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The egg bank technology should be given a chance to develop.

The percentage of success will undoubtedly rise, perhaps even dramatically, given time and effort.

After all, most studies on animals have been reassuring. They are a good indicator on how effective the outcome will correspondingly be on human beings.

The rate of congenital abnormalities through this method is low.

it is , in fact,  comparable with that seen among children conceived naturally.

We should support medical research which is designed or intended to benefit people in the short or long term.

It must be noted that an enormous amount of medical reseacrh and development had come about in the last century.

Such breakthroughs must be supported.

It would be a reasonable assumption that this “egg now on ice and baby later” medical phenomenon will bear more fruit and become a boon to those requiring it, of whom the numbers will undoubtedly increase.

I suggest that we look at the matter in its wider context and not in isolation.

Mervin s. singhe

Kuala Lumpur

New Straits Times

I don’t see why we should shop at wet markets when there are many hypermarkets that sell goods which are just as cheap or a lot less. We can also shop in relative comfort at hypermarkets.

It can be a fun day out for the family as there is something for everyone to do.

Wet markets can perhaps retain their relevance if they undergo a metamorphosis.

They shuold be housed in complexes, have cleaner environment and offer goods at prices lower than the hypermarkets.

Mei Kuan

Johor Bahru

New Straits Times

There is an appalling dearth of documentaries on terretrial TV. Every channel seems to reel out only dramas, game shows, moovies, cartoons, cooking shows, sit-coms or reality TV shows.

Where are all the documentaries that promote awareness of nature, animals and the environment? With all the concerns about recycling, conservation and green environment, why are there no such documentaries?

Though TV1 is currently promoting its National Geographic  series ( every day at 7pm), it is so outdated.

The series were produced in 1989. That’s information from 20 years ago and absolutely useless now or irrelevant.

For a progressive nation, please show more good quality documentaries.

W.T.M.

Klang

New Straits Times

I refer to your report ” warning on credit card 2pc” ( NST, Nov 24)

The report quotes Second Finance minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah as advising credit card users to report to the authorities if any merchant transfer the two per cent surcharge on any transaction to them.

However, he did not identify which government agency the report should be made to.

Some merchants charge more than two per cent. Even low-cost airlines operating out of Malaysia charge a fee for the purchase of ticket online.

I made a booking with AirAsia and purchased my air ticket online on Nov24, I was charge RM 10 for using a credit card to make payment.

I made only one transaction and an electronic ticket was issued for my outbound and return flights, but I was charge RM 5 each way. The RM 10 fee was stated on the e-ticket as a convenience fee.

How does the airline expect payment to be made if not by using a credit card?

With only e-tickets issued, the only way for the would-be traveller to purchase his ticket is online and make payment using a credit card.

William Dennis

Subang Jaya

New Straits Times

The flood situation in Terengganu and Kelantan is forecast to worsen in the next few days. In view of this, I must ask : Is it fair to the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia candidates in these states to continue with the examination as scheduled?

It is not just about shifting examination centres to schools on higher ground. It should be more about whether the candidates can reach their examination centres safety.

It saddens me to see on television candidates srambling into four-wheel drive and other vehicles to go to their centres in pouring rain.

I pity candidates who have to move into relief centres. how are they doing their revision? How can they have the peace of mind and concentration to study/

The Education Ministry may not want to postpone the exam for it will cause a chain reation that may throw off schedules the making of scripts and the release of results.

But, the ministry is not without recourse. It has a second set of exam papers for every subject in case of emergencies like this.

If the exam is to continue in states unaffected by floods, the ministry can still postpone the exam in the affected states.

The ministry can use the second set of exam papers for the posponed subjects.

Yes, it will involve more work for ministry. but, we must be fair to the affected candicates. So please consider postponing the exam when and where necessary.

liong Kam Chong

Seremban

New Straits Times

I wish to share my experience  visiting Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia ( PPUKM)

PPUKM is an excellent medical centre. What ’s not so good is its ineficient patient-calling system.

I went to the emergency department and was registered at 4.20pm. I didn’t get to see a doctor until four hours later.

Only when I accosted  the nurse in charge of the outpatient department did she pull out my file to show to the doctor who demanded to know why four hours had elapsed before the file was handed to him.

