Dr Ng Yen Yen Website

Over 7,000 take part in Merdeka Unity Run

KUALA LUMPUR: Droves of Malaysians passed up the chance of sleeping in and instead turned up bright and early at Dataran Merdeka to take part in the inaugural Merdeka Unity Run.

They gathered before 7am yesterday and were seen warming up for the run in groups while others did morning aerobics with an instructor at the main stage.

More than 7,000 people took part in the run organised by the Unity Committee of the Merdeka celebrations chaired by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen.

And while many were revved up to start their run, the rest took photographs and tried and get a closer glimpse of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Abdullah flagged off the race, which was divided into three categories – 10km, 5km and the fun run.

Joining him on the podium were his wife Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah, Dr Ng, National Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and his wife Datin Seri Shuryani Shuaib and Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed.

The Prime Minister and VIPs also visited booths that had been set up on the sprawling field and the crowd, including families, friends, students, the disabled and single mothers, checked out the various activities at the community carnival held for them.

This included free health screenings, stage performances, aero dancing (a type of aerobics) and colouring contests which, Dr Ng told reporters, were events that brought people together.

She said having a category where people of various ethnic groups entered as teams was to embrace the fact that while they were still Malaysians, one could not deny ethnic lines of division.

Wheelchair-bound former safety officer Karthigesan Eswara, 41, who took part in the 3km fun run, said the event would foster unity among Malaysians.

Meanwhile, Fiona Zuzartee, 20, beat 15 other finalists to win the Fitness Round of the 9th National Miss MalaysiaIndian Global (MMIGlobal) pageant at the run.

Zuzartee, of Indian-Portuguese parentage, completed the 5km run in 39.02 minutes.

Following hot on her heels was medical student Sowmya Krishnan, 20, in 39.12 minutes.

Law student Keshreena Kaur Sidhu, 20, finished third in 43.32 minutes.

Ng: Choose MP who will work for the people

BUTTERWORTH: Choose an MP who works hard and is on the ground to address the people’s problems, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen.

“This by-election is not about being the Prime Minister. It is about choosing a person who will attend to the people’s problems.

“Permatang Pauh also needs an MP who is able to interact well with the Federal Government,” she said while visiting children and handicap centres in the constituency yesterday.

State MCA chairman Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said the MCA was working on changing the bad perception that PKR has given to the Chinese community about Barisan Nasional.

“PKR has managed to play a multiracial, more moderate stance and has painted Umno as a monopolising power that ignores the others. These are all perceptions. We have to change all this,” he said.

Ministry will help male domestic abuse victims

KUALA LUMPUR: Male victims of domestic violence can also seek help from the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, the minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen said.

“Do not just think that the ministry only looks after women; it takes care of the family,” she said.

“Although violence against men amounts to only about 4% (of the reports lodged), it does not mean that we are not concerned. All measures taken are targeted at both men and women.

“I have yet to come across men seeking help, and, unlike women, they usually do not talk. But they need to go for counselling as well.”

Dr Ng was speaking to reporters after her speech to a meeting of women parliamentarians at the 54th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference at the KL Convention Centre here yesterday.

The meeting discussed the role of parliamentarians in the elimination of violence against women, with particular reference to domestic violence.

Dr Ng said that under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, the Government emphasised training related to understanding gender roles and expectations, preventing abuse and violence, resolving conflicts and maintaining family harmony.

“Domestic violence happens everywhere. In the meeting, it was raised that a parliamentarian also beat up his wife,” she said.

Dr Ng said Commonwealth women parliamentarians would forward a request to the Commonwealth Parliamentarian Association that domestic violence be one of the plenary sessions, but not as a women’s issue.

Dr Ng also disclosed that she met Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam on Wednesday to stress the need for all human resources managers to undergo compulsory courses on sexual harassment at the workplace.

She also proposed to Subramaniam that a code on sexual harassment at the workplace be introduced while awaiting the tabling of the proposed Sexual Harassment Bill in the Dewan Rakyat.

Dr Ng Yen Yen: Abused men should seek help too

KUALA LUMPUR: Men who are victims of domestic violence should also come forward to seek help from Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen said.

Dr Ng said abused men too should get counselling, although the majority of domestic violence victims were women.

“Do not just think that the ministry only looks after women, it also takes care of family. I have yet to come across men seeking help. Unlike women, they usually do not talk.

“But they need to go for counselling as well,” said Dr Ng in a press conference after speaking at a gathering for Commonwealth Women MPs at the 54th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference at KL Convention Centre Thursday.

The topic discussed was the role of parliamentarians in the elimination of violence against women, with a particular reference to domestic violence.

Ng also said she also met up with Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam on Wednesday on the need for to have all human resources managers to undergo compulsory courses on sexual harassment at the workplace.

