Rightways

Wednesday, July 5, 2023

Understanding neurosurgery, Keeping the mind active

Understanding neurosurgery

Developments in the neurosurgical field have enabled safer and less intrusive treatments for brain tumours.

WHEN faced with the possibility of brain surgery, the first emotion we would likely experience is instinctual unease. This is a natural reaction as our personalities, thoughts and other aspects that define us are inextricably linked to brain function. The thought of having our identities being permanently altered can be unsettling.

Fortunately, it is a big misconception that neurosurgical intervention causes sudden personality shifts. The reality is that these drastic changes are more often associated with brain tumours. If left untreated, it carries more severe risks and consequences compared to the relatively low risk of surgery.

Moreover, the field of neurosurgery in Malaysia has made significant advancements in both surgical technique and medical technology, further reducing risk associated with neurosurgical procedures, while enabling more precise and effective treatment.

It is important for Malaysians to develop better understanding of brain tumours and available treatments to help them make more informed decisions and protect the health of both themselves and their loved ones.

Who is at risk?

Brain tumours can affect anyone regardless of age or lifestyle and its effects can range from being relatively benign to potentially life-threatening depending on its size, location and development. The cause for primary tumour growths that originate from the brain is still unknown.

It is generally advisable that individuals undergo an MRI scan if they experience clinical symptoms as described in this article, although this can vary depending on the patient’s condition and situation. Patients with cancer are also more likely to develop secondary brain tumours (caused by the spread of cancer cells from other body organs). An oncologist will recommend these patients undergo serial MRI screenings once every three to six months.

Common symptoms

One of the tell-tale signs of a brain tumour is persistent and severe headaches, especially if the headaches get

progressively worse over time. A sudden change in headache intensity and pattern could also be indicative of a brain tumour but not all headaches are indicative of a tumour.

Other symptoms of brain tumours include an unsteady gait, blurred vision and vomiting. Unfortunately, these symptoms can sometimes be overlooked and mistakenly attributed to other comorbidities, causing brain tumours to remain undiagnosed for many years.

Interventional pain specialist, neurosurgery and spine surgery expert at Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City, Dr Toh Charng Jeng emphasises the subtle nature of brain tumours and the potential difficulties in identifying them.

“It is common for older patients, for example, to miss signs of brain tumours. They generally have their attention slowed down and maybe talk less than before. Some may think this is just a part of dementia.”

“Patients must always consult a neurologist before jumping to conclusions. You shouldn’t assume psychiatric illness until you rule out red-flag conditions like tumours, especially if their symptoms do not present themselves as typical dementia signs, for example, as it would need to be investigated further.”

Given the difficulty of noticing personal behavioural changes in oneself, we must rely on our loved ones to notice unusual or persistent changes in our attitudes and recommend medical consultations.

Advancement in technology

Thanks to many advancements in the field of neurosurgery over the decades, surgical procedures on brains have become exceedingly safe. The integration of image guidance, imaging dyes and microscope enhancements are great examples of assistive technology and play a key role in enabling surgeons to perform surgeries with improved precision and consistency.

Dr Toh says: “Patients must always consult a neurosurgeon before jumping to conclusions.”

Dr Toh adds, “The advancement of technology is to assist neurosurgeons in treatment. Thanks to assistive machinery, a surgeon’s work has become more consistent. For example, technology has enabled neurosurgeons to take advantage of intraoperative neurophysiology monitoring, which allows surgeons to monitor nerves while performing surgery. This helps with avoiding injury to the nerve as the machine can warn us earlier.”

Other techniques and technology include the ultrasonic aspirator that breaks brain tumours into smaller pieces to be extracted even with small craniotomy opening (keyhole neurosurgery) and the awake craniotomy that keeps the patient awake during surgery to give real-time essential feedback which further reduce the risk of surgery.

There is also the gamma knife (GK), a very powerful, precise and least collateral radiosurgery machine used today and developed by neurosurgeon Lars Leksell in 1967 specifically for cranial pathology. Advancements in cancer treatment have improved survival rates in cancer patients with increased incidences of brain metastasis; but with the GK, cancer tumours can be controlled or reduced dramatically, translating to more improved survivals for patients with stage four brain metastasis. It is also useful when surgical risk is too high for a small tumour situated deep in the brain.

