The Star Online: Nation
The Star Online: Nation |
- Women recall ordeal of contracting dengue fever
- Anwar fails in bid to disqualify Shafee as DPP
- Malaysian workers in Sudan safe, says Petronas
| Women recall ordeal of contracting dengue fever Posted: 20 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST PETALING JAYA: Contracting the fatal form of dengue fever in 1991 while pregnant with her second child caused teacher Norhana Mohamed Hani to realise the importance of maintaining clean surroundings. She suffered almost all the symptoms of dengue haemorrhagic fever, including developing a high fever and terrible back pains, as well as excreting black stools. "I also had a low platelet count. "The ordeal resulted in my daughter being born prematurely. She had to be put into an incubator," she said, recalling the hellish experience. "Since then, she has been vigilant about keeping her household and surroundings free of potential Aedes breeding places in order to protect her family. The ordeal of contracting dengue is still fresh in communications practitioner Zarra Ashikin Zainal's mind as she was discharged just yesterday from a hospital. She spent five days there after a medical check-up when she realised she had a very high fever. "My blood pressure was low and I shivered, feeling cold, when in fact I had a high fever," she said. Housewife Wendy Chan, 44, suffered from dengue last year but thought it was a common fever. However, she soon developed a symptom, itchy red rashes on the palm of her hand, shortly after she was warded in the hospital. "My doctor suspected dengue because my fever did not subside. I had to go on intravenous drips to keep me hydrated," she said. Recalling how she continued to be tired for three to four months after recovering, she said even simple tasks like walking up the stairs were a challenge. "We keep tilapia fish in the pond as a way to prevent the Aedes from breeding," she said. Related stories: Dengue deaths rising - red alert Keep Aedes away with garlic, lemongrass, rosemary and coffee Schools to be flushed of Aedes larvae before new term begins |
| Anwar fails in bid to disqualify Shafee as DPP Posted: 20 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST PUTRAJAYA: Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah will be the lead prosecutor in the appeal against the acquittal of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim over his sodomy charge. The Court of Appeal ruled that the Oppo-sition Leader's bid to disqualify the prominent lawyer to act as deputy public prosecutor (DPP) had no merits. Justice Aziah Ali, who chaired a three-man panel, ruled that the statutory declaration (SD) by former Kuala Lumpur Criminal Investigation Department chief Datuk Mat Zain Ibrahim, used by Anwar to support the application, was hearsay and could not be admitted. "We are of the opinion that the determining issue is whether the SD is admissible evidence to support the application. "We find the allegations in SD bearing no relevance to the facts of this case," she said, adding that the SD mainly refers to Anwar's black eye incident. "We agree that the SD is hearsay evidence as the maker is not available for cross-examination to ascertain the truth," said Justice Aziah in a unanimous decision. Others on the panel were Court of Appeal judges Justices Rohana Yusof and Mohd Zawawi Salleh. Justice Aziah ruled that the appointment of Shafee was in accordance to law and that the Public Prosecutor was not obliged to provide reasons in exercising his discretionary power in appointing Shafee. "We do not find that the appointment will deprive a fair trial (to Anwar) as the appeal will be on appeal records. "The final decision is with the court. The court will scrutinise the appeal records," she said. She said no favourable evidence will be held from the court as there are two other senior DPPs – DPP Datuk Mohamad Hanafiah Zakaria and DPP Noorin Badaruddin – with Shafee in the team. Anwar had contended that Shafee was not a fit and proper person to lead the prosecution team. The court has set the prosecution's appeal against Anwar's acquittal over his sodomy charge to be heard on Feb 12 and 13. Anwar was acquitted by the High Court on Jan 9 last year for allegedly sodomising Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, his former aide, at Desa Damansara Condominium in Bukit Damansara on June 26, 2008. Later, Anwar said he was disappointed over the court ruling and would appeal to the Federal Court. |
| Malaysian workers in Sudan safe, says Petronas Posted: 20 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST KUALA LUMPUR: All Malaysian employees of Petronas in South Sudan are safe and accounted for. Petronas said in a statement here yesterday that the employees had been advised to take necessary precautions, including adhering to the curfew imposed by the South Sudanese government. Petronas, it said, was also closely monitoring the situation and taking necessary measures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the workers. "However, Petronas is saddened to learn that a number of Sudanese oil field workers employed by two joint operating companies in South Sudan, in which Petronas has interests, have suffered fatalities and injuries," it said. The respective managements of these two companies had begun systematic evacuation of the remaining employees from the fields, it added. Up to 500 people had been reported killed since Sunday in clashes between military factions in South Sudan, which has been described as the world's newest country. — Bernama |
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