He fell after being pushed during a minor pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

In the confusion, someone stepped on Mr Abdul Ghafur Mohd Ibrahim’s left ankle.

Today, the 59-year-old bus driver is recovering in a hospital in Jordan, with his left leg amputated after it was infected by flesh-eating bacteria.

Facing a rising medical bill that is at $123,000 currently, Mr Abdul Ghafar’s family is trying to raise money, along with the sum needed to repatriate him.

His son-in-law Mohamad Ameen Said Abdul Kadir, 37, told The Straits Times on Monday: “We’re shocked that a small ankle injury could become so serious. We were heartbroken when we learnt he was infected by flesh-eating bacteria.”

Mr Abdul Ghafur and his wife were part of a group that left Singapore on Dec 11 to perform their “umrah”.

After his fall, and towards the end of the pilgrimage, he discovered big blisters on his left foot.

As he was staying in Jordan then, he checked into Al Khalidi Hospital in Amman on Dec 23.

For the next three days, doctors gave the Malaysia-born Singapore permanent resident antibiotics to control the infection on his ankle, which was oozing pus.

Three members of Mr Abdul Ghafur’s family flew to Jordan on Dec 27 to keep his wife company.

AGGRESSIVE

Despite the antibiotics, the infection continued to spread aggressively, said Mr Ameen, an operations manager.

Mr Abdul Ghafur’s infection worsened after he developed high fever and low blood pressure and eventually, the left leg had to be amputated above the knee.

Today, the bacterial infection appears to be contained, although Mr Abdul Ghafur remains in intensive care and is being supported by a ventilator.

While he is recovering, his family has been saddled with a hefty medical bill.

A copy of the 35-page medical bill and medical report was shown to ST.

His 35-year-old daughter, who wanted to be known only as Madam Rabiathul, said “the medical fees are too high for us to cover”.

Through contributions made by strangers who had seen the family’s plea for donations on social media, the family has managed to raise around $32,000, which is still not enough.

They also expect the bill to increase.

Mr Ameen felt the $55 travel insurance his father-in-law had paid as part of the “umrah” package was “inadequate”.

ST understands that the travel insurance covers only $20,000 for hospitalisation and $50,000 for repatriation to Singapore.

Mr Ameen said: “The cheapest quote to fly him back to Singapore with proper medical attention is around US$120,000 ($174,000).

“And he is in no condition to fly.

“What is important for the family right now is to generate as much funds as possible. We’re thankful some help is coming our way.”

Mr Ameen said he had sought assistance from Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The family is also looking into Mr Abdul Ghafur’s personal accident insurance plan, which has a clause for permanent disability.

Mr Ameen said: “My father-in-law’s personal accident insurer needs to see him in Singapore where his condition will be examined and verified by the insurer’s doctor before any payout is made.”

Mr Abdul Ghafur’s plight was intially brought to light by netizens, including Ms Rubiah Suib, a colleague of Madam Rabiathul, who had appealed for donations on her Facebook on Dec 28.

Her post, which was one of many similar posts, was shared more than 500 times.

zaihan@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 4, 2017.
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The thing about addiction is that there will always be someone looking to exploit a weakness or a loophole for a quick buck.

That is partly why the illegal sales of cough medicine containing codeine persists.

A lucrative black market supply of codeine cough medicine thrives because there is a demand, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has said.

To further deter illegal pushers, HSA has raised fines for the first time in nearly 30 years.

Those who engage in the unlawful sale or import of codeine can now be fined up to $50,000 – five times the previous limit – and/or jailed for up to two years.

The stiffer penalties took effect on Nov 1.

Codeine works well at suppressing coughs but people can become addicted to the calming or euphoric effect it induces.

The fine revision is a sign that the authorities are not letting up, and comes as the black market price of codeine cough medicine soars.

DOUBLE

In 2015, the HSA said prices had nearly doubled.

A 90ml bottle of codeine cough medicine costs around $30 on the black market.

In 2010, a 110ml bottle was reportedly bought off the streets for $15.

The lure of bigger profits means the previous fine limit of $10,000 a charge might only have had a limited effect on discouraging the illegal trade.

Besides enforcement operations, the authorities monitor the sales, and release information and advisories to educate the public and healthcare professionals on the dangers of abusing codeine.

Things get murkier when there are black sheep among healthcare professionals who profit from the illicit trade.

The public can make a difference by raising the alert when a friend, colleague or family member is involved as over time, abuse of codeine can lead to organ damage and even death.

Raising fines alone may not be enough to stamp out the illegal supply chain.

Nonetheless, it is a vital part of measures to contain the codeine scourge.

chpoon@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 4, 2017.
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Cars will soon have to be far cleaner than they are today to qualify for green incentives.

The Government is reviewing the Carbon Emissions-based Vehicle Scheme (CEVS), which now dispenses rebates or surcharges based on how much carbon dioxide (CO2) a car or taxi emits.

A new scheme is likely to measure other pollutants emitted, such as nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and particulate matter, or soot from diesel cars.

The new scheme could kick in as early as July 1, when the current scheme expires.

However, the change could be delayed so as to be in line with the Euro 6 emission standards, which will take effect for petrol vehicles from September and diesel models from January next year.

The CEVS revision is likely to affect diesel vehicles most. Although they produce less CO2 than petrol equivalents, diesel engines tend to emit more nitrogen oxides, which is harmful to the environment and can also lead to serious health issues, and particulate matter.

Observers said this impending change to the new scheme could be why taxi companies like ComfortDelGro and SMRT have been ramping up their fleet of petrol-electric cabs.