She also proposed to the minister that the code on sexual harassment at work place to be introduced with procedure of report to protect the victim, pending the proposed Sexual Harassment Bill, which would be expected to table in the Dewan Rakyat by the end of the year.

Women making up 21% of total exporters

KUALA LUMPUR: Women entrepreneurs have started to make their presence felt with more of them getting into the export business.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen said that as of June this year, women made up 21% (2,873) of the total exporters registered with Matrade and there was a huge potential for them to grow in this area.

All set for discussion: Abdullah being welcomed by Dr Ng and the Ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Faezah Mohd Tahir before the Cabinet meeting on gender equality yesterday.

She also said that in small and medium-scale enterprises, only five per cent of financing totalling RM94mil went to SMEs owned by women.

Dr Ng said that at decision-making level at the work place, 20% were made up of women, adding that the number was moving up.

Speaking to reporters after the Cabinet committee meeting on gender equality chaired by the Prime Minister, Dr Ng said the committee decided that it needed data on women such as their numbers in agriculture and those who received loans and grants so as to move it forward in the national planning.

She said they also needed data on gender sensitisation aspects such as the need for bigger toilets for women and the building of breast-feeding rooms and crèches at the places of work including at schools for teachers.

“This will encourage more women into the workplace,” she said.

On crèches and breastfeeding rooms, she said her ministry would continue to lobby for this in the public and private sectors.

Earlier, Dr Ng said that a recently published book on rapists confirmed that they looked at women as objects to fulfil their uncontrollable urges and committed the crime to exert power.

She said that 90 rapists interviewed in prisons did not see women as human beings who should be respected but as objects to feed their urges.

The book, Rapist & rape who & why, revealed that the men said young girls were “ripe for the picking” or that a daughter’s skirt went too high up her thigh when she was asleep and deserved to be “taught a lesson.”

“We need to promote awareness in institution of education for all youths and parents, especially fathers, must be made to understand their role,” she said.

Reported rape cases increased from 1,887 in 2005 to 3,177 last year, she said.

Book editor, sociologist Dr Rohana Ariffin who retired from Universiti Sains Malaysia, said most of the rapists interviewed were men over 50 (31%). Those aged 21 to 30 made up 29% while 27% were those 41 to 50.

The majority of the respondents were Malays (81%) and were from rural areas.

Dr Rohana said 73% raped a minor, 46% were involved in date rape and 44% were incest.

The studies principle investigator Rachel Samuel said an academic study done in 2003 was published into a book to create greater public awareness.

Yen Yen: Disabled need help in facing price hikes

KUALA LUMPUR: The disabled need help in facing the challenges and difficulties of global inflation, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen.

One for the album: Dr Ng (centre, in white) taking a group photo with Wanita MCA members (seated from left) Chew Poh Thoi, Datuk Chang Yok Ying, Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun and Yayasan Nanyang Press executive director Ann Woo. At back row (from left) are Carol Chew, Datuk Kian Sit Har, Sarryan Cho of Yayasan Nanyang Press and Chew Lee Geok.

The ministry, at its dialogue yesterday with various organisations representing the disabled, touched on several issues which could affect their lives as a result of the recent price hikes of goods and materials.

Dr Ng said the majority of the disabled did not earn much.

“The global inflation will definitely affect them.

“In fact, 98% of these people earn less than RM3,000 a month,” she said after receiving 500 tickets for Disney’s Beauty and the Beast — The Broadway Musical, courtesy of show organiser Yvents!

The tickets will be distributed to various homes under the ministry’s purview.

Among the issues highlighted at the dialogue were for a reduction in excise duty and no road tax for all cars owned by the disabled.

At present, road tax is free for all national cars owned by the disabled.

“We are getting input from these organisations on how we (Government) can work together to help reduce the challenges faced,” she said.

Other issues include enhancement of the transport system as well as reduction in toll rates.

“There is a need to work out how we can give them a definite support system,” Dr Ng said, adding that at present families who were looking after a handicapped or chronically-ill person were given RM300 per family.

“The organisations have asked for an increase in the amount,” she said.

Dr Ng said her ministry would study the input provided before submitting a proposal to the Finance Ministry.

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast — The Broadway Musical will be held from June 24 to July 3 at the Plenary Hall, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

For booking details, contact Ticketcharge at 03-2241 9999 or Yvents! at 03-2287 2811 .

The Star is the official newspaper for the musical.

Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen saidthe committee would look at their limited resources and join forces to ensure that every ringgit was properly spent towards the betterment of the patients.

Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen saidthe committee would look at their limited resources and join forces to ensure that every ringgit was properly spent towards the betterment of the patients.

