Comment:
Do the rakyat knows how much the government had spent on the YB and elections (i.e. the days before election, the election days, and the post election days). Then suddenly, the YB just dies, yes its an act of God, but God also tell us to 'always stay fit and be healthy, and to lead a healthy lifestyle.' As the famous Arabic quote says 'A healthy mind posits in a healthy body.'
http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/17snnd/Article/
Please stay fit, Yang Berhormat
2011/01/24
WINNABLE candidates should now be not only those who can definitely win elections but also last the pace and go the distance. Twelve of the 15 by-elections since August 2008 had to be called because the elected representatives died in office (including one in a road accident). And this leaves that stimulating question of whether, to save all that trouble, a fitness test ought to be made mandatory for politicians wanting to become wakil rakyat. Or an advisory to go slow on the gulai kawah and briyani kambing in their constituency rounds.
Perhaps it is time prospective candidates be asked to declare not just their assets but their health status as well. And it is just as well that this matter would be proposed to the cabinet, according to news reports two days ago quoting Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.
Yes, deaths are pre-determined by God and they are unpredictable. Even then, with all due respect to the families of the deceased, we can make efforts to reduce the prospect of by-elections every two months and the intense politicking that comes with them as much as possible.
Just be fit, Yang Berhormat.....
Let's consider these cases:
- Pas member of parliament for Bukit Gantang Roslan Shahrom died on Feb 10, 2009 while riding a bicycle. He was just 50.
Roslan had just sent in his car to a wash in Changkat Lalang, Batu Gajah, when he didn't feel right. He then borrowed a bicycle to get some medication at a nearby pharmacy. He collapsed while riding. Heart attack.
- Barisan Nasional MP for Kuala Terengganu Datuk Razali Ismail died on Nov 28, 2008 while playing badminton in Genting Highlands.
He was 59. It is learnt that Razali, the deputy education minister, was playing a doubles match at a college hall when he collapsed after trying to retrieve a smash by his opponent.
When he failed to return that shot, Razali went into a spin and was seen leaning against the wall before collapsing. His head was bleeding from the impact of the fall. Heart attack.
- Batang Ai state assemblyman and Sarawak assistant minister for agriculture Datuk Dublin Unting, 55, died on Feb 24, 2009 after being in a coma for several months.
Dublin suffered a stroke and lost consciousness after attending a radio interview with RTM. He had complained of chest pains before that but dismissed the signs as lethargy.
- Manik Urai assemblyman Ismail Yaacob died at 60 on May 22, 2009. The official cause of death was heart attack but he had been sick for quite sometime prior to his death as he was also diagnosed as having diabetes and often had gout attacks.
- Pas assemblyman for Permatang Pasir in Penang, Datuk Hamdan Abdul Rahman, died on July 31, 2009 after being in and out of the National Heart Institute (IJN). He was 60.
- Umno's Bagan Pinang assemblyman Azman Mohammad Noor died on Sept 4, 2009. He was 55. Cause of death: blood disorder. He had a heart bypass operation four months before his death but did not recover well.
According to reports, he began feeling unwell after the state assembly sitting in August 2009 and was always feeling lethargic.
It is understood that despite his condition, Azman had insisted on keeping his appointments, especially with his constituents. Just before he died, Azman was taken to hospital when he was running a very high fever but fell unconscious while being taken to the intensive care unit.
- Parti Keadilan Rakyat MP for Hulu Selangor Datuk Dr Zainal Abidin Ahmad died on March 25 last year at 71. He had a brain tumour.
- BN Sibu MP Datuk Dr Robert Lau, 67, died on April 9 last year of liver cancer.
- Galas assemblyman Che Hashim Sulaiman of Pas died in Nov 4 last year. He was 48 and had lung cancer. He even sought treatment in China.
- BN assemblyman for Tenang Datuk Sulaiman Taha died on Jan 14 after going in and out of consciousness since being admitted to hospital last month.
The three-term assemblyman, who suffered from high blood pressure and diabetes, was warded in a private hospital.
- And just last week, BN's Merlimau state assemblyman Datuk Mohamad Hidhir Abu Hassan, 54, died after suffering three heart attacks following a recent angioplasty to clear a blocked artery. He was taken to hospital after complaining of stomach discomfort upon his return from Taiwan a few days earlier.
Perhaps these were cases of age suddenly catching up. Or maybe it was the stress of the job that took its toll on the elected representatives. Could it be lifestyle and diet as wakil rakyat? The endless kenduri at community meetings? The whole lot of constituency problems to attend to, hence the stress?
But the sudden surge in the number of deaths of politicians in office is a cause for concern. Notice that most of the cases involved elected representatives serving rural constituencies -- none from the bustling areas in the Klang Valley, Penang or Johor Baru.
The deaths (inevitably always described as untimely or premature) were most unfortunate. But they raised a lot of questions when money, time and resources have to be spent on the ensuing by-elections.
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