theSun | WEDNESDAY JUNE 10 2009 5

news without borders

Ministry can enforce

Driving healthcare travel quarantine ZA
A(H1N1)

INFLUEN

HO
KUALA LUMPUR: Health Min-

TLINE
ister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai
yesterday reminded the public
that the ministry has every right
to quarantine anyone in the

03

country found to have symptoms
of the A (H1N1) flu.
He said that as such, in the
event of anyone refusing to be
quarantined, the ministry can
seek the help of the police to
apprehend him to be placed
under quarantine.
Liow speaks “The ministry has the power
with doctors under the law to quarantine
after the anyone, and as for those who go
launch. On the against the law, the police will
left is Health handle them,” Liow said after
Ministry launching the Malaysia Health
director- Tourism logo and website here
general yesterday.
Tan Sri Dr Liow was commenting on
Mohd Ismail an incident in which a Canadian
Merican and man with symptoms of H1N1
(right) Private
went missing from quarantine
at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital.
Hospitals
A search party comprising
Association
the police and hospital personnel
Malaysia
found the 49-year-old expatriate
president at his condominium on Jalan Tun
Datuk Dr Razak hours later.
Jacob Thomas. He was, however, discharged
00
-8
881 /3
0200
later the same day when his test
results proved negative.
Liow said there had been no
local transmission of H1N1 and
no new confirmed case after
a seventh case was reported
on Saturday. Five patients con-
firmed to have H1N1 had been
discharged yesterday and
another two were receiving
treatment in hospital.
Meanwhile, 105 people sus-
pected to have H1N1 were still
under quarantine, after 74 were
discharged yesterday.
Liow said that if the World
Health Organisation raised the
H1N1 alert level from five to six,
the ministry would introduce
new screening procedures
including screening passengers
in aircraft from high local trans-
mission countries like the United
States and Mexico.

by Giam Say Khoon

newsdesk@thesundaily.com
Private Hospitals of Malaysia to shore up the industry
by consolidating the strengths of government and Malaysian is Singapore’s
KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry yesterday
launched a “Malaysia Healthcare” logo and website as
private hospitals.
“We hope that such a platform will improve the
quality of our medical practitioners and increase the
latest H1N1 patient
part of a concerted effort to promote medical tourism space to unearth their potential. SINGAPORE: The city state has hospital only on Monday. He was
in the country. “When the industry is gradually developed, we confirmed two more cases of later admitted to the Communi-
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, who will be able to attract top medical practitioners from the A (H1N1) flu, bringing its total cable Disease Centre (CDC) of a
number to 17. local hospital which last night
launched the branding exercise, said the logo with its overseas, and this will be good for the healthcare
The Health Ministry said confirmed his infection.
tagline “Quality care for peace of mind” was among industry.”
yesterday these were imported The 17th case is a 25-year-old
collaborative efforts between the government and the Earlier, Liow said the number of foreign patients in Malaysian – a stewardess with
private sector. cases with a travel history to
Malaysia had increased almost ten-fold from 39,114 in Singapore Airlines – who devel-
affected areas, and that the
“The website (www.myhealthcare.gov.my) will 1998 to 374,063 last year, and revenue generated from oped symptoms in Melbourne
patients, including a Malaysian
serve as a gateway for potential patients and visitors their hospital bills had risen from RM14.1 million woman who works here, have on Friday while on holiday
to explore what the Malaysian healthcare services to RM299 million in the same period – a compound relatively mild symptoms and there.She returned to Singapore
sector has to offer in terms of medical treatment growth rate of 35.7%. are in stable condition. on Emirates EK405 on Sunday,
options, and state-of-the-art health and medical facilities, He said statistics indicate that the healthcare Indians The ministry said in a state- but not having a fever at the
as well as general information on Malaysia,” he said. services industry has the potential to become a new protest ment the 16th patient was time, was not picked out by the
Thirty-five private hospitals in the country have source of income that can be tapped and expanded. a 40-year-old Indian national airport’s thermal scanner, the
been identified to promote the healthcare travel “The multiplier effect of health tourism would in Sydney working in Singapore who went ministry said.
programme, Liow said, adding that the government be a boost for other tourism-related industries such after new to Melbourne, Australia on a On visiting a clinic for a non-
hoped more hospitals and dental clinics would par- as hotel and transportation because foreign patients attack business trip on May 31 and flu related medical condition on
ticipate. with accompanying family and friends would also returned on Singapore Airlines Monday, she was referred to the
He said the ministry would propose to the cabi- use these services. pg 7 SQ238 on Saturday. CDC which confirmed her infec-
net the establishment of a healthcare travel council “All these would translate into an increase in He developed symptoms of tion. The ministry said contact
which would work with the Economic Planning Unit, foreign exchange which bodes well for the Malaysian H1N1 the following morning, but tracing had been initiated for the
relevant government agencies and the Association of economy.” sought treatment at a private latest cases. – Bernama

