Monday, 12 July 2021

Second chance at life after stroke

Stroke survivor Betty Ng (centre) being her usual active self at the Walk for Health event before the pandemic. Photo: Nasam

https://youtu.be/-Gv278vvA-A

Retiree Betty Ng, who turned 70 in June, has been a stroke survivor for seven years. On her birthday, she started a campaign to raise funds for the National Stroke Association of Malaysia (Nasam).

“It was at Nasam that I recovered from my stroke as I went through physiotherapy and rehabilitation. It was also here that I got my second chance in life and met new friends which made me happy just to be alive,” says Ng

But, for the past one year, the pandemic has somewhat impacted activities at the centre. Although Nasam is still open for one-on-one therapy, there are no in-person group therapy activities and social events which are a major part of a stroke survivor's recovery process, she says.

“Stroke rehabilitation can take a heavy toll physically and emotional on a stroke survivor and their family members. But Nasam has always been a safe space where they can go to for recovery, meet other survivors and be motivated to embrace life after stroke,” she says.

This is why Ng wants to help raise funds for Nasam, an NGO that relies largely on donations from the public to stay afloat during the difficult pandemic time.

Betty Ng excitedly checking up on her SimplyGiving fundraising site. Photo: NASAM

“As an NGO, Nasam relies largely on public donations from members of the public – both corporations and individuals - in order to survive. So I hope that my initiative will help Nasam stay afloat during this time so that they can continue to serve the stroke community, ” says Ng.

The determined Ng, who suffered from a stroke in 2014 during surgery to remove a benign brain tumour, adds that she wants to be a motivator for all who have been stricken with stroke, because as a survivor herself, she understands what they’re going through.

After she had her stroke seven years ago, she could not stand, nor use her left hand or leg.

“I had problems eating, suffered from a slight speech impairment, couldn’t recall words and had difficulty completing sentences. I had to be bathed, dressed, and fed, and even to wear diapers,” she recounts.

“I felt really miserable because I couldn’t help myself. I wasn’t used to being dependent on anyone,” she says.

Ng was in hospital for six weeks and after she was discharged, she could walk with the aid of a quadripod walking stick, and was cared for by her daughter.

Determined to get back to normalcy quickly, Ng started exercising to strengthen her left arm and leg, and improve her speech.

“I pushed myself to the maximum as I was impatient to get back to as normal a life as possible,” she says.

Ng’s daughter would prepare her food and then go to work, but be back to help with Ng’s exercises in the evening.

“I was on my own the whole day, and would spend the time exercising, doing puzzles such as crosswords, and colouring to stimulate my brain.

“In the evenings, I would do my exercises – under the supervision of my daughter - which included walking up and down the stairs and to-and-fro without the walking stick,” says Ng.

Ng started rehabilitation daily at Nasam in Dec 2014, in addition to her rehabilitation at the hospital.

 Fourteen months after her stroke (in Aug 2015), she was certified fit to drive.

“I was thrilled because it gave me so much more independence. The following year, my daughter bought me a car and nothing stops me now ... except the MCO,” she says.

But, since the pandemic, Ng’s group rehabilitation sessions at the centre have come to a halt.

“The MCO has made things difficult because I’m not able to move around freely and frequently," she says.

  Before the first MCO last year, Ng used to spend a lot of time at Nasam and says it was “like a second home” for her and other stroke survivors.

Betty Ng (in orange) at The Stroke Games before the pandemic. Photo: NASAM

“I would bring my 90-year-old mother and also sisters along for the social gatherings and outings organised by Nasam. It gave us the opportunity to bond and have fun together as a family,” she says.

Ng says that Nasam has helped her grow her confidence and self-esteem.

“I’ve been given the opportunity to reach out to other stroke survivors and their families and I’m grateful for the chance to help others,” says Ng who now is a Nasam ambassador and also on its mentor-mentee programme.

As an ambassador, she helps create awareness through speaking at public forums about stroke and the challenges to recovery. For the mentor-mentee programme, she counsels and motivates stroke survivors who are going through difficulties.

Betty is now a Nasam ambassador and also on its mentor-mentee programme. Photo: NASAM

“I do this alongside Nasam’s founder and chairman Janet Yeo, who created and manages the platform,” she adds.

“Nasam has shown us that there is life after stroke by challenging stroke survivors to achieve a greater recovery by giving us so many wonderful experiences and opportunities like The Stroke Games, as well as social integration and empowerment to return to the community or back to work,” says Ng.

  “I started the fundraising campaign, which will run until Jul 17, because Nasam is like family to me. I want to help stroke survivors and see them able to lead a better life,” she concludes.