Given the individualistic nature of the human brain as well as tumour development, neurosurgical interventions are typically tailor-made for each patient. Patients can rest easy as doctors guide them through all available treatment options and recommended procedures, empowering them to make a decision that is most suited for their condition.

Overall, the notion that brain surgery is dangerous is largely misconstrued as rapid improvement in neurosurgical techniques and technology alongside the dedication of neurosurgeons, surgery risk has been drastically reduced, enabling former brain tumour patients to continue living long and fulfilling lives.

For more information, call 03-7491 9191 or Whatsapp 012-635 0113.

Dr Toh Charny Jeng

Dr Toh Charng Jeng - Interventional Pain Specialist .

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Toh Charng Jeng - Secretariat of ...

Dr. Toh Charng Jeng；杜长征

Dr. Toh Charng Jeng

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Keeping the mind active

ACCORDING to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 70% of the global burden of neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions affects low- and middle-income countries. Neurological conditions are the leading cause of disability and the second leading cause of death in the world with nine million deaths annually. Stroke, migraine, dementia, meningitis and epilepsy are the top five contributors to neurological disabilities globally. With an increasing ageing population, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease are also becoming more significant.

According to medical director and consultant neurosurgeon Prof Dr Badrisyah Idris at MSU Medical Centre, “The brain is a unique organ with three important functions that affect our lives which are, sensory interpretation and movement control; cognitive, mental and emotional integrity; and behaviour and social execution.”

Brain health is becoming an important concept in healthy living which encompasses the ability of the brain to rewire in life in response to changes in experience and environment. A healthy brain is capable of slowing down cognitive decline and combating any injury or diseases of the brain. There are several things that we can make a habit to maintain our brain health.

Regular physical activity can benefit the brain by optimising the brain’s blood flow and reducing the loss of brain cells during ageing. Those who exercise regularly can enjoy healthy cognitive abilities and have a lower risk of developing dementia. Exercise helps to lower blood pressure reducing cardiovascular risks of getting a stroke. Some studies have found that regular exercise increases the level of a protein that promotes the growth and maintenance of brain cells. Having an active lifestyle such as taking the stairs, engaging in sports or hobbies or having purposeful exercise such as brisk walking or aerobic training can have a positive impact on brain health.

Quality sleep is important for brain healing and the restoration of mental function. Sleep makes our thinking processes sharp and focused with better decision-making. Seven to eight hours of sleep gives the brain adequate time to clear abnormal proteins that accelerate dementia. Several lifestyle measures can be adopted to ensure no alteration in sleep patterns such as increasing time in the sunlight, consistent sleep routines and being aware of the effects of medications.

The brain is only 2% of the body weight yet it consumes 20% of energy requirements. Without the right energy and nutrients, the brain will start losing its function. Food rich with antioxidants (compounds that have a protective effect on the brain), fibre, unsaturated fats (including omega-3 fatty acids), B vitamins and an adequate amount of complex carbohydrates is important to maintain a healthy brain. A diet rich in processed foods, salt and refined sugars can increase inflammation and free radicals in our body that can negatively impact brain health.

“The brain is a unique organ with three important functions that affect our lives which are, sensory interpretation and movement control; cognitive, mental and emotional integrity; and behaviour and social execution.” -Prof Dr Badrisyah Idris

Cognitive stimulation by learning new skills or knowledge helps the brain to become constantly healthy with the formation of new circuits between brain cells. Challenging the brain increases its cognitive reserve by creating an adequate backup system. With more reserves, the brain can become more resistant to changes that are associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Education and learning enhance the cognitive reserve which makes the brain less susceptible to the effects of age and brainrelated changes.

Depression and anxiety can be detrimental to brain health with their effects on mood and emotion. These conditions lead to slow thinking, memory and concentration difficulties. Social connectivity helps to get rid of depression and anxiety. Socialising helps the brain expand its cognitive reserve. Engaging in conversation trains the brain to increase attention and concentration, and helps social judgement. Therefore, it is important to stay connected with friends and families to maintain healthy brain functions.

