As concerned parents, we sincerely hope that malaysiakini could provide up-to-date information on the hand, foot and mouth (HFM) disease that has taken the life of four Malaysian children to date.

As usual, this episode is not given prominence in the local dailies and we are at a loss as to what is happening. We hear of all nurseries being closed only to be declared reopen the next day.

Regardless of political affiliations, this issue affects all Malaysians and a true picture would be reassuring and helpful.

We Malaysians are by nature reactive rather than proactive, so how many more deaths must be reported before we declare a national outbreak? A similar state of denial occurred during the Nipah/Japanese Encephalitis virus tragedy.

I believed all concerned parents would appreciate it if malaysiakini could devote a daily update on this dreaded disease and put politics on hold, and advise our ministers that it should not happen to any of our children, never mind our political beliefs. Do we always need a tragedy to happen before anything can be done?

Health Minister Chua Jui Meng, please hear us out as concerned parents. Surely you have grandchildren at such vulnerable ages?