The reason why patients wait for hours before they are called is that the patient-calling done manually, meaning that the nurse is the only person who decides who to call and when to call a patient to see the doctor.

I remember that on a few previous visits to the medical centre, I also had to accost the nurse on duty before I was allowed to see a doctor.

If I had waited in the waiting room, the chances are I might not have called in at all.

M.B.P.
Cheras, Selangor

New Strait Times

It was shocking to read reports that criminals have no qualms about targeting the disabled and the elderly. We are told that even charity based centres are not spared.

Also, the blind are not let alone. They are molested, whether on the streets or in the passageways of their adobe. When they lodge police reports, they are not taken seriously. Braile is not available to them when it comes to filling forms.

The deaf are also disadvantaged as police officers are not trained in sign language.

Incidents of the disable being targeted by criminals never emerged on our mainstream radar before but now seem to be commonplace. The saddest part of it all is that these handicapped victims are overly vulnerable to attack and abuse by criminals at large. And they suffer in silence.

Generally, our country is prosperous and its people compassionate. It is high time a national long term care scheme ( including insurance) for the seriously disabled was launched.

we sometimes groan and moan over minor inconveniences we face, but surely these pale into insignificance when compared with the life sentence of agony and victimisation of these disabled and elderly folk.

We must show zero tolerance for these criminals. The handicapped must be protected; they must feel safe as they go about their daily lives. They must not fear for their lives, their friends lives or their neighbours’. We who are not handicapped are obligated to introduce and oversee measures to better protect the disabled and the elderly.

The government has the interested and intend to protect the disadvantaged. The time has come to turn policy into action. What we must have is a National Disability Scheme.

This year will not be a Merry Christmas for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia Examiners making the English papers. We Will be having a coordination meeting starts the day after Christmas. Of Course, we will not be able to be with our aged parents or ” Balik Kampung” as we will have to travel back on Christmas Day.

Many of the examiners celebrate Christmas,  so how can the meeting be held so soon after Christmas ?

Those who had to go for a kursus induksi ( induction course) earlier this year were also not spared because it was held from Oct 15 to 30 and Deepavali fell on Oct 17.

Holy Saturday, which is a day after Good Friday, is an Easter holiday  usually celebrated in April. Instead of preparing for Easter at home, teachers will be at school for the nationwide ” Gotong -Royong Perdana”.

This year, Holy Saturday was a school day because it was a replacement day for Hari Raya which was in September. We hope this unhappy situation can be rectified.

C.S.
Taiping
New Straits Times

Carrefour must be commended for implementing a ” no plastic bag” policy at three of its outlets for a start. I hope this policy will eventually be implemented at all its outlets.

It cannot be denied that plastic bags play a useful role as a modern -day convenience for shoppers and shopkeepers alike. Neither can it be denied that plastic bags pose a real environmental and health hazard.

the benefit of a “no plastic bags” policy is cost -saving the company will enjoy, as plastic bags do not come cheap. And dare we hope?) Carrefour ( and eventually all other hypermarkets) can pass on these savings in the form of lower – priced goods. Thus, the policy kills two birds with one stone: mitigating environmental degradation and controlling inflation.

To overcome the ” convenience syndrome” of modern -day shoppers and the bad rubbish-dumping habits of the public, perhaps Carrefour ( and eventually all hypermarkets) can come out with trendy shopping bgs. It would be a win-win situation, creating happiness for both sellers and buyers.

Tam Yong Yuen
Muar
New Straits Times

I wish to thank Astro for screening the 10 shortlisted short films in the Vellithirai Short Film Contest over the Vellihirai channel 202.

The 10 short films produced by locals were screened from Monday o Friday earlier this month. Each day, two short films were shown. Each short film was about 10 to 15 minutes long and touch on a variety of themes and social concerns of Indian Malaysians.

the films were skillfully crafted and of great appeal to short story enthusiasts. They were indeed a breath of fresh air compared with the lenghty serials viewers are inundated with day after day.

I hope more such films will be produced in future for the development of the short film industry and to instil greater awareness among the audience. Maybe Astro could repeat last year’s short films. They are indeed worth a secod viewing.

S.Y.
Seremban

New Straits Times