MSUMC | Prof. Dr Badrisyah Bin Idris

Neurosurgery

Prof. Dr Badrisyah Bin Idris
Consultant Neurosurgeon

Speciality	:	Neurosurgery
Clinic	:	Level 3
Language (s)	:	Bahasa Malaysia, English
MMC Number	:	39433
NSR Number	:	130127

CERTIFICATION AND QUALIFICATION

MBBChBAO (National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland)
Associate Fellow Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (Dublin, Ireland)
Master in Surgery (Neurosurgery)(USM)
Commonwealth Executive MBA (WOU)
CMIA (NIOSH)Fellowship in Neurosurgical Oncology and Surgical Epileptology (Dublin, Ireland)
Fellowship in Pain and Spine Intervention (New Delhi, India)

CONSULTANT CLINIC HOURS

Monday - Friday : 8.30 am - 5.30 pm
Saturday : 8.30 am - 12.30 pm

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Monday, July 3, 2023

10 Feng Shui tips on how to get a good night's rest

Ideally, the bed should always be placed against a wall. Photos: 123rf.com

In a house, there are two specific sectors that govern health and wellbeing. One is the kitchen, which influences the general wellbeing of the entire household. The other is the bedroom, which directly impacts the occupant of the room.

The bedroom serves as a place of rest and rejuvenation. It is where you sleep after a hard day’s work. In Feng Shui, the bedroom governs the occupant’s rejuvenation, recovery, health, and the intimate relationship between a married couple.

Ideally, the bedroom should be located in a positive sector and supported by positive flying stars. However, we don’t live in a perfect world. This is where the rules of layout for the bedroom, especially the placement of the bed, come into play.

Bedroom Logic #1: The bed must be placed against a solid wall.Absolutely! This is, in fact, the most important consideration for bed placement. It is the one golden rule that every Feng Shui practitioner, regardless of their school or system, adheres to. A solid wall behind your bed is considered a mountain, providing good support. If there is a window in the wall behind your bed, simply keep it closed when you sleep. A closed window is as good as a solid wall.

Bedroom Logic #2: The position of my bed must not clash with my year of birth. Incorrect. This is not logic but a residual myth handed down through centuries of verbal teaching. Let me explain. Based on our year of birth, each of us has a specific Life Gua ranging from 1 to 9. This life gua determines four possible favourable directions.

Today, obtaining this information is easy. Any online Bazi plotter will give you your four personal favourable directions. For bed placement, we prefer either the Tian Yi (Heavenly Doctor) or Fu Wei (Stability) directions. However, in a pinch, any one of the four favourable directions will do.

If you sleep with your feet pointing to the door, just close the door.

If you sleep with your feet pointing to the door, just close the door.

But in all cases, you must have a solid wall behind your head when sleeping. We have heard of cases where a husband and wife are literally sleeping head-to-foot because they both have different or opposite favourable directions. There are also cases where occupants slant their bed against a corner, trying to align with their favourable directions.

This is not the correct way to apply the directions. For cases like this, it is best to get a Feng Shui audit as there are other methods to provide support apart from just using the directions.

Bedroom Logic #3: Having an additional room inside my bedroom will cause ‘peach blossom’ problems.Incorrect. In-bedroom features such as walk-in wardrobes or a small study area are highly popular in modern homes. The presence of a walk-in wardrobe or study area will not have any peach blossom connotations because the activities conducted in that area have nothing to do with a third party.

The only caution would be against creating an additional bedroom where someone else is sleeping inside your bedroom. If you are concerned about this, simply remove the door that separates your bedroom from the walk-in wardrobe or study area. This will automatically make this area a part of your bedroom. Without the door, it is no longer considered a separate room.

Bedroom Logic #4: My bedroom door must not clash with the fridge.We often see this in apartment setups due to space constraints. The assumption is that the cold from the fridge will flow into the room and cause illnesses.

However, in reality, how long do you really keep your refrigerator doors open? I would bet that your air-conditioner runs longer than your open refrigerator door!

