22 March 2020
*PPEs and the lives of front-liners*
Datuk Dr Zulkifli Ismail, Paediatrician
Dato’ Dr Musa Mohd Nordin, Paediatrician
Despite an unusually heavy and tiring Sunday schedule, it was simply impossible to hit the sack. We were inundated with multiple and repeated messages from doctor friends serving in Ministry of Health (MOH) hospitals across the country appealing for personal protective equipments (PPE). These are MOH doctors working in the frontline of the COVID outbreak.
While bigger hospitals like Sg Buloh Hospital may have sufficient supply of PPEs, the same cannot be said of the many other hospitals, including private hospitals. Even the earlier suggestion that Sg Buloh Hospital was immune from this PPE deficiency syndrome, was not entirely true, because in the midst of writing this piece, we received an SOS message for mask N95, face shield, PAPR power air purifying respirator, hood cover, boot cover, etc from a trustworthy colleague serving a COVID dedicated hospital
Videos of MOH staff making their own PPEs using plastic bags, dustbin liners and other paraphernalia does not augur well for the reputation of the ministry. There have also been offers from individuals who have volunteered to make face shields for our MOH healthcare providers (HCP).
A team of doctors who were doing needs assessment of our HCPs managing the COVID patients in MOH hospitals concluded that the lack of PPEs was paramount. 99% of GPs are having difficulty getting PPEs, even the surgical asks. The prices for face masks have soared from 80 sen to RM3.50 per piece.
And in their efforts to redress this deficiency, they discovered that there are at least three plants manufacturing PPEs in Selangor state alone. According to them, there were long queues of trucks of agents and distributors to buy PPE supplies from the three plants.
Why have we not heard from these companies? Are they expecting to increase their price at a time of national crisis or are they ‘stockpiling’ to force the demand and reap from a supply shortage? Presumably, the middlemen, the agents and distributors, are similarly cashing in on the COVID pandemic.
At the height of the SARS-CoV2 infection in China, apart from the disciplined mobilisation of their healthcare workers, the PPE factories ramped up production and provided these to the front-liners and the infectious disease specialists. Where are our PPE manufacturers when our MOH front-liners most needed them?
The gravest sin to be committed during this outbreak is for unscrupulous individuals, politicians and companies to profit from the sufferings of our HCP who are risking their own lives to care and nurse the critically sick COVID patients in the Intensive Care Units (ICU).
And if they are infected as have happened among our HCP, or worst still if they lose their lives to the infection because Majlis Keselamatan Negara (MKN), MOH and the companies cannot provide adequate PPEs, blood of our HCPs will be on their hands. The failure to produce and ramp up production by manufacturers and to provide by MKN and MOH, basic PPEs to HCP who care for a patient with a potentially fatal disease is undoubtedly irresponsible, negligent and criminal.
The government has appealed to the people for their cooperation, to the private hospitals to sacrifice for the nation and to the front-liners to nurse and care for the sickest amongst us ravaged by SARS-CoV2.
The MKN must take the initiative to immediately mitigate the PPE shortages. They must secure urgently the supply chain, eliminate the middlemen and undertake bulk purchasing, which would ensure fair pricing. And they must distribute equitably to all COVID designated hospitals and not just in the Klang Valley. They must also keep reserve supplies to secure surge capacity. It is high time for the government to demand the PPE manufacturers to step up without fanfare and ramp up production, accept reduced profit margins and supply the critically needed PPEs to our healthcare workers.
It is utterly shameful that our HCP have to appeal to the public to provide them with PPEs which should be the primary responsibility of the MOH and by extension the MKN which is orchestrating the war against COVID.
These are our young men and women who have young families and who need the protection. They do not need to make PPEs from old plastic bags and garbage bags, the videos of which are a shame to show to the world.
Our frontline HCPs must wear their PPEs before they care for the sick, nay any COVID patient. The manufacturers should be able to supply them. The government of the day must ensure and if need be enforce this as much as they are enforcing the movement control order (MCO). Have a heart for our young doctors, nurses and allied health professionals!
Step up and be counted.
Photo below from the internet
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全文:
http://m.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20170220/s00001/1487583133001
(報章轉載錯漏不少,敬請留意)
I have known Mr Donald Tsang since 2005. As Secretary for Justice (SJ), I worked closely with Donald as Chief Executive (CE) between October 2005 and June 2012. In addition to official dealings, I consider Donald to be a good friend and someone I admire for his dedication to public service.
Donald's over 40 years of service and contribution to Hong Kong is a matter of public record. Others will speak to his key role in helping Hong Kong weather through stormy financial crises. Here I would refer to his significant contributions to the public based on my own personal experience particularly in the area of the rule of law in Hong Kong.