For more info, visit: SimplyGiving: There is life after stroke

Throughout the pandemic, the National Stroke Association of Malaysia (Nasam) remains open to serve stroke survivors and their families, who may need help with rehabilitation and support.

“Although we can’t conduct group therapy sessions nor have social activities – which are a very effective means of rehabilitation and psycho-social support for stroke survivors – during this time, one-on-one therapy sessions are still ongoing, ” says Nasam communications coordinator Vanaja Dhanan.

“Our group therapy sessions are now available on Zoom, ” she adds.

Creating public awareness

To motivate stroke survivors, Nasam also organises an annual Walk For Health event. Photo: Nasam

Nasam’s public awareness activities such as forums on stroke prevention and awareness, educational talks, and other such events, have also been shifted online during the pandemic.

“But even though we can do this through Zoom and other online platforms, there are certain segments of the community who have no access to online facilities, ” says Vanaja.

She adds that there has also been a decrease in participation in group therapy sessions as many stroke survivors can’t access the Internet because they don’t have device nor the support to do so.

“They may not have family members who are able to support them to get online at home. Some are also unable to follow these online sessions as they’re unable to process the information after their stroke, ” she explains.

And, although Nasam is open for face-to-face support during the various MCOs, following strict Health Ministry guidelines, there is still a lot of fear among the people to come out and seek support, she says.

“This too has impacted the recovery of stroke survivors, especially those with visual, spatial and cognitive issues, ” says Vanaja.

The rehabilitation of the stroke victims also centres around social outings and gatherings at Nasam, and these are also affected by the pandemic.

Nasam’s annual events such as The Stroke Games, Walk For Health and Food & Fun Fair, have all come to a halt during the pandemic.

Embracing the new normal

Nasam founder and chairperson Janet Yeo started Nasam in 1996 while she was recovering from a stroke. PhotoNasam>>:

During the various MCOs and lockdown, Nasam offers Telerehab via Zoom and WhatsApp both for group and one-on-one sessions, to support stroke patients going through rehabilitation. They also offer fun, recreational activities online such as cooking, crafting, karaoke and others.

There is also a Stroke Mentoring Facebook group, which is managed by Nasam founder and chairperson Janet Yeo who formed the association in 1996, when she herself was recovering from a stroke.

The mentoring group is supported by both Yeo and other stroke survivors who are able to counsel and help survivors going through difficulties because they themselves have gone through it before and understand what it involves.

Prevention is better than cure

Yeo highlights that that it’s very important for individuals in the high-risk group – smokers and those with conditions such as high blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes – to lead a healthy lifestyle.

“There needs to be a balance between work and leisure. For those who are working from home, be sure to set clear boundaries – a time when you’re available for work and a time when it’s your free time,” she says.

“It’s also important to stay physically active and exercise regularly. Take your medications and go for your medical check-up as scheduled,” she adds.

“Stay physically and mentally active. And, most of all - seek help if you need it. Don’t go through it alone,” says Yeo.

 Caregiving for a stroke survivor is no easy task and caregivers may often feel discouraged and alone. To help them, Nasam also has a Caregiver Support Group.

“Carers who are going through difficulties can be connected to a fellow caregiver or even a stroke survivor who is recovering well and able to help the family move ahead,” she says.

As an essential service, Nasam centres continue to operate throughout the pandemic, offering rehabilitation and therapy from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Stroke survivors or their family members can also call the Nasam Helpline at 018-222 1878 for support or help.

For more info, visit:nasam.org/

NASAM

goSMAC Sdn BhdHealth & Fitness

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Better access for stroke patients, and Helping stroke survivors in a pandemic

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Why should investors get out of the stock market?

3 influential factors that can make or break your stock market investment

My sole intention for writing this piece is to prevent investors from losing more money in the stock market.

Allow me to tell you briefly my back ground so that you can accept my advice to ask you to cash out from the stock market.

Dato Yap Lim Sen, my collegemate and I were the original founders of Mudajaya, Gamuda, IJM, IGB, Rubberex, MBM Resources, major controlling shareholder of Perodua Cars.

I have been investing in the stock market for more than 50 years. This is the first time I have practically sold all my stocks holdings and cashed out.

When you buy a stock, you hope to gain from share price increase and also dividend yield. In Malaysia all listed companies give out very small dividend. On record, Public Bank gives out the best dividend yield of about 5% per year. So, unless the stock price goes up, investors cannot make money.

What pushes the share up?

Among all the stock selection criteria such as account balance sheet, cash flow, NTA, no debt or cash rich etc, profit growth prospect is the most powerful catalyst to push up share price. Never buy any stock that has no profit growth prospect.

Why investors must believe in price chart?

Price chart cannot lie because it is a record of the daily trading. Down trend means there are more sellers than buyers in most days. Never buy a down trending stock.