Bedroom Logic #5: Water features in my bedroom will help me gain more wealth.Incorrect. We do not recommend water features in the bedroom because water activations are primarily used to trigger the wealth Qi, which is an active form of energy. Your bedroom is meant for rest and relaxation. Triggering the wealth Qi in an area for rest may result in poor quality of sleep, which could lead to long-term health issues. There are, however, exceptions to the case whereby the activation is only supposed to be there for only a couple of weeks.

Bedroom Logic #6: I should not be sleeping with my legs pointing towards the door.Actually, this is more related to culture and superstition than Feng Shui. In the olden days, when funerals were still conducted from the person’s house, the coffin would be placed in the main living room with the feet pointing towards the door. That’s the basis for this ‘rule’.

If you find that the room configuration forces you to sleep with your feet pointing towards the bedroom door, simply close the door to solve the problem.

Bedroom Logic #7: My bed must not be pointing to the toilet.Again, in apartment living, we often have limited choices. If this is the case in your home, just keep the toilet door closed at all times. The concern about the toilet is a leftover rule from ancient times when the toilet was located outside of the house. Think about the plumbing system in the olden days – there was none! So, the toilet area in ancient times was a place full of bacteria, viruses and stench. Sleeping with the bed in proximity to such an outdoor toilet would not be pleasant at all. But with modern plumbing, simply keep the toilet door closed.

Bedroom Logic #8: A mirror reflecting the bed is inauspicious.Partially true, but it’s not inauspicious. Let’s imagine this together. You wake up in the middle of the night. It’s dark. You sit up on your bed and see a figure in front of you. In that sleep-befuddled state, that might give you a scare! The mirror has no implications in Feng Shui. So, if you are into that kind of thing... well, then!

Bedroom Logic #9: There must not be any sharp edges pointing towards the bed.Absolutely true! Many times, we find that the layout of the room results in the edge of a wardrobe pointing towards the bed. This internal ‘sha qi’ situation leads to a feeling of “same bed, different dreams”. While it may not directly lead to quarrels, it creates a sense of the couple leading separate lives. The connection between the two intertwined lives slowly weakens. The remedy for this is simple – use a curtain to soften the edge of the wardrobe and keep the curtain closed when you are asleep.

Bedroom Logic #10: The bed must not be placed under an exposed beam.Certainly. We’re back to our favourite topic of exposed beams again. Exposed beams represent cutting Qi flowing down from the beam and may eventually cause pain and illness in the affected body parts. The easiest remedy, of course, is to avoid placing the bed under exposed ceiling beams. If that is not possible, consider installing a false ceiling or plaster ceiling to address the issue. To summarise, the main point here is to ensure that you sleep well.

In the next H&G edition, we will explore the other sector of the home that governs health – the kitchen.

By Paulynne Cheng a Communications professional turned Bazi and Feng Shui practitioner. She can be reached at thehiddensun.consult@gmail.com. All views expressed are entirely hers.

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KLIA, a corruption gateway?

-NSTP file pic, for illustration purpose only.

'Entry fee' claim sparks probe

MACC to probe Tiong's allegation of corruption at KLIA

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki responds to a claim by tourism, arts and culture minister Tiong King Sing of alleged corruption involving ...

If Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing is right, something is very rotten with the Immigration officers at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport

Tiong said he was there to attend to a complaint lodged by a Chinese tourist that some Immigration officers were allegedly demanding money to either free tourists from detention or to get them through a special lane into Malaysia.

It is not clear if the Chinese tourist was asked to pay any money, but she is said to have been fed only once in the 15 hours she was detained. If this is true, it is an abuse of power that must not be tolerated. Even a prisoner gets fed at regular intervals.

These are tourists who will take these unpleasant stories home to be told and retold about Malaysia, which is "cruel" to foreigners.

Somewhere in the ugly narratives will be lodged the tale of Malaysia being a land where money can buy almost anything. And it starts at Malaysia's main gateway, the KLIA.

Here is the scale of graft fees, not printed in any permanent form, of course, but to be passed from one tourist to another. An oral tradition of sorts to keep the greedy officers fed. Anything from up to RM3,000 to RM15,000.

