theSun | THURSDAY JUNE 25 2009 3

news without borders

Self-quarantine: What to do
Be at home throughout the
quarantine period.
Stay away from class, duties,
functions or public events, and
public places.
Shutting down schools only
Separate yourself from those
who are not quarantined.

as last resort, says PM ZA

A(H1N1)

INFLUEN

HO
Get help from relatives or

TLINE
food friends to provide your daily
needs if living alone.

ANWAR FAIZ/ THESUN

Minimise direct contacts or by Tim Leonard

03

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-8
newsdesk@thesundaily.com 881 /3
communications with family 0200
members or friends. KUALA LUMPUR: The government
Obtain names, telephone has no intention to shut down schools
numbers and addresses of yet despite the rising number of Influ-
visitors. enza A(H1N1) cases.
Closing schools now will only
Use face mask at all times if create panic among the public, Prime
you have fever, flu or cough. Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul
Practise self-hygiene by Razak said yesterday.
“If we close down the schools, it
covering nose and mouth when
will create panic. On the other hand,
coughing and sneezing, and we have to ensure stringent meas-
washing hands with soap. ures are taken to contain the flu,” he
Ensure there is good ventilation said after officiating at the National
in the room. Baitulmal Convention at the Federal
Territory Mosque.
Monitor symptoms and seek “Closing down (the schools) is the
treatment immediately. last resort but it is not something we Where’s
won’t do. If other measures fail, then everyone?
Keep updated with the latest A pupil turns up
we have to close them down.” H1N1 statistics
developments in the mass Four schools in the Klang Valley for school at SRK (as of 8am, June 24)
media. have been closed for one week fol- Assunta 2 yesterday
lowing cases of the A(H1N1) influ-
enza, and another three have closed
although it has been
closed for a week.
» New cases: 12
» Imported cases:
Student is Johor’s first case
JOHOR BARU: A 19-year-old female student was
down one class each.
On another matter, Najib said the ( Malaysians 7, Yemen 2, 10
priorities of Muslims and non-Muslims talks with Umno, Najib Indonesia 1) reflect the decision of the
confirmed the first Influenza A(H1N1) victim in Johor
will be protected under the 1Malaysia con- said he was still open whole party but only (the
after returning from Melbourne three days ago.
State women, family, community and health
cept “as the concept is beyond politics”. to the idea of holding » Local transmission: 2 decision of) some leaders.
“We would not reject non-Muslims such talks with PAS as Asked to comment on
committee chairman Dr Robia Kosai said the student
landed at Changi Airport on board flight SQ0238 and
because their priorities will always be pro- it was beyond politics » Total no. of cases: 80 AirAsia’s RM65 million
tected by the government,” he said. and was a question of arrears in airport tax owed
had fever and flu upon reaching her home here.
He also said the unity government national importance. Hospitals offering throat swabs to Malaysia Airports Hold-
“The student was home on vacation after six months He also said there and screening ings Berhad (MAHB),
concept will not run against the 1Malaysia
in Melbourne. She is being monitored at Sultanah Ami- was no conspiracy by Najib said a consultant
concept. Selayang Hospital, Serdang Hospital,
nah Hospital,” Robia told reporters in Nusajaya.
“Many Muslims are of the same opinion Umno behind the unity Ampang Hospital, Putrajaya Hospital, has been appointed to
She said the student’s family, including her father, University Malaya Medical Centre,
because unity and efforts to fight for Islam talks. “They (PAS) are Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
study the situation and
mother, 16-year-old brother and 17-year-old sister, the ones who came up the government will not
are an obligation,” he said. (HUKM), Seberang Jaya Hospital, Sungai
were under home quarantine for a week.
“If Islam promotes that, then we should with the idea,” he said. Petani Hospital, Sultan Ismail Hospital take sides.
The taxi driver who sent the student home was Najib said the last- (Pandan, Johor), Sultan Ahmad Shah He said “any negotia-
follow its way. Don’t let politics become the
also under home quarantine. – Bernama minute about-turn by PAS Hospital (Temerloh, Pahang).
tions must be based on
obstacle from achieving this.”
Commenting on PAS’s rejection of unity on the unity talks did not principles”.
Campaign on toilet cleanliness
KUALA LUMPUR: The Inter-Ministerial National
Committee on A(H1N1) will launch a national UiTM bans travel by staff and students No need to replace classes
public toilet cleanliness campaign in three weeks SHAH ALAM: Universiti if requirement met
in light of the A(H1N1) outbreak. Teknologi Mara (UiTM) has
“The campaign will give information related imposed a temporary prohi- KUALA LUMPUR: The four schools closed for
to the A(H1N1) flu and proper ways to use toilets. bition on travel abroad by its a week need not have to replace the classes if