During my 7-year tenure as SJ, I had on numerous occasions tendered legal advice to Donald as CE. He would sometimes debate with me and test the basis of the advice; but he has never acted against such legal advice. This in itself is a remarkable attribute as the head of the HKSAR.
Donald always said to me the Governors he previously worked with, however headstrong, would always abide by the legal advice of the Attorney General, and it is important that the CE of the HKSAR should stay that way.
Congo Case
One of the most important tasks, if not the most important task, of the CE of HKSAR is to faithfully and effectively implement the principle of “one country, two systems.” The power of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPCSC) to interpret the Basic Law and its exercise have always been considered a major challenge to the post-1997 constitutional order.
During my tenure as SJ, the NPCSC interpreted the Basic Law once in 2011. That was upon the reference by the Court of Final Appeal (CFA) on the question of state immunity. The issue in the case is whether the People’s Republic of China’s doctrine of absolute immunity (under which no foreign state can be sued in the court at all) should be followed in Hong Kong. Prior to 1997, Hong Kong’s common law provided for restrictive immunity, where foreign states could be sued if the dispute arouse out of commercial transactions.
The HKSAR Government lost in the Court of First Instance and in the Court of Appeal. If the Government were to lose again in the CFA, it could stir up serious political and economic repercussions for China particularly vis-à-vis her African friends. National interest of China was at stake. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was understandably very concerned.
Immense political pressure mounted. There were suggestions that Beijing should not take any risk but should consider taking more definitive measures such as an interpretation of the Basic Law before the appeal was heard. If that were to happen, on the eve of the appeal hearing, the damage to judicial independence would not be less than an overriding post-judgment interpretation.
I cannot go into further details for confidentiality reasons. However, I can testify that Donald has been solid and staunch in endorsing my stance against any extra-judicial measure in view of its adverse impact on the rule of law.
Owing in no small part to Donald’s endorsement and resolve, the Central People’s Government (CPG) was content to trust the HKSAR Government and the CFA, and to leave the appeal to be heard by the highest court, despite grave risk and many conflicting views given by others. At the end, the Government won in the CFA by a majority of 3 to 2. The Court further referred the relevant Basic Law provisions to Beijing for interpretation, as required under Article 158 of the Basic Law, before pronouncing the final judgment. A huge constitutional crisis was warded off. The rule of law had prevailed.
Over this difficult episode, I know Donald had been under tremendous pressure. I remember often times he suffered from acute acid reflux before and after major discussions. Yet he stood firm throughout.
As CE, Donald had faithfully discharged the indispensable trust reposed by both the CPG and by Hong Kong. He had the courage to stand by what he believes to be right and the ability to address mutual concerns and to strengthen mutual understanding. He had performed well the crucial bridging role in the two-way process under “one country, two systems” at critical times.
Constitutional Reform
There was another important event in which Donald’s principled stance had been vital in achieving a favourable result for Hong Kong: constitutional reform.
Although no change could be made of the imminent 2017 CE election method due to the set-backs in 2016, during Donald’s tenure as CE, he has been made significant contributions toward moving Hong Kong closer to universal suffrage.
The first landmark was achieved, with tremendous efforts by the core team under Donald’s lead, when the NPCSC delivered its decision in December 2007 setting out “the timetable” and “road map” for universal suffrage in terms of the elections of CE and Legco.
Second, in 2010, the Government managed to secure Legco’s support to pass the 2012 constitutional reform package. Here, Donald had played a pivotal role, one perhaps not many are aware of.
Whether the 2012 reform package could be passed in 2010 was crucial to ensure “gradual and orderly progress” and that the next round (i.e. the intended goals of universal suffrage in electing CE in 2017) could be achieved.
In June 2010, the original government proposal was losing support and hope was vanishing for it to be passed at Legco. Time was running out. Whether to modify the package by incorporating a proposal of the Democratic Party (i.e. the additional 5 District Council Functional Constituency seats to be elected by over 3 million electorate, “the new DCFC election method”) appeared to be the lynchpin.
Without going into details again for confidentiality reasons, I can again testify that the make-or-break moment was when Donald made the timely and difficult decision to revise the package by incorporating the new DCFC election method. It was an agonizing decision for him as he had to override certain internal opposition and to risk personal credibility and trust before the CPG. As an insider, I know that decision was not a political manoeuvre but a selfless act for the sake of the long-term wellbeing of Hong Kong and the smooth transition toward universal suffrage.
