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> Healthy lifestyles
The editorial yesterday on healthy Malaysians was a timely one. yes, we need to built more healthy youths. We knows tobacco kills millions of smokers around the world. It’s time to change our lifestyles for a better nation. – nv Subbarow, Penang
> What are parents doing?
a few days ago, I was driving in Puchong Perdana, Selangor, around 3pm and I saw a few of those called “Mat Lajak” without helmets and cycling in a “jovial” manner without caring for the traffic. Some of them were very small, perhaps as young as five years old. I had to be very careful driving there. What are the parents doing? How come they don’t check on their children?
> Help ourselves first
Having humanity is good. extending help to refugees is commendable. but please settle the problems in your own country before you consider the above. Could a family that can’t even feed its own take in another child? Would it be fair to the family? How to offer help to others when you can’t even help yourself?
> Attention for rare diseases
First neuroscience institute? (“First neuroscience institute in Pedas”, The Star, nov 2; online at bit.ly/star_neuro.) The first is Institut Kaji Saraf Tunku abdul rahman in Hospital Kuala Lumpur. If only neurological disorders can get attention and the appropriate funding for very diverse and rare diseases that need costly treatment.
> Hockey dream not to be
I still remember at the asian Games in Jakarta when we cheered Malaysia’s hockey team on to beat asia’s best, Pakistan and India, and we were just two minutes from beating Japan in the final to qualify for the Tokyo olympics. alas, that wasn’t to be. To then do the impossible by beating britain for a backdoor entry was a Herculean task. Sad. There goes our olympic trip! – Lee Hui Seng now that the Malaysian hockey team has failed again to qualify for the olympics after narrowly missing out at the Jakarta asian Games, it’s time to rebuild the team.
> Temper your words
With ongoing trade wars, most countries are pursuing selfpreservation. In these sensitive times, there is a fine line between outspokenness and interference in another country’s affairs. Times are different, as countries compete harder for business.