No cure no pay

No cure no pay

Upon learning of a massage clinic in Batam that accepts
patients for treatment on a no-cure, no-pay basis, a few of us
visited Batam recently. While we consider the four of us to be
healthy, we tried out the two-hour massage therapy of Yayasan
Pijit Berdiploma Indonesia (Certified Massage Parlor) that was
operating in Southlinks Country Club. We must all admit it was
the best massage therapy we ever had.

Upon speaking to Murtisari, one of the two cofounders of the
foundation and also to Mahaguru Rudy, we were really impressed by
the foundation's track record in curing people that included the
incapacitation from strokes and injuries sustained from accidents
or otherwise.

We were also impressed by the social services provided by the
foundation. We have spoken to most of the therapists, including
three who have never been to school. They have learned the skills
over a period ranging from six months to 10 months. They did not
pay any fees. In addition, they were given free food and lodging
and were paid a monthly allowance. They have however stopped
taking in new students because of financial constraints.

Murtisari, the cofounder, and Grandmaster Rudy have requested
us to direct them to foundations and other charitable
organizations in Singapore for funds to enable them to start
taking in more new students for in-house training.

Apart from that, the foundation is trying hard to find funds
to set up a clinic that will accept patients, including the
partially paralyzed, on its no-cure no-pay guarantee.

While we will do what we can from Singapore, we feel that The
Jakarta Post, as the leading English daily in Indonesia should do
something for them. We feel that the government should have a
more direct role in helping this foundation to be able to spread
its unique skills to as many people as possible in Indonesia. It
is by far the most effective program to upgrade the economic
skills of the poor, especially the lowly educated or even
illiterate.

We have asked the foundation for a copy of their article on
stress and stress-induced illnesses. We find the article to be
logical and merits consideration.

TAMMY TAN

Singapore