG-
> TERM for Singapore (as a country) and for Singaporeans (as
a
people).
>
> From the Internet:
> You can fool MOST people MOST of the time.
> But you cannot fool ALL the people ALL the time.
>
> 3 Singapore's CONTINUED SURVIVAL depends ultimately on
the
COLLECTIVE
> INPUTS of its politicians, civil servants and people. NO ONE
GROUP
> can claim the FULL CREDIT for the country's
achievements.
>
> If the people can do everything by themselves, there would be
no
need
> for a Government. Conversely, if the Government thinks it
can
afford
> to brush aside the people's feedback, it may as well govern
a
> deserted country, say Timbuktu in Africa!
>
> If the FEW strengths (eg incorruptibility) of our public
officials
> are constantly trumpeted, but their MANY weaknesses (eg
DEAD
SILENCE
> or exasperating replies to public feedback) are not
publicised, how
> can they ever IMPROVE to help Singapore PROGRESS "from a
small
> country to a Great Nation" ?
>
> Our public officials can look at public feedback in two ways
---
the
> negative, defensive way or the positive, constructive way,
which
will
> help them try "harder" to serve the people "better". This is
the
true
> meaning of "public service" --- plain and simple!
>
> A truly First-Class Civil Service is one that is RESPECTFUL
OF
PUBLIC
> FEEDBACK and RESPONSIVE TO PUBLIC NEEDS.
>
>
> 4 As the term rightly indicates, Public SERVANTS (generic term
for
> politicians/bureaucrats) are PAID by the people to SERVE the
people.
>
> --- As such, they have no right to go around "expecting"
> or "demanding" respect from the people. Or worse, trying to
"beat
> respect out of the people" in using the law as a legal weapon,
such
> as through defamation suits.
>
> Like it or not, they MUST FIRST "earn" such public respect
through
> appropriate WORDS (what they say) and DEEDS (what they
do).
> [ In short, if they do not FIRST show respect for the people,
why
> should the people respect them at all ??? ]
>
> --- ANY Public SERVANT who either maintains a DEAD SILENCE
to
issues
> of public concern raised by the people or delivers
exasperating
> public replies that insult the people's intelligence is guilty
of
> displaying an ACT OF ARROGANCE AND DISRESPECT to the very
same
people
> (who are paying for his super-generous salary/bonuses out of
their
> hard-earned monies collected through numerous taxes and
dues.)
>
>
> [ Million Dollar Question: Are our public officials
"definitely
dumb"
> (unable to comprehend issues stated in plain simple
English)
> or "deliberately dumb" (to avoid/evade the issue at hand)
?
> EITHER WAY is bad for the LONG-TERM FUTURE of Singapore!
]
>
>
> Also copied to:
>
> MOH --- Parl Sec Dr Maliki Osman; PS Yong Ying-I; DMS Dr
Satku
> Kandiah;
>
> HPB --- CEO-designate Lam Pin Woon
>
> SingHealth --- CEO Dr Tan Ser Kiat
>
> National Health --- CEO Dr Lim Suet Wun
>
> MEWR --- PS Tan Yong Soon
>
> AVA --- CEO Dr Chua Sin Bin
>
> Other Ministers:
>
> MOF Raymond Lim / MCYS Dr Vivian Balakrishnan / MOT Lim Hwee
Hua
>
> DPM Wong Kan Seng/ MOM Ng Eng Hen/ MINDEF Teo Chee Hean
>
> MOE Tharman Shanmugaratnam/ MICA Lee Boon Yang
>
> MFA George Yeo/ MTI Lim Hng Kiang/ MOT Yeo Cheow Tong
