Day: December 1, 2017

A quarter of toddlers in Putrajaya stunted due to malnutrition, says report

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Source: The Malaysian Insight

The Malaysian Insight file pic, December 1, 2017.

A study has revealed that nearly one in four children under the age of five in Malaysia suffers nutritional stunting. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, December 1, 2017.

MORE than a quarter of children aged one to nearly two in Putrajaya are stunted, a study has revealed.

The Edge Markets in a report said the fact was revealed in the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2016, which found that 28% of children aged 12 to 23 months in the administrative capital suffer from stunting, or less than normal height growth.

The chief cause of stunting is chronic undernutrition.

The prevalence of stunted growth in Putrajaya is just 2% away from being called a health emergency by the World Health Organisation.

Nationally, it has been found that 20.7% of children under the age of five are stunted. This was reported in June in Malaysia’s first voluntary national review of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, presented to the UN General Assembly in New York. Read more →

Free minors held under security law, say parents, groups

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Source: The Malaysian Insight

Sevan Doraisamy, Suaram, The Malaysian Insight pic by Kamal Ariffin, December 1, 2017.

Suara Rakyat Malaysia executive director Sevan Doraisamy says the Prevention of Crime Act is clearly a tool for the police to arrest a person without conducting a proper investigation. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Kamal Ariffin, December 1, 2017.

WHILE most 16-year-olds are going to school and enjoying life with family and friends, Ang Kian Kok spends his days lying down in his room or watching TV at home.

Ang never sets foot outside his home for two reasons: shame and fear. He is ashamed of the electronic monitoring device (EMD) he wears on his ankle which brands him as a detainee, and he is afraid of of getting arrested again if he should stray out of the 10km radius he is confined within.

The teenager was caught breaking into cars and in possession of stolen items.

Ang is one of 142 juveniles who have been arrested under the Prevention of Crime Act (Poca). He was earlier this year detained for 60 days, after which he was placed under Restricted Residence, which requires him to wear the EMD for two years. Read more →

Blaming LGBT won’t cure HIV, AIDS, council says

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Source: Malay Mail Online

The Malaysian Aids Council said hate attitudes against people with HIV or AIDS will worsen the current situation in the country. — Reuters pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 1 — Taking a combative and homophobic or transphobic attitude towards people with HIV or AIDS will not stop the disease from spreading, the Malaysian Aids Council (MAC) said today.

It added that such hate attitudes, especially if adopted by medical professionals, will worsen the current situation in the country where infection rates have already reached a whopping 84 per cent.

“With the rise of sexually transmitted HIV (which accounted for 84 per cent of new infections last year), certain quarters were quick to point the finger of blame to these sexual minorities and the LGBT community.

“In response, we warned about the harms of hate and fear mongering and spoke against allowing homophobia and transphobia from pervading the HIV/AIDS discourse,” ,” MAC president Bakhtiar Talhah said in a statement to mark World AIDS day today. Read more →