Hand made gifts for 4yrs old to do

This Christmas i decided to teach my daughter some crafts for her to make her own christmas presents. the book marks are for the guys and the hair clips are for the girls. She enjoyed doing all these even though most of the work was done by me! but it was fun and we had a great time!

Article URL: http://www.thenutgraph.com/mandatory-testing-flawed
Mandatory testing flawed19 Dec 08 : 4.49PMBy Shanon Shahshanonshah@thenutgraph.com

STARTING from 2009, Muslim couples intending to marry must undergo mandatory screening for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). We don't know how this became official, but it now is, with the cabinet's approval.Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the measure was the government's response to the increase in HIV infections among women, who are more vulnerable than men. Najib also said that according to the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), although Malaysia has a concentrated HIV epidemic, we are recognised as having "high political will".Political rhetoric aside, the fact is mandatory HIV testing is flawed.

It is, for example, curious how the deputy prime minister appeals to UNAIDS's authority to legitimise the programme, but does not tell us what else UNAIDS recommends.
Most pointedly, UNAIDS does not support mandatory testing. Instead, it recommends for all testing to conform to the "Three Cs": involved informed consent, confidentiality, and pre- and post-test counselling.In fact, the Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) and the Malaysian Positive Network (myPlus) both go one step further, saying that mandatory testing actually does more harm than good. These AIDS organisations also call on the government to adhere to international human rights standards.

An individual's right to privacy, individual security, and personal autonomy must not be compromised.Even the Malaysian Family Physicians, in its official journal, carries a commentary warning against confidentiality breaches. The commentary also questions the cost-effectiveness of mandatory testing. It concludes that mandatory testing does not guarantee a sustainable reduction in HIV transmissions.That is only logical.

After all, just because a person tests negative (for HIV) before marriage doesn't mean that he or she will not expose himself or herself to HIV down the line. Having unprotected sex with another partner can, and in some cases will, happen no matter what a person's test results say before marriage.

How useful then is it to enforce one-off testing in the first place?Stigma and discriminationFurthermore, the larger environment in Malaysia stigmatises and discriminates against communities most vulnerable to HIV — sex workers, drug users, gays, bisexuals, and transsexuals.According to MAC and myPlus, the only way around this is to ensure that the "Three Cs" are part of a larger comprehensive package that promotes HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support.

Imposing mandatory testing even before such stigma and discrimination is addressed will only discourage individuals from testing, for fear of subsequent persecution.
On the other hand, giving mandatory testing a veneer of moral righteousness will give those who do screen a false sense of security. If we do not arm the public with full and frank information about HIV, what's to stop an uninformed person from thinking, "I am safe and don't have to do this again?" It is precisely this "I am safe" mentality that causes rising infection rates in the first place.Cloaked in secrecyThere is a history to controversial suggestions by the authorities on dealing with HIV. On 8 Oct 2008, Islamic Development Department (Jakim) director-general Datuk Wan Mohamad Sheikh Abdul Aziz said all state religious authorities had agreed to enforce mandatory HIV testing. Apparently, they all agreed in a meeting in July 2008.

What public consultation and research the authorities embarked on to arrive at this decision was never revealed. And why such testing should be put under the purview of the religious authorities and not the Health Ministry was never discussed.The 8 Oct Jakim announcement was therefore slammed by various AIDS advocacy and service organisations in a 1 Dec joint statement on World AIDS Day. MAC president, Prof Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, called the announcement "alarming".

In 2005, then Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek drew the ire of various Islamic groups, including PAS, for suggesting distribution of condoms, needle exchanges and methadone treatment for drug users, in order to address rising HIV infections. Chua was accused of legitimising immoral behaviour and violating Islamic laws.In 2001, Johor was the first state to introduce mandatory testing via its religious affairs department.

This was done without public consultation. There was also no disclosure of any comprehensive studies by the state authorities which caused them to arrive at this decision. Yet, since then, Kelantan, Negeri Sembilan, Sabah, Sarawak, and Selangor have followed Johor's lead.

