After issuing 25 press statements o­n the dengue epidemic to no effect, a desperate DAP today lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) to appeal for the help of the country's highest authority o­n human rights.

"The right to life is the most basic and fundamental of all human rights. [It is] the real mother of all human rights, without which all the other important human rights...become academic," DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang told Suhakam.

"The nation's worst dengue epidemic is still raging unchecked, claiming more and more human lives every day, denying the right to life of the victims as a result of continued mishandling [by the Health Ministry]."

Referring to the scores who died, he said "every unnecessary and avoidable death has been denied the most basic and fundamental of human rights - the right to live - and should be the subject of Suhakam concern and investigation."

Lim added that no o­ne could be sure how long the current epidemic will continue.

"It could be another four, six or eight months," he said.

Special committee

Lim also took the Health Ministry to task for not releasing any official statistics o­n dengue cases and deaths last year and this year.

He pointed out that a Sin Chew Daily compilation of Health Ministry figures which gave a total of 57 deaths and 32,289 confirmed dengue cases last year "falls far short" of the tally given by the various state health officials or exco members, mass media reports and anecdotal accounts.

Health Minister Chua Jui Meng when quizzed o­n the issue earlier conceded the increase of cases but denied it was an outbreak.

Lim urged the human rights commission to set up a committee - headed by its chairperson Abu Talib Othman and at least three commissioners - to deal urgently with the complaint.

'Very depressing'

Suhakam should also visit three villages which have recorded a substantial number of dengue cases, namely Kampung Bengali in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan; Kampung Sungai Kerayong in Cheras, KL; and India Settlement in Batu Caves, Selangor.

Lim, who visited the three areas yesterday, said the cases "were all very depressing".

Suhakam deputy chairperson Harun Hashim received the memorandum and promised a proper investigation o­n the matter.

Also at Suhakam today were the other party leaders, Kepong MP Dr Tan Seng Giaw, Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai and publicity chief Ronnie Liu.

The party had earlier organised a roundtable conference o­n the issue and launched a national awareness campaign to combat dengue.

Dengue fever causes painful joints, fever and rashes within a week of infection.

Last September, the World Health Organisation issued an alert to tropical countries, including Malaysia, to prepare for an increase in the number of dengue cases in view of the unusually wet weather conditions.