Month: August 1973

Lim Kit Siang meets the Minister of Health over Malacca Hospital deaths

Ketua Pembangkang and DAP Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr.Lim Kit Siang, today issued the following statement (30.8.1973):

Lim Kit Siang meets the Minister of Health over Malacca Hospital deaths

I met the Minister of Health, Tan Sri Lee Siok Yew, in his office in Kuala Lumpur for an hour this morning over the unusually high number of deaths in the Malacca General Hospital in the first part of August this year during the breakdown of the hospital’s autoclave (sterilisation plant).

I expressed to the Minister my grave concern at the large number of unexplained deaths and my disappointment that there was not going to be a public inquiry into the deaths.

Because of the long history of poor public image of the public hospital service, and the recent unusually high number of unusual deaths, public confidence in the hospital service in general, and the Malacca General Hospital in particular is at the lowest ebb.
Continue reading Lim Kit Siang meets the Minister of Health over Malacca Hospital deaths

The 1972 National Day Theme “Masyarakat Adil” a big failure

Speech by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr.Lim Kit Siang at the Pudu / Bukit Bintang Solidarity Dinner held at Mak Yee Restaurant on 29th August, 1973 at 7.00p.m.

The 1972 National Day Theme “Masyarakat Adil” a big failure

In another two days, Malaysia will be celebrating her 16th birthday. The Alliance Government has announced that for this year’s National Day, the theme would be Masyarakat Berkebudayaan Malaysia.

Last year, the Alliance Government’s National Day theme was Masyarakat Adil which Alliance leaders claimed would be the Government’s guiding principle of all Government policies and actions for the following 12 months. It would be fitting, on the eve of the end of 12 months of “Masyarakat Adil” theme, that we assess whether in the last one year, there had been greater social justice or the reverse.

A general survey of the economic, educational and social life of Malaysians in the last one year indicates that Alliance Government’s “Masyarakat Adil” theme is a great failure. Social injustices and inequities had increased over the months.
Continue reading The 1972 National Day Theme “Masyarakat Adil” a big failure

Make sure all records and documents related to the recent Malacca General Hospital deaths be preserved and protected from any tampering

DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr.Lim Kit Siang, today issued the following statement (28.8.1973):

DAP Malacca calls on the Minister of Health to order that all records and documents related to the recent Malacca General Hospital deaths be preserved and protected from any tampering

Since my press conference on August 22 a week ago calling for a Public Commission of Inquiry into the unusual number of deaths recently in the Malacca General Hospital, and the announcement by the Minister of Health, Tan Sri Lee Siok Yew, ordering a department inquiry, I have received further information from people of Malacca whose relatives or friends have died in the Malacca General Hospital recently.

I have invited all those in Malacca who have any information relating to the unusual number of deaths in the Malacca General Hospital during the time that the hospital’s autoclave (sterilisation plant) broke down to contact me or my colleagues at the DAP Malacca Office at 33A Jalan Munshi Abdullah, Malacca.
Continue reading Make sure all records and documents related to the recent Malacca General Hospital deaths be preserved and protected from any tampering

DAP Suggests Second Malaysia Plan Re-orientation to help the poor of all races

Speech by Parliamentary Opposition Leader and DAP Secretary-General, Mr.Lim Kit Siang to Party members at DAP Alor Star Branch on Sunday, 26th August, 1973 at 8.00p.m.

DAP Suggests Second Malaysia Plan Re-orientation to help the poor of all races and not to create a Class of Malay rich to keep company with the Non-Malay rich

The Second Five Year Malaysia Plan is well past its half way mark, and there are only 850 days left for the Plan.

All that the Alliance New Economic Policy has succeeded in doing is to create a new class of bumiputra rich while the masses of bumiputras and Non-Malays remain poor and down-trodden.

The DAP is opposed to an economic policy which make the rich richer and the poor poorer. We want the Second Malaysia Plan to be re-orientated to give emphasis or priority to the upliftment of the poor of all races and not, as of now, the creation of a bigger class of Malay rich to keep company with the non-Malay rich. Continue reading DAP Suggests Second Malaysia Plan Re-orientation to help the poor of all races

Second letter to the Minister of Health on the Malacca General Hospital Deaths

On 26th August, 1973 the Opposition Leader and DAP Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr.Lim Kit Siang, send the following second letter to the Minister of Health on the Malacca Hospital deaths. He made five proposals for an investigation into the deaths to satisfy public opinion and social conscience

26.8.1973

“Tan Sri Lee Siok Yew,
Minister of Health,
Ministry of Health,
Kuala Lumpur.

Dear Tan Sri,

Investigation Committee into Malacca Hospital deaths: Five proposals

The appointment of investigation committee members from outside the Ministry of Health into the Malacca Hospital deaths is a right decision.

