Prepare to face hot spell

The weather forecast for the next two months predicts high temperate of up to 38C with very few rains in a week.

This hot spell follows right after the CNY celebration where unhealthy lifestyle will make people more susceptible to decreasing immune ability. Heat stroke, cough, sore throat, phlegm, flu etc. become very common.

Traditional recipe of prevention such as herbal drinks include chrysanthemum, barley, ginseng tablets may help lower body heat during hot spell.

People should also be mindful of their daily diet and adequately hydrate their body to prevent body from overheating and other illnesses such as cough and sore throat. Besides, vitamin c supplement also help strengthen immune system.

Children should avoid being exposed outdoor for too long because sunlight will cause body temperature rises quickly and heat stroke.

Schools should closely refer to the weather forecast to limit outdoor curriculum to prevent students from getting sick. If outdoor activity is unavoidable, proper hydration measure should be taken.

No matter where you are, if you are feeling not well you should seek medical attention immediately.

The public especially senior citizens and children should take appropriate measure to counter the hot spell. Everyone is susceptible to heatstroke and it may be fatal in some cases.

Dehydration and electrolyte imbalance could cause heat cramps. As such, people should drink more water and avoid exposing to sunlight.

Persons such as labourer, farmer, athlete, soldier, and adults over 40 are 10 times more at risk.
Toddler under 5, respiratory, hypertension, diabetes and thyroid disease patients are also high risk group.

Dengue mosquitos thrive in hot weather, people should also clear their surrounding of stagnant water to prevent spreading of dengue disease.

I hope everyone take care of their health during this hot spell.

炎熱天氣，請照顧好自己

 氣象局預測我國將在接下來的兩個月迎來最高38度高溫，而且大約一星期才有1至2場雨。
  面對高溫天氣的到來，加上民眾在新年期間盡情吃喝玩樂，這將導致人體抵抗力下降，並且有中暑、咳嗽、喉嚨痛、多痰、傷風等跡象，民眾應該提防，以免受苦。
  有傳統的方法，為了防止生病，民眾可前往藥材店購買各類涼茶，其中包括菊花、薏米、洋參片等，以便煲煮給一家大小飲用，幫助清熱降火，同時幫助抵抗炎熱天氣。
  民眾也需注意飲食，時刻補充水分，如此才不會造成體內熱氣過高，否則將會出現咳嗽及喉嚨痛等症狀；另外也可攝取更多的維他命C及輔助品，以增強免疫系統。
  家長也要勸告家中小孩，避免太長時間的戶外活動，曝露在太陽底下將會令到體溫上升，輕易引發中署等症狀。
  校方可以密切關注氣象局的報告，適當時候停止學校的戶外活動，防止有體質弱的學生因此病倒，同時也可以在戶外活動時，多準備白開水讓學生及教師解署。
  最重要是，無論在家裡或者在校內，一有不適的情況，便應該向醫生求助，不要拖延，以免病情惡化。
  民眾應該做好預防措施以應對酷熱天氣，因為所有人都有中暑的風險，中暑也可能致命，老人和兒童需小心照顧身體。
  體內脫水，鹽分失衡，容易引起熱痙攣，因此民眾應多喝開水和運動飲料，以及避免在戶外曝曬。
  尤其是那些在戶外從事體力活動的工人、農民、運動員、軍人等；此外，40歲以上成年人中暑的風險也較年輕人高出10倍。
  年紀太小的，如5歲以下兒童，以及呼吸系統疾病、高血壓、心臟疾病、糖尿病和甲狀腺疾病患者也屬於高危人群。
  炎熱天氣是黑斑蚊繁殖的溫床，如果民眾沒有處理好儲存用水的容器，骨痛熱症病例極可能急速增加。

Yuan Xiao / Chap Goh Mei

5 March 2015 is the 15th day of the first month in the lunar calender, it is celebrated by the Chinese as Yuan Xiao Festival or Chap Goh Mei.

We feel blessed that we can celebrate the day – as any other important festivals – openly.

Yuan Xiao Festival emphasises universal rejoice. It is deemed the apex of the lunar new year because after this day, people will start working productively. As such, people are rejoicing at this day, praying to their gods for good weather and abundant harvest for the rest of the year.

Yuan Xiao Festival is not a separate festival but an integral part of the lunar new year celebration.

The concept of moderation exists in all major religions and ethnic groups. Moderation is an important element in a mutual respect and harmonious society.

