Khir Toyo should explain why last year, Selangor has 140% higher
incidence of dengue cases than Singapore although both have almost the same
population of slightly over 4.1 million people
Speech
-
Cheras 11 milestone DAP
Branch Chap Goh Meh Chinese New Year Open house
by Lim Kit Siang
(Balakong,
Saturday):
Selangor leads the country as the state which is the worst affected by the
dengue epidemic currently raging in the country, with the most number of
dengue cases last year, and deserves to be regarded as the "Dengue Black
State" in Malaysia.
On 6th January 2003, the Selangor Exco member in charge of health, Datuk
Tang See Hang said that until December 14 of last year, there were 8,710
dengue cases and 13 deaths, which well exceeded the next three states with
the highest incidence of dengue cases, namely Kuala Lumpur with 6,342 cases
and two deaths; Johore with 3,649 cases and 15 deaths and Perak's 2,812
cases and 10 deaths.
Last month, Sin Chew Daily quoted Health Ministry sources as stating that as
of 28th December 2002, Selangor last year reported 9,385 dengue cases and 15
deaths, which still led Kuala Lumpur's 6,723 cases and two deaths, Johore's
4,012 cases and 16 deaths and Perak's 3,164 cases and 10 deaths.
The Sun of 11.1.2003 reported that there were a total of 9,380 dengue cases
in Selangor last year, with the following breakdown in the state:
Selayang
1,922
Sibamg Kaua
1,782
Shah Alam
1,155
Petaling Jaya
829
Ampang Jaya
763
Klang
37
Kajang
513
Sabak Bernam
454
Kuala Langat
391
Hulu Selangor
361
Sepang
339
Klang
233
Kuala Lumpur
101
Total
9,380
Although no official figures have been released whether by the
Health Ministry or the Selangor State Government, it is indisputable that
Selangor was the worst dengue state in the current dengue epidemic with some
9,400 dengue cases last year.
Selangor has almost the same population as Singapore, more than 4.1 million.
Last July, the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned the countries in the
region, including Malaysia and Singapore, to take preventive measures
against a dengue epidemic which could be as bad as the worst recorded year
for dengue epidemic in 1998.
After a rise in the incidence of dengue fever in Singapore in August and
September, the Singapore government announced in November that its
anti-dengue campaign had successfully brought the dengue outbreak under
control. For the whole of last year, Singapore reported a total of 3,937
dengue cases and eight Dengue Haemorrhage Fever (DHF) cases.
Selangor in contrast had some 9,400 dengue cases last year or some 140 per
cent higher incidence than Singapore.
The Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr. Mohd Khir Toyo should explain why
Selangor has 140% higher incidence of dengue cases than Singapore last year
although both have almost the same population of slightly over 4.1 million
people, why Singapore's could successful bring the dengue epidemic under
control with its anti-dengue campaign while in Selangor, the dengue epidemic
has entered an even more critical state than last year - as illustrated by
at least five dengue deaths in Taman Nirwana, Ampang which DAP MPs and
leaders visited this morning.
(15/2/2003)
*
Lim Kit Siang, DAP National
Chairman
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http://dapmalaysia.org