A stock price can only go up if the company has reported increased profit. But if it reports reduced profit, its share price would drop because there would be more smart sellers than stupid buyers.

In the last 6 months, almost all the listed share prices have been dropping as shown on the KLCI Chart below. Why?

There are 2 main reasons for the listed companies’ share prices to drop.

1 Covid 19 pandemic

Covid 19 pandemic frequent lockdown restricts people’s movement and all listed companies’ business operation. Workers cannot go to work and business activities are reduced. As a result, almost all listed companies cannot report increased profit in the next few quarters until Covid 19 pandemic is fully under control. Many medical experts predicted that the pandemic will not be under control for at least 1 or more years. That simply means our stock market will be depressed for at least 1 or more years. The above KLCI chart shows that it has been dropping for the last 6 months and it will continue to drop for another 1 or more years.

2 Political Uncertainty

Investors do not like political uncertainty. In the last general election about 2 years ago, Pakatan Harapan won the right to form the Government and Dr Mahathir became the Prime Minister. Within a couple of months, he resigned suddenly and Muhyiddin became the PM by the back door. Currently he is seriously terminally ill with cancer in KL Hospital. Apparently, he has pancreatic cancer.

Who will be the next PM?

As you know, Politicians make rules and regulations which often affect business operation and their balance sheets which is creating more difficulties in making investment decisions.

That is why many investors especially foreign institutional investors are constant net sellers and some of them have already left the stock market.

Yesterday I posted my article namely “A safe strategy during the pandemic” in which I said the Covid 19 pandemic lockdown is affecting everybody’s movement. Workers cannot to go to work and all business operation will naturally slow down. Almost all the listed companies will not be able to report increased profit in the next few quarters until the Covid 19 pandemic is fully under control which will take at least 1 or more years.

For example:

All the steel products manufacturers have reported increased profit in their latest quarter due to the steel price increase. Currently, due to Covid 19 pandemic lockdown, workers cannot go to work to make steel products and construction workers also cannot go to work. Contractors will not require to buy steel products. As a result, all the steel products makers will report reduced profit in the next few quarters. Many smart investors already could foresee this situation. That is why Leon Fuat, the most profitable steel company price chart is showing down trend as you can see below.

Leon Fuat’s last traded price is 99 sen and its latest EPS for quarter ending March 2021 was 11.65 sen. Even if I assume its EPS for the next 3 quarters is the same as 11.65 sen, its annual EPS will be 46.6 sen. Leon Fuat is selling at PE 2.

Other Industries also suffer the same fate

In fact, almost all other industries also suffer the same fate as steel companies. For example, Supermax and Top Glove have to close down a few times because the government authorities found Covid 19 cases in their factories.

Supermax price chart below:

Investors must always remember price chart is the more important investment consideration than financial analysis. Down trend price chart means there are more smart sellers than stupid buyers.

Statistics shows that in the stock market, there are about 70 % of investors lose money, 10% of investors break even and only 20% of investors are real winners. But under the current condition all investors including myself are losing money.

All investors must examine their track record to their performance. Even if they have been winners, they should sell all their holdings as soon as possible before they lose more money and get out of the stock market completely.

My mistake

I must admit my mistake in recommending Leon Fuat recently because I did not foresee earlier how Covid 19 lockdown and our political uncertainty can cause serious damage to the stock prices. That is why I sold practically all my stock holdings and cashed out of the stock market.

A best strategy during the pandemic for all investors is to cash out because all listed companies will not be able to report increased profit in the next quarters..

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THE GLOCALISATION OF HUMANITY

https://youtu.be/oS5QqS9C_xw

Few Westerners see the irony of a supposedly closed China celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), when communism was born but essentially rejected in the West. What was it about Marx that resonated with Chinese civilisation that prided itself with its own ancient and enduring philosophy? (PIC: Chinese President Xi Jinping waves as he attends a gala in connection with the anniversary - AP)

"Globalisation is interpreted as universalisation of American or European values and standards. But the fact remains that these standards and rules were imposed historically by conquest, colonisation and force".

China Does Not Recognize The Rule-Based International Order imposed historically by Conquest, Colonisation and Force !

https://youtu.be/_ThU1vvW0A4

China has never interfered in the internal affairs of other countries and never obstructed their development. It will never accept any country interfering in China's internal affairs and obstructing its development. Today's China has long been different from the China of 100 years ago. No one and no force should underestimate the Chinese people's firm will and strong ability to defend national sovereignty, security, and development interests.

WHY is Marxism thriving in China and not in Marx’s place of birth? Why is Buddhism more practiced in East Asia than in India? Why has Islam more followers outside Saudi Arabia?

Ideas and religion spread through globalisation, but it was really their localisation that created more believers and followers.

