Experts accept circumcision is a sensitive issue, tied in to social and religious traditions. During sectarian fighting in India, Muslims and Hindus at one time would tell friend from foe by pulling down their trousers - all Muslims were circumcised.

But research suggests men and women in Africa would accept male circumcision if it lowered the risk of Aids, and WHO experts yesterday held out the prospect of cultural change over a decade or more. Catherine Hankins, associate director of the WHO, said that within about a decade in the 1980s and 1990s, South Korea went from no circumcision of boys to circumcising 90%, influenced by the example of the US.

Circumcision could bring many benefits in the long term - it is estimated that universal male circumcision in sub-Saharan Africa, where HIV/Aids is most prevalent, could prevent 5.7 million new infections and 3 million deaths over 20 years.

The logistics of rolling out circumcision are formidable for impoverished countries burdened with Aids and already struggling to test, counsel and treat all who arrive at their clinics. The WHO is recommending they first focus on adult males, even though the procedure is easier in babies, because it is most urgent to reduce infections in the sexually active age group.

It emphasises the importance of sensitivity, counselling and a lack of coercion when offering circumcision and that those who perform it are trained and perform the procedure in a hygienic setting. The WHO also wants donor governments to help fund programmes.

Dr de Cock said the meeting of experts that decided on the guidance disagreed on little, although "there are people who are very concerned that male circumcision has such heavy social and cultural connotations that they would want more data from the world of social science before making any recommendations".

Some spoke in terms of "symbolism and assault on the body's integrity", he said. But set against that was the weight of the disaster that Aids represented in Africa. "The thing to me that comes closest to the Aids epidemic for its assault on African culture is slavery," said Dr de Cock.

At a glance: Circumcision

Circumcision is almost as old as mankind. The first evidence of the ritual removal of all or part of the foreskin as a rite of puberty comes from aboriginal tribes around or before 10,000 BC, followed by communities in north-eastern Africa and the Arab peninsula some 4,000 years later.

The Jewish tradition of male circumcision dates back to the book of Genesis, part of the Torah, which told of God's command to Abraham that he should circumcise himself and his sons. Circumcision was considered a sign of the Covenant.

Jesus was circumcised, but St Paul ruled that converts to Christianity did not need to undergo the operation. In 570, Muhammad was born "already circumcised" which is said to have given rise to universal circumcision among Muslim men.

As the centuries moved on, arguments raged over circumcision. The foreskin was identified as the most sensitive part of the penis by the Italian anatomist Jacopo Berengario da Carpi in the 15th century. In the 1800s removal of the foreskin became widespread in Britain and the US to prevent boys masturbating. About a quarter to a third of the world's males are circumcised, most of them Muslim or American.

Ahah .. perhaps Malaysia can 'export' her expertise in this area .. and we can offer a 'traditional' experience with the banana stem or a more modern experience using the laser. Perhaps we can also produce a CD of the event as done in the villages with the 'tudung saji' on top of the affected area. Can also be a 'circumcision cum tour' as in ecotourism but 'circumtourism' ... get snipped and a holiday as well ... calling all tok mudim .. aiyaa.. tak tau lah ...

NST 28 March 2007 - 453 housing developers blacklisted by Heidi Foo

The remaining 290 developers were found to have failed to settle compound notices issued to them for failing to produce their respective progress reports (Laporan Kemajuan Projek).

"We will run a check to see if they have been previously blacklisted. The names of the directors involved will remain on our list and they are not allowed to operate under new development firms or undertake new projects until they have complied with the tribunal order or settle the compounds.

"We are taking a more aggressive approach which includes raiding developers’ premises to ensure they obey the laws.

"While it is our role to protect the interest of housebuyers, we are also aware that the developers contribute much to the growth of the economy. Therefore, we want to ensure that the housing sector maintains a healthy growth," said Parameswaran.

He said the ministry had received more than 16,500 complaints from the public between 2001 and 2006. The complaints have been classified under 13 categories.

"The most number of complaints received falls under the category of ‘Liquidated Assessment Damages’ which recorded a total of 3,611 cases while the lowest was 97 cases under the ‘Infrastructure’ category. Of the 3,611 cases, 1,978 were solved," he said.

Last year, Selangor recorded 2,029 complaints which was the highest compared with other states. The complaints made up 45 per cent of the total complaints recorded.

Kuala Lumpur was the second highest with 1,291 complaints.

He also said about RM1.6 million was collected from 1,051 developers who were issued with compound notices from 2003 till Dec 31 last year.

"The use of such technology will help ensure the benefits of ICT reach all the way to the grassroots segment of our society, instead of being restricted to a privileged few," he said at the launch of the Siemens Digital Lifestyle Awareness Showcase programme here yesterday. Najib described the existing digital divide as a factor contributing to the "new poverty" among those left out of the advances of the information age.

"Promoting ICT usage as a culture in this country would enrich our society as a whole, including people such as farmers and petty traders who could benefit from the information they can get from the Internet."

He lauded the move by Siemens Networks Malaysia and its partner in the programme, Telekom Malaysia Bhd, for providing an affordable broadband to rural areas.

Doering said the government and Telekom Malaysia had been open and ready to try out new technology especially in remote areas and this would help the nation’s mission to narrow the gap that once existed between advanced countries and developing countries.

For heaven's sake, what is this hard up for narrowing the digital gap. You think the poor farmer who has to work his butt off everyday just for some food on the table will be too concerned whether he can get on the Internet. What bull is this?? What is more IMPORTANT is the poverty-divide.