“We need to maximise our resources. I will chair the first meeting in July to determine which direction we are going,” Dr Ng told reporters on Saturday after launching “His and Her Story,” a compilation of stories by breast cancer survivors and their partners.

The stories in the book were related during the Male Support of Breast Cancer Screening for Women (MENCARE) programme.

Currently, the Government is subsidising mammogram screening for women aged 40 years and above to detect early signs of cancer.

Dr Ng said as of December, about 2,000 women went for the screening and 260 were suspected cases of breast cancer.

Subsequently, the 150 women who tested positive for cancer underwent the necessary treatment.

Minister with a growing passion

BY FOONG PEK YEE, source from THE STAR ONLINE

GARDENING is a subject close to Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen’s heart.

She takes it so seriously that she grows all the fruits and vegetables that her family consumes.

Ng spends an hour a day, from 6.30am in the morning, at her “edible garden” at the Putrajaya government quarters where she stays with her family.

Green realm: Ng (right) walking in her garden with her 88-year-old mother.

This has been a daily routine for her -except for days when she is out-station or overseas- since four years ago.

The list of organic vegetables and fruits from her garden includes kangkung, sweet potatoes, four-angled beans, serai, ginger, chilly, papaya, mango, coconut, durian and all sorts of herbs.

She says apple is the only fruit in her marketing list.

Besides the edibles, she also has over 50 types of flowers, including some 20 species of hibiscus - her favourite flower.

“Some people thinks I am the agriculture minister,” quips the medical doctor-turned-politician who is also the Wanita MCA chief.

Constant gardener: Ng collecting fruits of her labour in her garden at the government quarters in Putrajaya.

In fact, Dr Ng who is so attached to her garden that she started cultivating four years ago, says she had declined the government’s offer to her a bigger house following her promotion to minister in March.

Gardening, she says, is a form of exercise for her, adding that her 88-year-old mother who stays with her also finds gardening to be very therapeutic.

The 62-year-old mother of three and grandmother who looks younger than her age says fruits and vegetables feature prominently in her daily diet.

Dr Ng, also a former deputy finance minister, advises the people to start growing vegetables and fruits for own consumption in the wake of rising cost of living.

“Gardening costs very little but the rewards are certainly plenty,” she said.

Plans for poor and disabled proposed for Budget 2009

KUALA LUMPUR: Extend the entitlement of social welfare to those earning RM700 and below and exempt owners of imported disabled-friendly cars from road tax.

These are two proposals to be included in Budget 2009 to widen the social safety net which the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry is looking at in response to the increase in fuel prices.

Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen said currently only those earning RM400 and below a month or 54,000 families received financial aid from the Welfare Department.

“We are now studying the financial implication of raising the ceiling to cover those who earn RM700 and below as it will involve 240,000 families,” she told a press conference here after visiting some fire victims off Jalan Chan Sow Lin here yesterday.

She said it was the Government’s responsibility to ensure that the poor were not caught in the global inflation.

Dr Ng said the ministry would also propose to the Finance Ministry to give road tax exemption to owners of imported cars equipped with features of the disabled.

Designer babies unacceptable

Creating ‘designer babies’ via artificial insemination is unacceptable and is not practised in the country, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen.

“The ministry does not believe in it and we are very particular about sex selection as well,” she said at a news conference here yesterday after launching “Jalinan Kasih 2008″ to celebrate the success of babies born through sub-fertility treatment at the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN), an arm under the ministry.

Dr Ng carrying five-month-old Siti Zahirah Mohd Zakaria at the Jalinan Kasih 2008 celebration in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. (picture shown above)

“The clinic only helps couples to harvest and fertilise their eggs. We only help and assist the couples to have kids, that is all,” she said.

“We do not wish to see a situation where people decide and design their babies. It is not ethical,” she stressed, adding that such a situation could only occur if it was proven that there were serious genetic difficulties resulting in death for the unborn child.

More than 30 couples attended the launch with their children.

To a question, Dr Ng said that although the clinic had, since its inception in 1979, helped some 20,000 couples conceive, the success rate was still considered low.

“The clinic has been very liberal in taking in patients over the age of 45, which is why the success rate is low. We may need to review this and be more selective,” she said.

Dr Ng also mentioned that it was important that young people were taught self-protection and self-preservation.

“There is a need to educate the people on reproductive health.”

Jeanne Abdullah, wife of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, was unable to attend the event.

In her speech read out by Dr Ng, Jeanne applauded the clinic’s effort in helping couples in need.

“I am proud that such treatment exists in this country and widely accepted by Muslim scientists as a method to conceive as long as it does not go beyond religious borders,” she said, adding that she hoped science and technology would not be misused to produce designer babies.