If a tourist wants to get out of detention, the "fee" is up to RM3,000. If a speedy passage is needed, the tourist needs to cough up RM15,000, RM3,000 for a "special lane" and RM12,000 for visa-processing costs.

It appears that Tiong was armed for the surprise visit. He brought along his team of integrity officers, whose purpose is not clear. He may have done better by going there with the director-general of the Immigration Department.

A slip he may regret, now that he is being accused of demanding the release of the Chinese tourist, an accusation he is denying vehemently. This is a developing story, of which the nation will hear more.

Be that as it may, corruption among some Immigration officers is regularly featured in the media. Occasionally, Parliament gets to hear about the misconducts or crimes committed by Immigration officers at the gateways to Malaysia.

On June 21, the Dewan Negara, the upper house of Parliament, was told that 136 Immigration officers were found guilty between 2020 and last year: 112 cases were for misconduct and 24 were for convictions by court.

Not a number to be proudly paraded given that it is just to do with the processing of foreigners' entry into the country. Add them all, and it will be a national embarrassment.

How these wayward officers manage to get appointed, or worse, stay in service until they are caught is a question the D-G of the Immigration Department must answer.

The chief secretary to the government may have to revisit the selection, retention and reward systems of public offices to weed out the corrupt and corruptible.

There should be no place for them in public service, not just the Immigration Department.

Tiong has a colourful phrase for the "forever" malaise at the Immigration Department: culture of corruption. Expect this phrase to have a prominent place in the report that Tiong has promised to submit to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

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'Full probe into tourist incident' | The Star

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Sunday, July 2, 2023

Is Fukushima nuclear-contaminated wastewater release safe? What the science says

A close up of a staff member wearing a hard hat and face mask measuring the radiation levels of storage tanks

A TEPCO representative measures radiation levels around the treated water storage tanks in 2018.Credit: Kimimasa Mayama/AFP via Getty

Insiders reveal the truth behind hastily released IAEA report on Japan's radioactive water dumping plan

China urges Japanese govt, IAEA to respond to reports of 'donation' related to Fukushima water disposal

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Wednesday urged Tokyo to provide a convincing explanation and the IAEA secretariat to respond over the allegation after South Korean media reports revealed that the Japanese government has made a political donation to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) concerning the Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water disposal.

International community cannot tolerate Japan's nuclear-contaminated water dumping: Global Times editorial

Japan's forceful disposal of nuclear-contaminated water into the sea is illegal and violates a series of international legal obligations, constituting a crime against all of humanity.

Despite concerns from several nations and international groups, Japan is pressing ahead with plans to release water contaminated by the 2011 meltdown of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. Starting sometime this year and continuing for the next 30 years, Japan will slowly release treated water stored in tanks at the site into the ocean through a pipeline extending one kilometre from the coast. But just how safe is the water to the marine environment and humans across the Pacific region?

How is the water contaminated?

The power station exploded after a devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami crippled the coastal plant, overheating the reactor cores. Since then, more than 1.3 million cubic metres of seawater have been sprayed onto the damaged cores to keep them from overheating, contaminating the water with 64 radioactive elements, known as radionuclides. Of greatest concern are those that could pose a threat to human health: carbon-14, iodine-131, caesium-137, strontium-90, cobalt-60 and hydrogen-3, also known as tritium.

Some of these radionuclides have a relatively short half-life and would already have decayed in the 12 years since the disaster. But others take longer to decay; carbon-14, for example, has a half-life of more than 5,000 years.

How are they treating the water?

The contaminated water has been collected, treated to reduce the radioactive content and stored in more than 1,000 stainless steel tanks at the site. The power-station operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), so far has used what it describes as an advanced liquid-processing system (ALPS) to treat the water. TEPCO says the water undergoes five processing stages of co-sedimentation, adsorption and physical filtration. The plan for disposing of the radioactive waste created in the ALPS process will be “gradually revealed as the decommissioning process progresses”, according to communication the Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna sent to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The ALPS process removes enough of 62 of the 64 radionuclides to bring their concentration below Japan’s 2022 regulatory limits for water to be discharged into the environment. These limits are based on recommendations from the International Commission on Radiological Protection.

