Inactive senators admonished

KUALA LUMPUR: Senate President Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang yesterday reprimanded members of the senate who are inactive and unprepared to debate the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP).

He said Senate members, whether new or old, should be ready with the text of the debate on the 11MP, covering various issues and topics and plans for the future of the people and nation.

“I have reminded many times. But there are still members who are not prepared and not interested in the debate. By right, all should be ready, rushing to debate,” he said during the question-and-answer session before the start of the debate at Dewan Negara yesterday.

Abu Zahar had reminded senate members twice before to be ready and give their names for debate, but was disappointed because there were not many who participated yesterday. KUALA LUMPUR: The government has been urged to provide a special allocation of at least RM100 million a year to each minority group for their development and for them to compete with the other communities in the country.

In making the suggestion, Senator Datuk Boon Som Inong said the allocation was necessary so that minority groups such as the Siamese community could benefit from government efforts to improve the standard of living and income of the people.

“Many people from the KUALA LUMPUR: Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam told the Dewan Negara yesterday that the number of new HIV cases was showing a declining trend since 2002.

He said 799 new HIV were reported during the first three months of this year and based on the number, he expected 3,196 new cases to be reported throughout this year, compared with 3,517 cases reported last year.

“The number of new HIV cases has generally shown a declining trend, not increasing.

“The highest HIV cases reported was 6,978 people or 28.4 for every 100,000 population in 2002,” he said in response to a question from Senator Datuk Noriah Mahat.

Noriah wanted to know the factors for the increase in the number of HIV patients in the country.

In another development, Subramaniam said the ministry was working with the Home Siamese community live in the rural areas. The majority work in the agricultural sector, as rubber planters and hired labour in rubber plantations.

“The majority of Siamese households are in the B40 household group. The fall in rubber prices as well as the implementation of the goods and services tax (GST) have also affected their livelihood.

“So, the special annual allocation is needed to bridge the gap among the people through development programmes in education, entrepreneurship, leadership Ministry to study and provide a new definition for ketum leaf before it could be listed as a dangerous drug.

He said the study was necessary so as not to victimise villagers who had been planting and using ketum for medicinal purpose.

RM100 mln allocation needed for each minority group — senator

and society,” he said during the debate on the 11th Malaysia Plan in the Dewan Negara yesterday.

Senator Datuk Kadzim M. Yahya said the government should increase the number of doctors in government hospitals and not just build more hospitals.

He said there was a need to increase the number of doctors, especially in the rural areas and suburbs, adding that it was a matter that was becoming more critical and needed serious attention from the government.