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New Straits Times
11-06-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
Perak MB: Gerik Hospital needs urgent upgrade to handle East-West Highway accidents
IPOH: Gerik Hospital is in urgent need of an upgrade as it struggles to cope with the high number of accident victims from the East-West Highway, Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said. He added that the hospital rePerak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad delivers his speech during the closing ceremony of the Perak Export Day event at Casuarina Hotel a new building, more specialists, and improved facilities. He said the matter was raised during today's state executive council meeting by State Women, Family Development, Community Welfare, Cooperatives and Entrepreneur Development Committee Chairman Datuk Salbiah Mohamed. "Salbiah pointed out that the frequent accidents in the Gerik area have made it critical for the hospital to be equipped with a new building, additional specialists, and upgraded facilities," he told reporters after closing the Perak Export Day event at Casuarina Hotel today. He said the state Human Resources, Health, Indian Community Affairs and National Integration Committee chairman A. Sivanesan will prepare a working paper on the matter. Saarani said that the state government will submit the proposal, as Gerik Hospital currently cannot cope with the increasing number of accident victims. "We also discussed the location of accidents along the highway, which is a long stretch. "If an accident occurs in the middle of the route, someone has to call the Gerik police station, and then the police and fire department must respond, which can take up to an hour. "With the high volume of traffic, accidents in the middle of the route can cause delays of up to three hours before victims reach the hospital," he said. According to the Perak Health Department website, Gerik Hospital was built in 1919 on an 3.23 hectare site at Jalan Intan. It began operating in 1957 and has since undergone several upgrades, including the construction of a new building completed in 1992. Gerik Hospital is the only government hospital providing medical services in the Hulu Perak district. On Monday, the bus, carrying 42 UPSI students, was travelling from Jertih, Terengganu, to the university's main campus when it collided with a Perodua Alza at KM53 of the East-West Highway.
New Straits Times
11-06-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Perak MB: New route needed as East–West Highway concession ends
IPOH: Proposals to build a new highway or an alternative route to address the increasing frequency of accidents along the East-West Highway (JRTB) will be submitted to the federal government. Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said the highway's 40-year concession had expired, making it critical to review its alignment and overall condition. "Earlier, I chaired the weekly exco meeting. We discussed at length the fact that this route runs partly through Kelantan and partly through Perak. "We were informed that the highway's concession has actually expired — it was a 40-year concession that has reached its end and should be reviewed. "We must remember that it was built during the time of the late Tun Razak (Tun Abdul Razak Hussein), and it was intended to curb the infiltration of communists from Thailand into Pahang," he said. He told reporters this after closing Perak Export Day at Casuarina Hotel here, today. The length of the JRTB is 123km, and it was constructed at a cost of RM205 million. It is one of the main routes connecting the western and eastern regions of Peninsular Malaysia (Perak and Kelantan states). Its construction began in 1967 and it was opened to the public on July 1, 1982. Saarani said that when JRTB was originally built, the circumstances were different, with no concrete and limited technology. "It's time to review the alignment and the condition of the road itself. Some parts have already shown the foundation; the soil is exposed. You can't just patch it up — it must be looked at comprehensively," he said. He said that during the exco meeting, state Infrastructure, Energy, Water and Public Transport Committee chairman Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin and state Human Resources, Health and Indian Community Affairs Committee chairman A. Sivanesan were tasked with overseeing the matter. "We asked Datuk Seri Nizar to prepare an exco paper and forward it to the federal government regarding the highway's infrastructure. "Datuk Seri Nizar needs to prepare a list of what needs to be done, including the alignment, widening, construction materials, and everything related — such as street lighting," he said. Saarani said he would also raise the matter personally with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the latter's visit to Lumut on Sunday. "Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim previously approved an allocation of RM30 million for repairs but acknowledged that the amount fell short of what was required to properly address the highway's needs. "I believe the federal government will consider additional funding under the next Malaysia Plan," he said. On Monday, the bus, carrying 42 UPSI students, was travelling from Jertih, Terengganu, to the university's main campus when it collided with a Perodua Alza at KM53 of the East-West Highway. Thirteen students died at the scene while two others were pronounced dead in hospital.