However, as the Malacca Hospital deaths have greatly shaken public confidence in the hospital service, it is important that the people be convinced that there will be a full and free inquiry, and that there is no cause for anyone to feel that there had been any attempt to hush up the affair.

It is with this objective in mind, i.e. to fully restore public confidence in the hospital service that I wish to make five proposals concerning the investigation committee into the Malacca Hospital deaths:
Continue reading Second letter to the Minister of Health on the Malacca General Hospital Deaths

DAP calls on all State Government and all State Development Corporations to be model employers

Speech by Opposition Leader and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr.Lim Kit Siang, at a public rally held at Nibong Tebal, Province Wellesley on 25th August, 1973 at 9p.m.

DAP calls on all State Government and all State Development Corporations to be model employers and ensure that workers in all industries in which they have participation are given affair living wage

In Malaysia’s drive to industrialise and woo foreign capital, the Malaysian government must not lose sight of the interests of the workers and the working class.

A proper and just balance must be struck between the capitalist profit motive on the one-hand, and the worker and the public’s interests on the others.

It is unfortunate that on many instances, the government’s industrialisation programme seems to give a blank cheque to foreign and local industries to maximise their profit margin, regardless of the exploitation suffered by the workers in terms of sweated wages or by the public consumers in terms of overpriced products in a captive or protective domestic market. Continue reading DAP calls on all State Government and all State Development Corporations to be model employers

“Unusual: hospital deaths: DAP calls for probe

Statement on 25.8.1973:

DAP Secretary-General Mr.Lim Kit Siang today called for a full scale public inquiry into the unusually high rate of maternally and surgical deaths at the Malacca General Hospital between Aug.6 and 16.

“This high death rate connected with the breakdown of the autoclave – the sterilization plant – in the hospital” said Mr.Lim in a letter to Health Minister Tan Sri Lee Siok Yew today.

He added the Ministry should, in future, make sure that all equipment in hospital is in perfect order so that such cases would not recur.

He said during the breakdown of the autoclave bottles and containers were contaminated as they could not be properly sterilized.
Continue reading “Unusual: hospital deaths: DAP calls for probe

Letter to the Minister of Health on the Malacca General Hospital Deaths

Opposition Leader and DAP Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka Mr.Lim Kit Siang, on 24th August, 1973, sent the following letter to the Minister of Health, Tan Sri Lee Siok Yew urging a public Commission of Inquiry into the unusual number of deaths in the Malacca General Hospital in August during the break down of the sterilisation plant.

24.8.1973

Tan Sri Lee Siok Yew,
Minister of Health

Dear Tan Sri,

I appreciate your immediate action in asking for inquiry by your officials on my Press Conference statement in Malacca on 22nd August, 1973, on the unusually high rate of maternity, surgical and medical deaths in the Malacca General Hospital in the last month, especially during the period from August 6th to the 16th.

This is unusually high rate of maternity, surgical and medical death cases coincide with the breakdown of the autoclave – the sterilisation plant – in the Malacca General Hospital. As you are no doubt aware, with the breakdown or malfunctioning of the autoclave, bottles and containers will remain contaminated as they cannot be properly sterilised. Thus, blood, saline or glucose put into these bottles or containers for transfusion for patients will be contaminated in turn and such contaminated blood and saline transfusion into the bodies of the sick and weak can only lead to fatal results.
Continue reading Letter to the Minister of Health on the Malacca General Hospital Deaths

Criminal negligence in the General Hospital Malacca caused multiple deaths

Press Conference Statement by Opposition Leader and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr.Lim Kit Siang, in Melacca on 22.8.1973

Call for a public commission of inquiry into the gross criminal negligence in the General Hospital Malacca which has caused multiple deaths

I have called this press conference with sadness and anger to expose a black and heinous chapter in the administration of the Malacca General Hospital, and of the people of Malacca.

Between August 6 and 16, a period of some 10 days, the Malacca General Hospital became a death chamber. Unusual number of deaths occurred in maternity, surgical and even medical cases.

Routine cases of Caesarian operations, where deaths should not occur, ended up fatally. Continue reading Criminal negligence in the General Hospital Malacca caused multiple deaths

Youth and human right problems of the country

Speech by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, when addressing the DAP National Youth Council meeting at 77 Road 20/9, Paramount Garden, Petaling Jaya on Sunday, 19th August 1973 at 10.30 a.m.

Malaysian youths should address themselves to the basic human right problems of the country and other fundamental political, economic, social, and cultural issues

Malaysian youths, who comprise the majority of the population, should take a keen and active interest in basic human right problems and the fundamental political, economic, social, and cultural problems which impede potentialities, capabilities and opportunities.

Basic Human Rights

One of the basic human rights of every modern man is that he should not be discriminated on any grounds whatsoever. Continue reading Youth and human right problems of the country