Posters and pamphlets will be handed out,” staff and students. they have fulfilled the 190-day minimum number
Housing and Local Government Deputy Minister Vice-Chancellor Prof Tan of school days.
Datuk Lajim Ukin said yesterday. Sri Dr Ibrahim Abu Shah said Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka
He said maintaining the cleanliness of public yesterday approval for travel Siong said yesterday that if they have not met
toilets is important as it was one of the con- abroad would only be given the requirement, they have to replace the school
tributing factors to the spread of the A(H1N1) on a case-by-case basis. days that have been cancelled.
infection. There have already been “If they have exceeded the requirement, it is
complaints over the ruling up to the school management whether they want
Pilot and tourist warded because many academic to replace the classes,” he said at the Parliament
staff had made preparations lobby.
JAKARTA: Indonesia reported its first two cases of to go abroad, he told a news “The question whether the affected pupils are
Influenza A(H1N1) yesterday, both imported and now conference after the opening deprived of their lessons does not arise as the
under treatment. of the two-day International schools would make up for the lost periods.”
Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari said one of Conference on Advances Seri Cempaka International School in Cheras,
them was a pilot who had flown to and back from in Mechanical Engineering SRK Assunta 1 and 2 in Petaling Jaya, and SJK(C)
Australia on June 14 and to and from Hongkong on (ICAME) 2009 organised by an H1N1 action committee in ac- Wear these Jalan Davidson in Kuala Lumpur are shut for a
June 18 and the other was a British woman who had the university’s Faculty of Mechani- cordance with a directive of the Health Director-
week.
entered Bali from Australia on June 19. Ministry of Higher Education to all General Tan
cal Engineering. On the wearing of masks in schools, Wee said
“Both are imported cases,” she was quoted as institutions of higher learning. Sri Dr Ismail
Ibrahim said he had to be firm the the Education Department would enforce it if
saying on the detikcom news website. – Bernama Merican hands
in the matter to prevent closure The conference has attracted the Health Ministry felt it was necessary.
out face masks
of the university should any of the the participation of universities and “We will also not stop schools from encouraging
to reporters
116 deaths in Mexico more than 100,000 students be industries from 18 countries, in-
covering his their students to wear masks if the parent-teacher
WASHINGTON: Mexican officials said on Tuesday infected by the A(H1N1). cluding Germany, Japan, the United press conference associations feel that they ought to do so,” he said.
116 people have now died from swine flu in the He also said UiTM had set up States, India and Iran. – Bernama at Putrajaya. – Bernama
country where the virus was first detected in
humans. A total of 8,613 people in Mexico are
thought to have contracted the A(H1N1) virus,
an increase from figures contained in a press
Malaysians working longer hours, survey shows
statement last week that cited 113 deaths since by Hemananthani Sivanandam who were asked if they were amount of extra hours profession- Singaporeans follow closely
June 16 and 7,624 cases of infection since June newsdesk@thesundaily.com working harder as a result of the als are working,” Robert Walters behind Malaysians as 23% of
18. – AFP economic downturn. Malaysia country manager Ross the professionals said they work
PETALING JAYA: More than half At least 25% of the Mckenzie said in a press release. between eight and 10 hours of
More than 200 cases in S’pore of Malaysia’s professionals work respondents said they clocked
between eight and 10 hours of
Mckenzie said the fear of un-
employment has had an effect as
overtime a week.
Professionals in Thailand seem
overtime, clocking between one
SINGAPORE: Singapore’s Influenza A (H1N1) cases and 10 hours a week, according overtime a week. many people feel that by putting to be working the hardest as 92%
have breached the 200 mark when another 26 new to a survey conducted by an However, 42% of those in more hours, they will be less of the candidates clock between
confirmed cases were reported yesterday. international recruitment consul- surveyed said they were working likely to lose their jobs. one and 10 hours overtime a
The Health Ministry said the latest cases, com- tancy. the same number of hours. “In addition, where job cuts week in the office. This is followed
prising 11 local cases and 15 with travel history, The online survey, conducted “You might expect people to have already taken place, those by China, where 68% of the candi-
had brought the total number of confirmed cases in by Robert Walters, involved 2,600 work harder during a recession left are inevitably required to take dates also clock in between one
Singapore to 220. – Bernama professionals from 17 countries but what is interesting is the on more work,” he said. and 10 hours a week.