Son of Hong Kong
Donald is truly a “son of Hong Kong” (香港仔). His genuine concern for the public good is most vividly demonstrated when Hong Kong was caught in crises of one kind of another.
Hong Kong went through attacks of avian flu and swine flu. Donald tirelessly headed the cross-bureau task forces and chaired long and intensive meetings. I remember more than once Donald being caught in very heated debates with colleagues, pushing them to the limit to mobilize maximum resources and manpower, in order to give the public maximum protection against these outbreaks. He would grill colleagues over thorny issues such as requisitioning hotels as places of quarantine, not satisfied with the usual civil service response of reluctance, as lives of many were at stake.
Over the Manila hostage incident in August 2010, Donald vigorously pressed the President of the Philippines for full investigation, joining the victims’ families and the rest of Hong Kong to cry for justice, although his action raised eyebrows as foreign affairs strictly is a matter of the CPG under Article 13 of the Basic Law.
Donald had a strong concern for young people. During my tenure, exceptionally I was commissioned to chair a Steering Committee to combat drug abuse by youth. The public might not realize this initiative in fact came from Donald. He was deeply concerned and alarmed by the reports reflecting the seriousness of the problem. He was determined to tackle the problem pro-actively. The Steering Committee was unprecedented, involving concerted and strategic efforts of different departments and bureaus. More importantly, Donald was instrumental in putting in substantial and sustainable resources to strengthen the efforts. The figures of reported drug abusers, particularly among young abusers, have seen significant decline in the past few years.
Other contributions on the rule of law
There was no shortage of controversial cases involving judicial reviews and fundamental human rights. Amidst other voices and political pressure, Donald had fully taken on board the legal position that the Government has a positive duty to protect such rights, including taking reasonable and appropriate measures to enable lawful demonstrations to take place peacefully.
Further, Donald also readily took on my advice regarding procedural fairness in handling Government businesses with quasi-judicial element such as administrative appeals.
Donald truly believes in judicial independence. He assured me repeatedly the independent and internationally renowned Judiciary in the HKSAR is our pride and the cornerstone of our success. His personal commitment to this cause is manifested in his positive response in acceding to many recommendations of the Mason Report endorsed by the Standing Committee on Judicial Salaries and Conditions of Service.
Furthermore, his conviction on the importance of the law as Hong Kong’s assets was amply manifested in his exceptional support in the development of Hong Kong’s capacity as an international arbitration centre. Donald was very understanding on the need of expansion on this front and had put in personal efforts to make it happen. He was instrumental in enabling resources are in place to secure additional space for the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, and to procure the arbitration arm of the International Chamber of Commerce and the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission to set up regional offices in Hong Kong.
A fair man who has given much to the public
Before joining the Government, I was an Election Committee member of the Legal Subsector elected on the same ticket as Ms Audrey Eu, Mr Alan Leong and other vocal barristers. In that capacity, in 2005, I first met Donald in an election forum where I questioned him harshly and criticised the Government’s earlier attitude over certain rule of law issues. Instead of bearing any grudge, in the late summer of 2005, Donald invited me to take up the post as SJ, assuring me that he would give me full support in upholding the rule of law in Hong Kong. That quality of fairness in Donald and that personal assurance to me have never slackened in the following 7 years in which I served in his cabinet.
As CE of the HKSAR, Donald had truly poured himself out. I strongly believe his significant contributions to Hong Kong in the past over 4 decades should be properly recognized.
Dated the 20th day of Februray 2017.
Wong Yan Lung SC
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New Renaissance can reform global nations peacefully and digitally
Your esteemed institution will dominate think tank industry with my 4 plans that surely will attract more donation and create New Renaissance to reform China, North Korea and global nations peacefully and create $30 trillion dollars new revenue annual. 4 plans and the new management science will speed global development with prosperity, peace and health for new civilization.
I would like to introduce new management science and technology before the 4 plans that everyone will have equal opportunity to contribute in community and play a role in decision making with direct democracy in order to regulate perceived disequilibrium in human civilization. New management science of direct democracy will not put cat and fish together that is the only way we can keep financial discipline and transparency. Direct democracy is not campaign in every 4 years. It is new life in ICT century. The new management system can sell itself due to the benefit is huge that will create New Renaissance for peace, health and prosperity.
We are so blessed and so lucky to live in ICT era that systematically reform is a matter of finger tips. Human thought and information can transfer so fast and so massive that can perform direct democracy easily with ICT platform. It can start with housing and facility management industry that global residents in housing communities can perform direct democracy to form a global trend of new politics and new management science. We can create equal opportunity in different agendas with ICT platform that will liberate global productivity and lift efficiency to create new revenue $30 trillion dollars in New Renaissance.