Moderation promotes mutual respect and understanding, despising extremism, violence and fanaticism.If everyone subscribes to the concept of moderation, social harmony will be attained and becomes our country’s competitive edge.

We could celebrate various festivals of different ethic and religion because people here are generally moderate in nature.

Therefore, we should seek common ground and values among different religion. Irrespective of what your religion is – Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity or any other – we can establish our common values and live together peacefully, harmoniously and united.

Therefore, let us united under the concept of moderation.

元宵節

 3月5日將會是農曆十五的元宵節，在這特別的日子，我們身為大馬人都很慶幸，我國可以大大方方迎接各大種族及宗教的重要節慶，這對一些國家來說，是非常特別的。
  元宵節強調“普天同慶”，元宵節被人們視為春節最後的高潮，因為過了這天，人們就要真正進入新一年的生產生活，所以人們在元宵節全民歡慶，以祈求上蒼保佑來年風調雨順、莊稼豐收，這也表達了人們對新年的美好期盼。正因如此，在中國民間有“正月十五鬧元宵”的習俗。
  元宵節不是一個孤立的節日，它是春節的一部分。
  其實，不只是華人，其他宗教與其也種族，也有灌輸相同或類似的中庸概念，中庸之道能促使人民互相尊重，進而創建一個和諧的社會，這是不可否認的。
  儘管宗教信仰與種族不同，但中庸的原則，幾乎在所有宗教中是相同的，中庸能使人民互相尊重，讓我們不會存有極端、暴力及狂熱的思想，也不會攻擊不同宗教不同種族的人士。
  佛教有“中庸”的概念，伊斯蘭是“wasatiyah”，英文則是“moderation”，若人民秉持中庸之道，我們就能營造一個和諧的社會，這種和諧的情況對我國是非常有利的。
  就因為我國人民奉行中庸之道，因此各族人民今晚能夠在和諧的情況下，渡過各族的各種節慶。
  我們應該在各別的宗教信仰中尋找共同的價值觀，不管是伊斯蘭、興都教、佛教、道教、基督教或其他宗教。雖然我們有不同的信仰，但是我們有共同的價值觀，這些價值觀能使我國成為一個和平、安寧及團結的國家。

電費

電費調低，這是政府給人民農曆新年的“大紅包”，畢竟這是大家在面對百物價上漲，處在錢更不夠用的水深火熱時的喜訊。 　隨著電費成本降價，各行各業也應該盡力配合，在能力可及的範圍內，齊齊調整物價，讓人民百姓都受惠，共度難關。   電費在中小企業生產過程中是很重要的元素之一，佔總成本的7%-10%，若是24小時操作的機器與店面，耗電量及成本的百分比就更高了。   油價已下調，加上電費調低，中小企業在能力範圍可能情況下，也會盡量配合，響應調整產品價格。   我相信，電費調低也有利于吸引外資，打造良好的經商環境之外，營運成本降低也是重點。   國能應該設定更透明化的電費計算機制，並且公開讓用戶瞭解當中的電費計算法。   無論如何，市場上的各行各業都是環環相扣的，電費調低，供應鏈也需跟著調整生產品價格，即從大企業或廠商先調整價格費用，接著各行各業也響應調整物價，才能起一呼百應的效應。 　百物價告漲，政府要適時調動各項價錢，以踏實有效的方法，加強監督與執法，遏制物價繼續高漲不下。

Electricity Tariff

The government's decision to lower electricity tariff is indeed an ang pow for the CNY. Considering the general increase of prices of all goods, this is actually a good news during bad time.

It is therefore hoped that following the decrease in electricity tariff, all businesses will pass on this savings to the consumers in the form of lower prices of goods and services. 

Electricity cost forms about 7-10% of total costs which is a major business operating expense. Those businesses and industries operating around the clock will incur an even higher energy bill. 

Since this major operating cost has been lowered, SME should also within their capacity lower their prices accordingly. 

I believe that lower electricity cost will make us a more conducive business environment and preferred foreign direct investment destination. 

Tenaga Nasional Bhd should also practise a more transparent electricity tariff mechanism so that users are aware of how their bills are calculated. 

Anyway, it is important that manufacturers and suppliers who form the major upstream supply chain should take the lead in reducing prices so that the vendors at downstream supply chain can reduce theirs accordingly. 

The government should be in time like this taking various measures to monitor the situation and enforce relevant policies to prevent inflation from getting out of control.