But that process does not remove carbon-14 and tritium, so the treated water needs to be diluted further to less than one part per 100 parts of seawater. TEPCO says that the resulting concentration of tritium is around 1,500 becquerels (a measure of the radioactivity of a substance) per litre — around one-seventh of the World Health Organization’s guidelines for tritium in drinking water. The company suggests that the concentration of tritium will drop to background ocean levels within a few kilometres of the discharge site. The carbon-14 in the tanks is currently at concentrations of around 2% of the upper limit set by regulations, TEPCO says, and this will reduce further with the seawater dilution that takes place before the water is discharged.

Jim Smith, an environmental scientist at the University of Portsmouth, UK, says the risk this poses to nations around the Pacific Ocean will probably be negligible. “I always hesitate to say zero, but close to zero,” he says. “The nearest Pacific island is about 2,000 kilometres away.” He argues that a greater risk is posed by keeping the treated water on-site. “The risk of another earthquake or a typhoon causing a leak of a tank is higher, and they’re running out of space.”

Will radioactivity concentrate in fish?

Nations such as South Korea have expressed concern that the treated water could have unexplored impacts on the ocean environment, and a delegation from the country visited the Fukushima site in May. Last year, the US National Association of Marine Laboratories in Herndon, Virginia, also voiced its opposition to the planned release, saying that there was “a lack of adequate and accurate scientific data supporting Japan’s assertion of safety”. The Philippine government has also called for Japan to reconsider releasing the water into the Pacific.

“Have the people promoting this going forward — ALPS treatment of the water and then release into the ocean — demonstrated to our satisfaction that it will be safe for ocean health and human health?” asks Robert Richmond, marine biologist at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. “The answer is ‘no’.”

Richmond is one of five scientists on a panel advising the Pacific Islands Forum, an intergovernmental organization made up of 18 Pacific nations including Australia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and French Polynesia. The panel was convened to advise on whether the release of the treated water from Fukushima was safe both for the ocean and for those who depend on it. Richmond says they have reviewed all the data provided by TEPCO and the Japanese government, and visited the Fukushima site, but there are still some unanswered questions about tritium and carbon-14.

Tritium is a β-radiation emitter — albeit a weak one — meaning that it emits ionizing radiation that can damage DNA. TEPCO says the concentrations of tritium in the treated water release a dose of ionizing radiation lower than that experienced by someone flying a round trip from New York to Tokyo.

But human skin partly blocks ionizing radiation, Richmond says. “If you eat something that’s radioactively contaminated with β-emitters, your cells inside are being exposed.”

TEPCO says fishing is not routinely conducted in an area within 3 kilometres of where the pipeline will discharge the water. But Richmond is concerned the tritium could concentrate in the food web as larger organisms eat smaller contaminated ones. “The concept of dilution as the solution to pollution has demonstrably been shown to be false,” Richmond says. “The very chemistry of dilution is undercut by the biology of the ocean.”

Shigeyoshi Otosaka, an oceanographer and marine chemist at the Atmospheric and Ocean Research Institute of the University of Tokyo says that the organically bound form of tritium could accumulate in fish and marine organisms. He says international research is investigating the potential for such bioaccumulation of the radionuclides in marine life, and what has already happened in the waters around Fukushima after the accidental release of contaminated water during the tsunami. “I think it is important to evaluate the long-term environmental impact of these radionuclides,” Otosaka says.

A spokesperson for TEPCO said that the company has been conducting tests in which marine organisms are raised in seawater containing ALPS-treated water. “We have confirmed that the tritium concentrations in the bodies of marine organisms reach equilibrium after a certain period of time and do not exceed the concentrations in the living environment,” the spokesperson said. The tritium concentrations then decrease over time once the organism is returned to untreated seawater.

TEPCO will continue to compare the health of organisms reared in diluted treated water with those reared in untreated seawater.

Has this been done before?

Smith points out that releasing tritium-contaminated water is part of the usual operating procedure for nuclear power plants. He says that both the Heysham nuclear power station and Sellafield nuclear-fuel-processing plant in the United Kingdom release between 400 and 2,000 terabecquerels of tritium into the ocean each year. “Overall, because it’s such a weak β-emitter, it’s not really that radiotoxic,” Smith says.