Most communities, cities and nations will enjoy the new infrastructure of cloud conference in ICT platform for new management system that can stop human ordeals in politics, finance, education, ecology and economy. New generation will live in prosperity, peace and health with new management science. China reformed in 1980’s with global synergy platform to lift economy tremendously. New Renaissance with new management science will reform global nations in economy, education, politics, ecology and other different agendas that we can cross barrier of time and space to explore new worlds. If we adopt the new management system of direct democracy, we shall live peacefully in New Renaissance that people will not snipe at police any more.
Your institution can lead global think tanks, communities, governments, and enterprises in New Renaissance. It not only will reform management system but also will increase 40% productivity globally that equal to lift $30 trillion dollars revenue annual plus to save resources wasted in mismanagement. Direct democracy is green management for global sustainable development.
ICT sponsors will donate $30 million dollars to the institution annual that can promote New Renaissance and create $3 trillion dollars revenue annual for ICT industry. ICT can fabricate new platform of cloud conference for direct democracy that can apply in housing and facility management industry globally before it can lift to city level, national level and UN level eventually.
A housing community is a small nation. Nation will change when communities change. Residents in housing communities will enjoy surfing new management system to solve unrest and create pleasant environment. New Renaissance will start in housing communities and lift to higher levels accordingly. It will be a project that sells itself and build 200 ICT platforms globally. Each platform will be at the size of Facebook.
Since we can trade stocks directly in NASDAQ, why can’t we use civil power directly in cloud government and cloud conference? Initially we can operate both cloud conference and reality conference synchronously like Dow Jones operating both cloud trading and floor trading. NASDAQ has never operated floor trading since establishment. Literally politics is like the stock exchange. We can trade without brokers in stock exchange as well as in politics.
Everyone has access to information that information can spread massively and quickly without limit of time and space. Global development is the task of how to apply with synergy ICT platform for human activities especially for the public affairs that can lift efficiency, productivity and revenue with new management system to achieve prosperity, peace and health globally.
I am glad to learn we pursue the same goal and we might choose the same approach when we find polluted air in China and India can spread to Japan, America and Europe at the speed of hundreds miles per hour along jet stream in 6 miles height. Particles in polluted air can damage human health as well as catalyze extreme weather globally. We can benefit or hurt consequently with all events happening on the Earth.
What if African will pollute air and water seriously like China and India have done? How soon the Earth will become uninhabitable? Our knowledge and experience convince us the global is a holistic life body. Development should prevent from damaging the holistic life body. We had to protect the holistic life body by all means with new ethics and new code of conduct for sustainable development. The best way to achieve the goal is to operate new management system on ICT platform globally that all people can contribute and play a role in decision making. Everyone can watch, report and maintain the health of the holistic life body in every corner of the Earth without limit of time and space.
New management system and ICT platforms rely on consistent electric power supply. We need to develop green energy as electric power industry is major factor of pollution and global warming. Most energy in nuclear power plant has been applied to heat up sea water and vaporize into the sky that can rise up temperature seriously. Green energy and green management undoubtedly are strong pillars to support sustainable development for the holistic life body.
With continuous high growth rate, Africa has become new engine to pull global economy. Walmart is landing in Lagos. Major manufacturing facilities moved to Africa like Japan Panasonic. Chinese companies have operated in Nigeria since 1980’s. I met chiefs of CCECC in 1982 when they started water bore hole contracts in Lagos and looked for railroads contracts.
Plan 1 is to construct river flow power plants combining irrigation canals in Nigeria with water flushing out of existing hydro generators to rotate river mills for additional 30,000 MW that equals to 20 nuclear power plants. It can irrigate farms for 30 million tons rice annual to improve food shortage and inconsistent power supply not mentioning to create huge employment. Plan 1 is a project of one stone for many birds.
A river generator can be installed in every 7 meters along irrigation canal with minimum water flow at 5 tons per second. 1 KM canal with slight slope at 0.3% can install 140 units of river flow generators at 15 KVA through 150 KVA each depending on water flow. 1 KM canal can equip 2 MW through 20 MW that 1,000 KM canal can install 2,000 MW through 20,000 MW.
In 1920’s Japanese engineer Yoichi Hatta built Wusanto Reservoir in Taiwan with irrigation canal 7,400 Km for rice farm of 145,000 hectares that could reap 3 times annual. Land, water and good weather are available in Nigeria that can develop farms of millions hectares with irrigation canals and river power plants. One hectare farm will produce rice 18 tons for 3 reaps annual.