Mr Neo Nam Heng, chairman of Prime group of companies which runs Prime Taxi, noted that in 2009, it was the first cab company to use hybrid cabs.

“Diesels have good CO2 levels, but the NOx (nitrogen oxides) and PM (particulate matter) are a real problem,” he said.

This is why a number of cities, including Paris and Madrid, are planning to ban diesel vehicles, he added.

Mr Neo, who is also adviser to the Automobile Importer and Exporter Association, said incentives like road tax exemptions should also be considered for petrol-electric hybrid commercial vehicles like vans and lorries.

He pointed out that these commercial vehicles, which are mostly diesels, account for nearly 60 per cent of Singapore’s total pollution from vehicles, even though they make up around 30 per cent of vehicles on the road.

Motor Traders Association president Glenn Tan said moving away from a carbon-centric scheme is “the way to go”.

“It is better to have a balance of various pollutants, rather than focusing just on CO2, which can be one-sided as… you are trying to reduce pollution on the whole,” he said.

Mr Clarence Woo, executive director of the Asian Clean Fuels Association, said moving towards a scheme that considers other pollutants is good news.

“CO2 causes global warming, even though it is not strictly a pollutant,” Mr Woo noted.

“So the focus has been on having more efficient engines, which reduces CO2, and indirectly reduces other pollutants. But I think we have to deal more directly with these other pollutants.”

The Land Transport Authority and National Environment Agency would not provide details when asked about the review.

In a statement, they said: “We are in the midst of reviewing the scheme and will share more details when ready.”

christan@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 4, 2017.
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SINGAPORE – Shortly before Mr Goh Chok Tong was to be fielded as a first-time candidate in the new constituency of Marine Parade in 1976, he realised that he had no party branch in the area to assist him.

Fortunately, a People’s Action Party (PAP) MP donated $2,000 from his branch to get Mr Goh started, and directed a few of his branch members to help Mr Goh. Several market stallholders – fishmongers and pork sellers among them – also stepped forward to help.

With their assistance, Mr Goh won the seat with 78.6 per cent of the vote, kickstarting a political career that would see him serve as Singapore’s second prime minister from 1990 to 2004.

Recounting the humble beginnings of the PAP’s Marine Parade branch as he marked 40 years as an MP in the constituency, he reminded grassroots volunteers that the PAP can never take the people’s support in Marine Parade for granted.

“I am telling you all this to give you a picture of the natural birth of the Marine Parade branch. We did not inherit the branch from anyone. We built it from scratch,” said Mr Goh, who is now Emeritus Senior Minister, at a dinner on Friday.

“Going forward, we must not assume that we will always poll more than 70 per cent in our Marine Parade ward. We should not even assume that we will always win.”

Mr Goh said the high points of his time in Marine Parade were winning his first electoral contest and a 1992 by-election victory.

He added that the 2011 General Election was a low point.

“When the result for Marine Parade was announced, I felt the deep disappointment and gloom in our supporters. I too did not expect Marine Parade GRC to poll only 55 per cent. It was a lesson in the vagaries of elections. What you had done for the people as an MP or PM did not matter as much as the prevailing mood of the people,” he said.

Therefore, the PAP cannot assume it will always prevail at the ballot box, said Mr Goh, giving several reasons.

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2016-05-18 15:21:47

Photo Gallery

Underground mall to be developed next to Marine Parade station

Source: Land Transport Authority, The Business Times

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For one thing, “I cannot be around for the next 40 years, it will be difficult for a new person to get the same support as me for various reasons”, said Mr Goh, who has won the Marine Parade seat 11 times over the years in 10 general elections and one by-election.

Also, older voters from the Pioneer Generation who lived through Singapore’s early struggles for survival will be “replaced by younger voters whose bond with the PAP is less instinctive, and more transactional”, he added.

With Singapore now a “settled democracy”, elections in future will depend more on the mood of the day that is influenced by prevailing politics, he said, adding that this means the PAP’s brand and track record will count for less.

Finally, opposition parties will grow and attract better qualified members, he said.

Pointing to how he has passed the baton to a younger team at his constituency, Mr Goh said whether Marine Parade remains with the PAP in future will depend on what the team does.

At the national level, he added, the fourth-generation leadership team was also taking shape and honing their political and leadership skills.

“They will make mistakes just as their predecessors did, but they must find and conquer their own mountain,” he said.

During the dinner, which was held at the Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy Hotel and attended by about 350 grassroots leaders and party activists, Mr Goh also thanked several party stalwarts who were key in building up the PAP’s Marine Parade branch.

They include Mr Tan Kin Lian, who contested and lost in the 2011 presidential election, and Mr S. Puhaindran, who ran the constituency on Mr Goh’s behalf when he was busy with his Cabinet duties.

Touching on what legacy he hopes to leave behind, he said: “Marine Parade must continue to be the best home in the land, as our Marine Parade song goes. It must be a 4G Home: Great, Gracious, Generous and Green. We must never hand over our lives’ work on a silver platter to some opposition party who had never even spent time here.”

Mr Yusof Lateef, 48, who is one of two branch secretaries in Marine Parade, said the mood at the dinner was nostalgic.

“It was good to see the early pioneers of the branch, there were a lot of hugs,” he said.

But Mr Yusof, who has been with the branch for 30 years, said he was heartened that Mr Goh spoke about the future as well.

“Mr Goh’s message was clear: The party must never cease in working for the people. We celebrated, but when the next Meet-the-People Session comes along, work starts anew,” he said.

This article was first published on Jan 3, 2016.
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