Islamisation's role It is ironic that the only time the Malaysian government actually tried to implement something conforming to international best practices and human rights standards, it was shot down by a group of religious moralists.The irony continues. It is the Islamic groups that are now acclaiming the deputy premier the most for his announcement on mandatory testing, a measure that is clearly flawed by international standards. Muslim Consumer Association secretary-general Datuk Dr Ma'amor Osman is even suggesting extending mandatory testing to non-Muslim couples.

Katagender parodying the whip invoked on women senators to pass the Islamic Family Law Bill in 2006(pic courtesy of Ezrena Marwan) This demonstrates that the power struggle is not solely within the domain of the HIV discourse. It is also embedded in the larger matrix of Islamisation in Malaysia, and the accompanying warnings not to question policies and laws inspired by certain interpretations of Islam.The power struggle is not just limited to discourses within the country. In 2001, Malaysia led a bloc at the UN to deny a general assembly resolution that would protect the dignity and rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transsexuals.

Nevertheless, it is disingenuous to blame Muslims or Islam for regressive approaches to HIV. The world's most progressive HIV harm reduction programme has been implemented in none other than the Islamic Republic of Iran, a regime seen by many as fundamentalist Islamist.

Because of regular consultations with conservative ayatollahs, Iranian activists have managed to give clean syringes and needles to heroin users, and distribute condoms to sex workers. Government clinics nationwide offer free counselling, testing and treatment. Tehran has even allowed condoms and needles to be available in its prisons — acknowledging tacitly that the more humane solution is to protect inmates from HIV rather than judging their sexual activities and drug-taking.

The way forwardMalaysia still sees alarming rates of violence against women, including marital rape and domestic violence. There is still widespread stigma against sexual minorities — the October 2008 fatwa banning tomboys is but a recent example. Condom use is nearly impossible to promote in the mass media.
Also, the class dimension of HIV infections has scarcely been addressed. The most economically vulnerable do not have the means to access counselling, testing and treatment.
Meanwhile, Malaysians who question decisions by the Islamic authorities are also routinely warned, threatened, and harassed.

The government even uses "insulting Islam" as an excuse to detain citizens without trial under the Internal Security Act.Having said this, it is so easy for opponents of mandatory testing to lose the moral high ground. After all, an ordinary citizen would ask, isn't mandatory testing only logical and good for the couples involved?

The answer, unfortunately, is a resounding no. In Malaysia's environment, rife with stigma, discrimination, and impunity, it is a mistake of catastrophic proportions to impose mandatory testing for HIV. The better solution would be to educate the public — fully, frankly, and without discrimination — on the facts of HIV transmission and the many ways to prevent and treat it.

Best regards,The Nut Graph teamMaking sense of politics and pop culture

Marina Mahathir Posted: 19 Dec 08 : 7.13PM

There are also I think constitutional questions involved here. Health policy for the whole country is under the purview of the Ministry of Health (MoH). But here you have another agency making health policy which has budgetary implications on another agency altogether (only doctors or nurses are allowed to draw blood from anyone, for instance).

The reason this is only for Muslims is very simple. Religious issues come under state control. Therefore HIV is being treated here as a religious issue, not a public health issue. This is why no public health arguments work with the state religious departments (I should know, I led a delegation to meet with the Johor religious department in 2001).

Bringing in religion into AIDS then puts a complete different colour to discussion on it. One which will ultimately lead nowhere and will probably cause more infections and more deaths.

*******************
I personally feel this is just a waste of money. More importantly is educating the public on HIV! Prevention and how you can get infected.
BY making this mandatory for couple before marriage, is just totally pointless! Either one of the couple can easily contract HIVAnd just how will the other partner know and protect his/herself? Just my two cents worth! Val.

Dear all,

For those who would like to lend your surport or comments, please see below.

I for one am all for dialog better to try ad die then never lift a finger!

********************************************
'She would be alive if they had helped'

In a frantic attempt to save his wife, a 31-year-old executive was forced to dig through the earth with his bare hands until his fingers bled.He felt a sense of relief when rescue personnel arrived at the scene.