Plan 1 can change Nigeria and Africa and benefit the global ecologically. USA and China compete in Nigeria and Africa very hard. China promoted railroads construction with loan at $6 billion dollars. IMF offered direct loan to governors at $3.2 billion dollars. I heard GE tried to involve in the railroads construction. Japan plans to invest $30 billion dollars in Africa. Employment, sufficient food and consistent power supply can support Nigeria to lead Africa nations to join the New Renaissance for global peace and sustainable development.
Dangote is an aggressive entrepreneur who might join us for Plan 1. He ranks 25 richest people and is nephew of my friend, Alh. Abdul Dantata. When I was in Nigeria, Abdul gave me his driver Alh. Uba who used to buy ice bars for young Aliko Dangote. Dongote cement can benefit since Plan 1 will need huge cement for river power plants and irrigation canal.
Dangote will donate generously if we can initiate Plan 1 with him and Nigeria president Buhari who is lack of convincing economy policy that a hot pot of food on fire becomes popular target of thieves. Buhari can use Nigerian agric bond to attract investors and complete Plan 1 if he can apply leverage properly. Global donors will support green energy industry in Nigeria if Buhari can show his determination. Good plan, advanced management and talent people will create hope and confidence for a nation and the world.
Plan 1 will attract $1 billion dollars donation and create annual revenue $10 trillion dollars in Africa. The core value of Plan 1 is by all means to prevent Africa from pollution and global warming like China and India. Eventually Plan 1 will attract investors to build river flow power plants with 700,000 MW globally that equal to 400 nuclear power plants. Irrigation canal will boom agric and housing communities synchronously that can develop new cities to attract investors and migrants for new economy in Nigeria and Africa.
European nations will collaborate to construct river power plants with irrigation canal for agric in Africa and in the Middle East to improve economy, ecology and peace. It can reduce refugees flooding into Europe like fleeces. Hopefully it will stop casualty drowned in the Mediterranean Sea.
Big waves attract great surfers. Great surfers can't attract big waves. Good leader can see the trend and keep right direction for delicate surf. I can see 4 trends are going to surge into big waves where we can approach for delicate surfs. New Renaissance will surge with ICT that can promote new platforms for communities, governments and public companies globally. The institution will rank as the 1st think tank in the world if leaders can find new trends of big waves and lead all teams to surf delicately.
Plan 2 is to reform China peacefully with 2 tactics that will turn China into a positive power for regional peace as well as free market for global enterprises. China market is still inaccessible to Facebook, media industry and many other sectors who are looking for tickets to China. They might join us if they learn our plan can benefit them hugely. Apple and Google have been tumbling in China from time to time. Donors from ICT industry and different sectors will donate $3 billion dollars for Plan 2 that will create $10 trillion dollars revenue annual.
Plan 2-1 is to reform China peacefully with platform of cloud conference in housing community management with direct democracy. It will support liberal leadership to emerge in China and open gate wider for global enterprises duly. How can we reform China into democracy when there is only one communist party? No matter one party or no party, residents in housing communities can use cloud conference to perform direct democracy that will create internal climate for liberal leadership.
Plan 2-2 is to mobilize people in global nations to carry out judiciary project in local courts and subvert the apex policy of China i.e. to occupy Taiwan. China has been lying that Taiwan is part of China and there is only one China. Most nations have tolerated Chinese lies for some benefit but lies can’t last forever when global people feel it is enough. Lie can’t never become the truth.
There are extreme groups against China in most nations. They can have suits in courts to win the verdict that Taiwan is not part of China and there are two China in the world. There is nothing wrong to have two China since there are two Congo and two Korea in UN. Nigeria is the only nation considers two China and accept Taiwan to register in the name of the Republic of China in Nigeria. The verdict surely will discredit leadership in Beijing and bring stronger impact than the South China Sea Arbitration has done. It will split leadership in Beijing and support emergence of liberal leadership.
Justice of speech is as important as freedom of speech. It is new trend in ICT century that human can solve global conflicts with judiciary power and public opinions instead of wars. Verdict of Plan 2-2 will become huge external power to shake dictatorship in Beijing that can collaborate with internal pressure from direct democracy in housing communities of Plan 2-1. Plan 2 will catalyze emergence of liberal leadership and lead China to join New Renaissance.
Plan 2 will reform China and North Korea with direct democracy and judiciary power peacefully that will attract $3 billion donation and create $10 trillion dollars revenue annual. Taiwan people can donate $1 billion dollars referring to Taiwan people donated $252 million dollars in 2011 for Japan tsunami.
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