Steady hands against bird flu<\/p>\n
When it comes to the mysterious and debilitating pandemics
\nthat have afflicted East Asia in recent times, from the SARS
\nvirus to bird flu, Malaysia has led a seemingly charmed life.<\/p>\n
It is important to note again that Malaysia's relative
\nimmunity to trans-boundary contagions such as avian flu has not
\nbeen due to sheer luck but diligent pre-emption.<\/p>\n
Malaysia's stringent import ban on poultry and birds from
\nThailand was obviously flouted by whoever smuggled in the two
\ninfected (and illegal) fighting cocks discovered in a village
\ncoop in Tumpat, just south of the Thai border. The area is now
\nunder quarantine, and every hapless fowl in the vicinity will not
\nhave survived 24 hours after those two samples tested positive
\nfor avian flu. The Government's enduring transparency on this
\nmatter is matched by the speed with which action has been taken.<\/p>\n
It is understandable that Singapore should react with such
\nalarm. The island republic has been among the most nervously
\nalert to these invisible threats, and has acted with predictable
\ncelerity in banning the import of Malaysian fowl.<\/p>\n
This will cost Malaysia upwards of RM1 million per day,
\nironically hitting hardest poultry farms in Johor, Malacca, Negri
\nSembilan and Selangor, hundreds of kilometers away from that
\nsecluded rural enclave at the far top-right corner of Kelantan.<\/p>\n
Some damage control can be effected, with local poultry
\ndiverted from export to the domestic market, but even as Malaysia
\nacknowledges the truth of those two sick Thai cockerels in
\nTumpat, Singapore (as well as Japan and Brunei, which seem set to
\nfollow its lead in banning the import of Malaysian birds) should
\nacknowledge the measures being taken to eliminate the virus here,
\nand bear with us while we clean out this other form of unwelcome
\nillegal immigrant. Although this incident is a reminder never to
\nlet down our guard, neither is there cause to hit the panic
\nbutton.
\n-- New Straits Times, Kuala Lumpur<\/p>\n
;;
\nAnpak..r..
\nOtherOp-Olympics
\nOn the Olympics
\nJP\/6\/<\/p>\n
On the Olympics<\/p>\n
All things that celebrate elite achievement have their
\ndetractors.<\/p>\n
The Olympics are a case in point. Naysayers point to drugs and
\nother cheating, the unbridled commercial greed, the corruption of
\nhost-city selections, rich countries cherry-picking the athletes
\nof poor nations, the potentially ruinous costs on host cities,
\nthe obscene indulgences of some Olympic family members and the
\ninvitation to terrorism. This catalog of complaints may seem an
\noverwhelming case against the Olympics. It is an uncharitable
\nview.<\/p>\n
The Games are about sport but a lot more, too. They are about
\nindividual endeavor and about national aspiration. They urge us
\nto cheer and applaud the victors and the vanquished regardless of
\nnational boundaries.<\/p>\n
The temptation to dismiss the Games as unnecessarily
\nritualistic, even quasi-spiritual, misses the point.<\/p>\n
Now that the baton has passed back to ... where ancients
\ninitiated the traditions 2780 years ago, it would be a pity if
\nthat goodwill were to be supplanted in Australia by smug self-
\nsatisfaction ... intended to compare Athens unfavorably with the
\nSydney Games. Terrorism left Athens struggling under difficulties
\nnot of its making, but the splendid venues have been completed,
\ncontrary to predictions of doom, and Greeks need no one's advice
\non how to party.
\n-- Sydney Morning Herald, Australia<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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