But to his horror, they refused to help him, apart from throwing him a spade.The startling accusation was made by the family of Ng Yee Ping, a 30-year-old accountant who perished in the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide tragedy on Saturday.Yee Ping (left), who delivered a son two months ago, is believed to have died of internal injuries due to broken ribs.However, Selangor police chief Khalid Abu Bakar came to the defence of the rescue personnel, citing their lack of training as a reason. Speaking to reporters at the funeral service for Yee Ping yesterday (Monday), her family vented their frustrations claiming that she could still be alive if rescue personnel had acted promptly.

Recounting the ordeal, yee Ping's mother-in-law Wong Sai Mooi said she and her husband had escaped through the second-floor window. She then called out for her two sons. "I heard my sons reply, I also heard my grandson crying. I felt relieved but did not know that my daughter-in-law was buried alive."Then I heard my eldest son (Yee Ping's husband) calling his wife, telling her to remain conscious," she was quoted as saying by China Press.

At this point, Wong (left) said she knew that her daughter-in-law was trapped, but fearing that there could be another landslide, she told her sons to leave the damaged bungalow.However, yee Ping's husband refused to leave his wife behind, and after handing his newborn son to his brother, he started to dig with his bare hands. His brother later returned to help him.'They treated her like a dead dog'After some time, just as they managed to reach the victim's hand, several rescue personnel passed the area.

The brothers asked them for help but were told to wait until more personnel arrived."Later, a few rescue personnel arrived at the scene but they just threw a spade at (my sons) and did nothing," she alleged, claiming that Yee Ping could still be alive if they had assisted."But they didn't (help). (They treated her) like some dead dog or cat. Would they have done the same if one of their family-members was involved?" she asked bitterly.Wong's husband, Ng Yong Shun, 56, also accused the rescue personnel of looting his house and consuming his expensive wine.He claimed that when he returned to the house on Sunday morning, he was shocked to discover several men in uniform lying on his bed, smoking and drinking his wine."One of them had even asked me whether I still wanted these things, if not I should give it to them.

Later, my wife and I examined our safety box and found it opened. Several branded watches and jewellery were missing," he said. According to Oriental Daily News, Ng said he lost 80 bottles of expensive wine worth RM160,000 and six watches worth RM180,000.Police chief: 'I don't believe'Commenting on the accusations yesterday, Khalid said he found it hard to believe that rescue personnel would have acted in such a cold-hearted manner."I don't believe that they would sit there and drink alcohol and so on.

If there is such a person, could he be seen as a human being?" asked the police chief.Khalid said the police would meet with the family to gather more information and conduct a thorough probe into the matter. On the same note, he explained that some rescue personnel who are untrained are not allowed to conduct certain rescue operations."You don't expect an ambulance driver to save a buried victim. He is not trained, so if we request untrained personnel for help and they refuse, we shouldn't blame them."This is because their lives are in danger too. I think we should respect their decision. To dig and save someone, one has to be trained. For an untrained person, it's a very dangerous task," he said.Is it a carnival?Khalid also expressed disappointment with the media for publishing such accounts without verifying the matter with him."I hope that before you all write your news, you will consult me first, and make sure such things really happened. Is there anything wrong with that?

"Please, we are working hard here, and you are making it into a situation where people would have a negative impression of us," he told reporters.Khalid also saw red when quizzed on the 'carnival-like atmosphere' with the abundance of food and other facilities for rescue personnel."What do you think? Does it really look like a carnival? If that is the case, you write (what you want), there's no need to ask for my opinion," he thundered."Is it a carnival or is the rescue team working hard?

If you think it's the former, you just write, it seems you have enough intelligence to comment on it," he added. (Malaysiakini)

*************************************************************************************

Oh What heartless people we have in our rescue team. In my opinion The rescue people should not be there if they were not trained!
If you are not allowed to help why are you allowed to be there?

How come The police/ fire fighters during the 9/11 attack on the twin towers how come these personel stayed adn tried to help so many people even though they were just police they were not the rescue personel many of them died. thye are the brave. So are our rescuers all cowards?

I sincerely do not think all our rescues are like these people highlighted in the papers. I am very sure they are just a handful of cowardly people but other incidents have shown we have many who are like these people like the chinese lady in the johor floods last year who was left to die because they didnt want to rescue her because she didn't pay them. Read here: http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/15867/84/

and the bus accident in Terengganu.

Someone tell me we have better people then these!