What succeeded was not globalisation, but glocalisation, the internalisation of universal ideas and beliefs by the many, and not just the few.

Few Westerners see the irony of a supposedly closed China celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), when communism was born but essentially rejected in the West.

What was it about Marx that resonated with Chinese civilisation that prided itself with its own ancient and enduring philosophy?

London School of Economics Emeritus Professor Megnai Desai, writing on “Marx’s Revenge”, made the shrewd observation that the Chinese Revolution in the 20th century was very different from the French and American Revolutions in the 18th century.

The French Revolution was a domestic rebellion against the monarchy and the landed gentry, whilst the American Revolution was rebellion against British foreign domination

Both created republics and preached equality, liberty and freedom, but both went on to create empires, one by conquering lands from the native Indians and Mexico, and the other through Napoleon’s rampage in Europe.

The Chinese Revolution was different because it was simultaneously a struggle against foreign invasion (Japanese and earlier Eight Nations Alliance) as well as the Nationalist government that favoured the capitalist and landed classes.

The CCP won because it represented the rural peasantry, rather than adopting the Comintern strategy of starting the revolution from the cities. In short, the CCP localised universal Communism with Chinese characteristics. It was practical rather than ideological.

By the time of the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1911, Chinese thinkers struggled with what would replace the old order.

The country fell into warlordism. The Nationalist Party under Sun Yat-sen struggled to balance the conservative wing that represented the landlords and capitalists, and the left wing influenced by Communism and socialism.

Chinese revolutionaries followed closely the Russian Revolution in 1917, because it was then the most recent model of social transformation. The Chinese elite understood that the rebuilding of China from the collapse of the old order was a monumental task. The country was backward and the uneducated masses were unprepared for modernity, vulnerable to foreign conquest.

Even though they felt the burden of history, they also understood that there was no parallel in history on the scale of Chinese transformation.

The Chinese Left took to Marxian thinking because Marx gave both a historical and political economy perspective on how capitalism would evolve, as well as a philosophical tool in terms of Hegelian dialectics.

Marx used the profound insights of the Prussian philosopher Hegel that transformations come from contradictions of opposites, in which change will not happen in a smooth line, but through revolution or discontinuity.

Marx’s discovery of dialectic materialism – in everything, the contradiction and interaction between opposites lead to the destruction of the old and emergence of the new – was music to the ears of those who sought a path out for the New China.

Furthermore, the fundamental ideas of dialectics were very similar to the Chinese yin-yang philosophy of the I Ching and Dao Dejing. As Lenin put it, “dialectics is the study of the contradiction within the very essence of things. Development is the struggle of opposites.”

Having theory is one thing, but putting these ideas into practice is another. We can only appreciate China’s miraculous transformation from a backward economy to the second largest economy in the world by understanding that this was done through essentially three dictums: “seek truth from facts”, crossing the river by feeling the stones” and “it doesn’t matter whether a cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice.”

In other words, make fact-based decisions, always try or test under uncertainty, and above all, be practical and have an open mind. Change is a process between conflicting contradictions. There is no absolute black and white.

Historian Ray Huang, one of the finest sinologists of his generation and a former Nationalist soldier, wrote in the Preface to his classic “China: A Macro-History”: “Chinese history differs from the history of other peoples and other parts of the world because of an important factor: its vast multitudes.

In the imperial period as well as in the very recent past, practical problems had to be translated into abstract notions in order to be disseminated.

In turn, at the local level the message had once again to be rendered into everyday language.”

It is the reduction of very complicated policies into simple language that the Chinese people had to understand and own that enabled them to buy into the transformation, despite the huge sacrifices at the individual and community levels. The people’s eyes are clearer than those of the elites.

The US-China rivalry has done the world a favour by contrasting very fundamental worldviews. When the West preaches a value and rules-based order, what is meant is that freedom, democracy and individual rights are absolute – essentially a zero-sum “my way or no way.” Globalisation is interpreted as universalisation of American or European values and standards. But the fact remains that these standards and rules were imposed historically by conquest, colonisation and force.

When China, Russia, India or any other country deviates or disagrees with that, then they must be contained, confronted or sanctioned. Localisation or being different is almost seen as deviant rather than a celebration of diversity.

Civilisations reach their highest levels through tolerance and openness. When they become inward-looking, fundamentalist and mono-thinking, fragility and decay sets in.

The world is simultaneously becoming more global in inter-connectivity, even as regionalisation, fragmentation and localisation speeds up.

Glocalisation, the simultaneous contradiction between global and local, is to be welcomed, rather than feared.

The future will always be open, uncertain and contradictory. Such diversity is the nature of humanity.

Andrew Sheng comments on global affairs from an Asian perspective. The views expressed here are his own