New Straits Times
27-05-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
Screens vs stress: Malaysian kids' mental health on the rise
IPOH: The mental health of children and adolescents in Malaysia is becoming an urgent concern, particularly in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta (HBUK) director Dr Ian Lloyd Anthony attributed this worrying trend to a variety of factors, including academic stress, high expectations, and the pervasive influence of technology and social media. "The mental health challenges facing children today are becoming increasingly serious, especially post-Covid. With added pressures from schooling and the drive to succeed, children face demands far greater than those we experienced in our youth," he said. Dr Ian said this after attending the Malaysian Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Psychiatry Conference, held at the Casuarina Hotel, Meru today. The event, themed Mind in Bloom: Enhancing Child and Adolescent Wellbeing, was officiated by Perak Human Resources, Health, Indian Community Affairs and National Integration Committee chairman A. Sivanesan. Dr Ian also stressed the importance of parental control over device use, particularly given how social media could amplify pressures on young minds. "When we were children, gadgets and social media were not part of our daily lives. Now, technology plays a significant role — not always positively. However, technology also brings benefits; it is about finding the right balance," he said, stressing that parental oversight is vital in helping children manage these pressures. Dr Ian said that HBUK ran an active Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Unit where parents can simply walk in to seek help for their children. "At HBUK, our Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Unit is supported by a dedicated team of medical officers. We have seen a steady increase in cases over recent years. Similar units operate at Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun (HRPB) and Hospital Taiping," he said. He added that psychiatric services for young people in Perak were well established and readily accessible. "Parents do not need a formal referral to bring their children to Hospital Bahagia. Walk-ins are welcome, and our specialists provide immediate care. School teachers can also refer students directly," he added. Regarding the rise in mental health cases, Dr Ian observed that they were seeing more children presenting with not only diagnosable conditions such as autism and ADHD, but also stress and adjustment difficulties impacting their development. "Some children face intellectual disabilities and more severe mental health disorders, which are especially concerning. Our message is clear: seek help early. The sooner children receive care, the better their chances of recovery and a brighter future," he said. Addressing the stigma often associated with mental health, Dr Ian urged parents to act swiftly. "It is natural to worry about others' opinions, but early intervention is essential. Children respond better to treatment while still developing. Delaying help often exacerbates conditions and can lead to academic difficulties. "Parents should remember that their child's wellbeing is paramount. Effective treatments are available to help children overcome their challenges," he added.
The Star
12-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Ramanan: Support for Nurul Izzah crucial to strengthen PKR ahead of GE16
IPOH: Support for Nurul Izzah Anwar in contesting the post of deputy president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) in the 2025-2028 party election is seen as crucial to strengthening the party in preparation for the 16th General Election (GE16). PKR deputy information chief I, Datuk Seri R. Ramanan, said her proven leadership as a "war commander" was once again needed, referring to her successful tenure as election director during GE14, when the party secured a significant number of seats. "We need her to take on the role of election director for the next GE, using the same strategy that helped PKR win 47 seats in GE14. "The highest number of seats we've ever won was under Nurul Izzah's leadership as election director. Her track record speaks for itself. "If she becomes deputy president and takes charge of the election machinery again, I believe we can win 70 or even 80 seats," he told reporters after a special meeting with PKR division chiefs at Casuarina Hotel here on Monday (May 12). Ramanan, also the Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister, said support for Nurul Izzah was clearly evident from the strong attendance at the meeting, with 22 out of 24 Perak division chiefs present. He also said that the Indian community was growing supportive of PKR, as seen by their increased participation in past elections. This development, he said, was due to the Madani government's commitment to the community, including the largest-ever budget allocation in history. "We've allocated nearly RM400mil for initiatives targeting the Indian community, compared to only RM100mil previously under the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra)," he said. Key programmes include the Indian Community Entrepreneur Development Scheme (SPUMI) and Bank Rakyat Indian Entrepreneur Financing-i (BRIEF-i). Apart from Ramanan, 11 leaders have filed nominations for the party's Vice President post, including four incumbents - Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang, Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad. The PKR National Congress, including the AMK and Wanita Congress, is scheduled to take place from May 22 to 24 in Johor Bahru, with polling day set for May 23. – Bernama
The Sun
12-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Support for Nurul Izzah crucial to strengthen PKR ahead of GE16
IPOH: Support for Nurul Izzah Anwar in contesting the post of deputy president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) in the 2025-2028 party election is seen as crucial to strengthening the party in preparation for the 16th General Election (GE16). PKR deputy information chief I, Datuk Seri R. Ramanan, said her proven leadership as a 'war commander' is once again needed, referring to her successful tenure as election director during GE14, when the party secured a significant number of seats. 'We need her to take on the role of election director for the next GE, using the same strategy that helped PKR win 47 seats in GE14. 'The highest number of seats we've ever won was under Nurul Izzah's leadership as election director. Her track record speaks for itself. 'If she becomes deputy president and takes charge of the election machinery again, I believe we can win 70 or even 80 seats,' he told reporters after a special meeting with PKR division chiefs at Casuarina Hotel here today. Ramanan, who is also Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, said support for Nurul Izzah was clearly evident from the strong attendance at the meeting, with 22 out of 24 Perak division chiefs present. He also highlighted the growing support for PKR among the Indian community, driven by their increased participation in past elections. This positive development, he said, is largely due to the MADANI government's commitment to the community, including the largest-ever budget allocation in history. 'We've allocated nearly RM400 million for initiatives targeting the Indian community, compared to only RM100 million previously under the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra),' he said. Key programmes include the Indian Community Entrepreneur Development Scheme (SPUMI) and Bank Rakyat Indian Entrepreneur Financing-i (BRIEF-i). Apart from Ramanan, 11 leaders have filed nominations for the party's Vice President post, including four incumbents - Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang, Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, and Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad. The PKR National Congress, including the AMK and Wanita Congress, is scheduled to take place from May 22 to 24 in Johor Bahru, with polling day set for May 23.
