SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) swept Hong Kong and the World creating unprecedented havoc and devastation to people around us. Nobody expected it to come and of course all were clueless about it. Even with advances in sciences, its identity, treatment and cure is unfortunately still at a very primitive stage.
Hence, I feel that having able to cope with such a sudden attack of virus with no warning signs and signals, we should not only give credit to the front line health workers but to the Government officials as well. Today marks the last day for Dr Yeoh, the Secretary of Health, Welfare and Foods in Hong Kong. He tendered his resignation a the day before my HKU medicine interview which was 7th July, this year. His resignation was to simply put an end to the whole saga just for a fresh start and move on. Guess this is called sacrificial politics. And having served the HK Government for 33 years, I am sure he is still trying to recover from a bleeding heart and adjusting to a sudden fate.
If I am not wrong there is this phrase in Malay that says that a drop of the ink in a barrel of milk will taint the whole barrel altogether. Well, no one will ever remember all the good deeds you have done and contributed in the past but will never forget that mistake you have made. Think the same theory goes for the Yellow Ribbon Programme which is trying to promote a new lease of life for ex-convicts and erase the stereotypes people have.
To err is human. They have closed an episode for people around them by resigning or having to be punished for their mistake. But, who will close the episode for them?
Guess one of the most invaluable moral values that we have learnt since the beginning of time is compassion and by giving them a second chance, I feel is one of the highest form of it.