Otosaka says that is also the case in Japan: “More than 50 terabecquerel of tritium was discharged annually from each nuclear power plant in regular operation before the accident,” he says. TEPCO says that less than 22 terabecquerels of tritium will be released from the pipeline each year. “The release rate of the tritium … is well controllable,” Otosaka says.

TEPCO says there will be continuous monitoring of sea life and sediments around the area, which will be done by TEPCO, the Japanese Nuclear Regulation Authority and the IAEA.

The IAEA, which has been supervising the clean-up and management of Fukushima, is expected to release a final report on the site and the plan for the wastewater release later in June.

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Saturday, July 1, 2023

Almost a return to pre-Covid days; Five-day quarantine from July 5

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia is about to set to return to its pre-Covid-19 conditions, but with a difference.

Malaysians will have to wear masks, practise safe distancing and other health measures if they have an infection, or if they are high-risk individuals in crowded areas.

“The new protocols allow Malaysians to return to pre-Covd-19 times, but with all the public health knowledge and preventive measures internalised in them,” said Prof Dr Moy Foong Ming of Universiti Malaya’s Department of Social and Preventive Medicine.

She was commenting on the latest SOP announced by the Health Ministry as the country moves towards endemicity.

With the choice given back to the people, Dr Moy said people should weigh their own risks while co-existing with the virus.

“When they are infected or if there is an outbreak in their community, they should practise those old measures.

“The new SOP gives people the choice to put on a mask or not. Of course, those who test positive must wear a mask.

“Those in contact with patients in a hospital also need to wear a mask.

“The non-high-risk people may need to practise precaution because they can infect the high-risk persons around them, like elderly, pregnant women or immunocompromised individuals,” she said in an interview yesterday.

Prof Moy also called on the government to keep watch on any new variants globally.

Family physician Dr Raj Kumar Maharajah also said it was important to be wary of new variants.

“I support the government’s move to enforce masks for those infected. In other countries, we can see people have taken off their masks,” he said.

Dr Raj Kumar, the former president of the Medical Practitioners Coalition Association of Malaysia, said Covid-19 had become like a “common flu” now, with a significant decrease in the number of new cases and deaths.

“We should move forward, but without letting our guard down. When infected, just stay at home.

“We must be more responsible, and maintain hygiene,” he said, adding that there was no harm in continuing to use the mask outdoors.

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Zaliha: Five-day quarantine from July 5

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PETALING JAYA: Starting July 5, the isolation period for Covid-19 patients will be shortened from seven days to five.

This is in view of studies which showed that infectivity is high in the first five days from the onset of symptoms when the viral load is high, said Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa.

She also said that the wearing of face masks would no longer be compulsory on public transport and in hospitals effective July 5.

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However, she said that people with respiratory symptoms were encouraged to mask up to avoid spreading infections on public transport.

However, she said that people with respiratory symptoms were encouraged to mask up to avoid spreading infections on public transport.

Also, Covid-19 positive individuals and those handling them are required to wear face masks in healthcare facilities.

“High-risk individuals like senior citizens, those with chronic diseases, individuals with low immunity or pregnant women are encouraged to wear face masks, especially in crowded places and areas with poor ventilation,” she said in a statement yesterday.

Although the Covid-19 situation was not at a worrying level and health services were not under pressure, she said the ministry decided to extend the status of local infection areas in Malaysia, due to end today, by another six months until Dec 31.

This is to facilitate the management of the disease as there are risks of emergence of new variants and sub-variants of SARS-CoV-2 in the country.

“Apart from this, mass gatherings are expected to occur during the Hari Raya Aidiladha celebration and also the (coming) state elections, which risk contributing to an increase in cases and burdening the government healthcare service system if prevention and control measures are not fully implemented.

“It is to enable the enforcement of several provisions under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within the Infected Local Areas) (National Recovery Plan) (Transition to Endemic Phase) Regulations 2022, formulated on the powers of the minister under Subsection 11(2) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act,” she said.