Comparison of salaries
in 2008 and 2009

Where there’s still a demand for skilled people 2008 2009

by Hemananthani Sivanandam
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
KUALA LUMPUR: Despite the global
financial meltdown, there continue
to be employment opportunities in
information technology, engineering,
digital systems and telecommunica-
tions, call centres, healthcare, Islamic
banking and finance.
There is also a continued demand
for people with specialised skills in
areas such as marketing, business
development, healthcare and mec-
hanical engineering.
These were some of the findings
of the latest Malaysia Employment
Outlook and Salary Guide issued by
Kelly Services (M) Sdn Bhd, based
on discussions with its clients in
Malaysia in the last quarter of 2008
and first quarter of this year.
The guide, released yesterday,
excludes income from bonuses,
allowances and employer EPF
contributions and is solely based on
basic salary.
Asked how this year’s findings on
people with specialised skills differed
from 2008, Kelly Services Malaysia
vice-president and country general
manager Melissa Norman said the
findings were contrary to the general
perception of unemployment.
“We’re talking about a market
where people say there isn’t going
to be an increase in salary due to
the downturn. So when people jump
jobs, it’s basically a lateral move,
but what we’re saying is that now,
even when people jump jobs, they
are seeing a salary hike in these
particular industries regardless of
the situation,” she said.
Norman said the battle for skilled
IT talents is unabated especially in IT
outsourcing and shared services.
“Increased competition in the
telecommunications market and
roll-out of new broadband services
has provided strong demand in both
cellular and broadband segments.”
She said minimum and maximum
salaries for a skilled workforce in IT,
competent in areas such as C, C++,
Java, had registered a 3% increase.
Skilled people in managerial roles
with more than six years of experi-
ence in the engineering and technical
sectors are also much sought after,
reflected by an 8%-11% increase in
minimum salaries. Among the “hot”
jobs available in these sectors are
heads of quality, senior project man-
agers, sales and civil engineers.
There is also a continued hiring
trend by call centres especially for
people proficient in multiple lang-
uages.
In banking and finance, the guide
Banking and finance
noted a 3% increment in minimum them an opportunity to upskill them-
and maximum salaries for people with selves in soft skill areas, and be ready Auditor (2-5 yrs experience)
more than five years of experience for an upswing in the job market.” Min. salary RM 2,800 RM 3,000
such as auditors, assistant branch It was also found that many Max. salary RM 3,800 RM 4,800
managers and finance supervisors. organisations deferred hiring perma- Finance Supervisor
Although the employment out- nent staff and opted for contractual
Min RM 2,700 RM 3,000
look for some industries continues to or temporary jobs.
improve, manufacturing, the electri- Although there would be a con- Max RM 3,500 RM 4,000
cal sector and electronics, logistics tinued increase in this trend, it would
and warehousing have been affected not overtake the permanent employ- IT
by the slowdown and have become ment workforce, Norman said. Web Sphere Application Developer
very selective and cautious in hiring, She said contractual and tempo- (3-5 yrs experience)
resulting in a 8%-15% drop in mini- rary employment would appeal to Min RM 3,500 RM 3,800
mum and maximum salaries. Generation-Y (Gen-Y) people born Max RM 6,500 RM 7,500
Fresh graduates with no work between 1978-1995 who are moti-
experience as well as non-skilled vated by different life factors. Unlike Service Delivery Manager
candidates face a record 8%-15% previous generations, Gen-Y do not (4-8 yrs experience)
reduction in minimum salary. believe in loyalty to employers and Min RM 4,500 RM 4,800
Norman said this was because are not intimidated by authority. Max RM 8,800 RM 10,000
many organisations, looking for “They are creative, adventurous
immediate results, preferred to hire and very much into learning. There- Engineering
people with skills and experience. fore they will love temporary jobs Chemical Engineer
“They are looking for people who because they are not tied down in
Min RM2,500 RM 2,500
can hit the ground running and this one place and have the freedom to
would generally be the people with move,” Norman explained. Max RM 4,000 RM 4,500
more experience. Asked about stabilisation of the QA Inspector (4-5 yrs experience)
“The reason for there being many workforce, she said the company Min RM 2,500 RM 3,000
unemployed graduates in the market forecasted an economic turnaround Max RM 4,000 RM 5,000
today is that they can’t interact and by the fourth quarter of this year and
engage well,” she said, adding that the first quarter of 2010. Logistics/Warehousing
graduates need to upskill themselves “This is based on a human res-
by taking opportunities provided by ource perspective. We’re going to have Shipping Supervisor (3-4 yrs experience)
the government. to wait for the wave in the US to settle. Min RM 2,000 RM 1,800
“The train and place programme It will stabilise, but I don’t think it will Max RM 2,800 RM 3,000
introduced by the government gives be at a position it was a year ago.”