Dr Zaliha said new Covid-19 cases had declined by 53.5% (5,801 cases to 2,698 cases) and deaths dropped by 35.3% (17 cases to 11 cases) in the past five weeks.

In terms of hospital capacity, she said the admissions of Covid-19 patients to public hospitals and bed occupancy had dropped while usage of Intensive Care Unit beds remained stable at 6% compared to the previous epidemiological week.

She also said 16,337,744 people or 50% of the country’s population had received the first booster dose while only 825,275 (2.5%) had been injected with the second booster as of June 27.

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Not many wear face masks overseas, say M'sian travellers

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/06/30/not-many-wear-face-masks-overseas-say-msian-travellers

Multinationals committed to China; Summer Davos showcases China's high-quality development drive

Entrepreneurs and industry experts exchange ideas at the Summer Davos Forum in Tianjin. Photo/Xinhu

BEEFING up their presence in China will only move multinationals forward with stronger growth over the long term, despite rising uncertainties over decoupling and supply chain disruptions, said global business leaders and industry experts on the sidelines of the Summer Davos Forum in Tianjin.

They made the remarks as Premier Li Qiang said at the forum on Tuesday that China has full confidence and the ability to achieve steady economic growth and high-quality development for a long time to come.

The country's economy shows clear rebound and improvement momentum with the first-quarter GDP growing 4.5 percent year-on-year, and is expected to expand faster in the second quarter, Li emphasized, adding that it will offer "a consistent source of dynamism" to global economic recovery and growth.

Joe Ngai, chairman of management consultancy McKinsey China, said: "After looking at the global context we are in right now, there is no other place in the world that has the size and is still growing at the same rates we're seeing in China. The Chinese market has also been a major growth segment for multinational companies. I still believe the next China is China."

Bruce Cameron, chairman of Zespri, a cooperative of kiwi fruit growers in New Zealand, said the economic growth rates in China are still very "impressive" when compared to the rest of the world.

The latest estimates from Boston Consulting Group show that China is projected to contribute at least 25 percent of global economic growth by 2030.

"We are very confident about the Chinese economy and its ability to continue to have a strong presence here. We believe that our company and our presence here take us forward over the foreseeable future with strong growth," he said.

Such a long-term potential for economic growth is inspiring multinationals to ramp up investment, expand their talent lines and chalk up medium-to-long-term plans in the country.

Wang Rui, senior vice-president of US tech company Intel and chair of Intel China, said many international companies attach great importance to the Chinese market, and "Intel will firmly adhere to its development strategy in China".

"The Chinese market has vast opportunities and provides an open business environment. Intel's innovative technology is also in line with the high-quality development demands of the Chinese economy. This is a mutually beneficial relationship," Wang said.

George Xu, CEO of Airbus China, said: "Airbus China plans to expand its recruitment of new energy talent to support its green transformation and sustainable development."

Xu said that in China, even faced with challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, the company increased its headcount by 15 to 20 percent on a yearly basis.

Faced with external propositions on decoupling and de-risking, Premier Li emphasized at the forum on Tuesday that the world should not and cannot return to a state of seclusion or isolation, and should oppose the politicization of economic issues and work together to keep global industrial and supply chains stable and smooth.

Such a stance was shared by company executives and industry experts at the forum.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-general of the World Trade Organization, said during a panel discussion that decoupling and fragmentation are something that the world simply cannot afford to have.

Even with rising decoupling challenges, Wu Chun, managing partner of Boston Consulting Group Greater China, said that the country has demonstrated its resolution to join hands with all other stakeholders to tackle challenges and seek win-win outcomes, thus providing confidence and stability in an uncertain world.

It gives an extra vote of confidence for multinationals to grow in the country over the long term.

"We see China as a very long-term global market. We have no intentions of backtracking or leaving China," Cameron from Zespri said. "We are embedded here."

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Summer Davos showcases China's high-quality development drive

Officials, economists and entrepreneurs attending the Summer Davos in North China's Tianjin have expressed full confidence in China being able to achieve its growth target of around 5 percent for 2023, with some putting an even higher forecast, as the global gathering of business elites acknowledged China's continued role as ...