Borneo Bulletin: Dr Susan Lim's Lawyer Scores 'Own Goal'

Wrong move by the lawyer, Senior Counsel Lee Eng Beng? See the highlighted part below to understand why. (Read more in "Dr Susan Lim: The High Cost of Living ... Unwell"!)

Balls were bounced about in the warm, stuffy court room that was 3B Monday.

Over 20 members of the public had packed the public gallery since 2pm. Extra benches had to be brought in.

The crowd grew restless waiting, as the hearing did not start till 5pm. But most stayed to the end to hear the case which has gripped their imagination. They were not disappointed.

Instead of a long, arduous session, they were hit left and right by sporting analogies. Was it a "technical knockout" or a "slam dunk", the justice asked? No, no. It's more like an own goal, the senior counsel argued.

Wah, NBA (National Basketball Association) and EPL (English Premier League)? The crowd tittered.

They had come to watch the case of Dr Susan Lim, a private surgeon, who is fighting the Singapore Medical Council's (SMC) decision to appoint a second disciplinary committee to investigate an accusation by the Health Ministry here that she overcharged her Brunei patient, Pengiran Anak Hajah Dam it.

Her bill for services over a five-month period from Jan 15 to Jun 16, 2007 came to $26 million (with GST).

After the patient died, Dr Lim was queried on the rest of the 2007 bill. On Monday, due to some discussion in chambers, the court hearing did not start until past 5pm.

During the hearing, Dr Lim's lawyer, Senior Counsel Lee Eng Beng, tried to admit the affidavits from five doctors in court yesterday to support her case. The doctors were witnesses for the SMC's first disciplinary committee.

In the affidavits, they spoke glowingly of how much Dr Susan Lim's patient trusted her and how she would not proceed with any treatment without Dr Lim's clearance.

They also said that they did not feel cheated or deceived by Dr Lim's invoices, which were presented as marked-up versions of their original bills, some of them marked up hundreds of times. The doctors also said that their bills were for their work and Dr Lim's bills were for her work. Justice Philip Pillai then asked whether these affidavits were a "technical knockout" or a "slam dunk" for Dr Lim's case.

Senior Counsel Alvin Yeo, for the SMC, then used another sporting analogy and said it was like "an own goal".

The doctors were not the ones being asked to pay the mark-up, so why should they feel cheated, he asked.

He proceeded to go through each affidavit to show that not only did Dr Lim mark up these doctors' bills; she had also sent bills of her own to the Brunei High Commission, over the same period of treatment.

He said it was misleading to paint a picture that it's not really a mark-up because she was billing for her own work.

"She slaps on an extra charge and presents it as if it was for the third party doctor's work ... while at the same time, she would bill the patient an additional or separate amount for her own work," said Mr Yeo.

He said the most "egregious" example was with relation to Dr Chan, who had charged $9,553.70 for his services over nine days in May 2006. Dr Lim then sent a bill of $401,900 to the Brunei High Commission, presented as Dr Chan's bill and a separate bill for her own services, over the same period of time for $1.966 million. (See table.)
Mr Yeo said the question before the court is whether it is so unreasonable for this case to be referred to a disciplinary committee for inquiry. He said: "It is my respectful submission that the evidence is so clear that there is a case to answer, and there is no way that one can say it's unreasonable to refer the matter to a disciplinary committee".

He said that if Dr Lim is innocent, she would be acquitted by the disciplinary committee and come out of this "smelling of roses".

"Instead, she comes to court to subvert the process. With respect, the five affidavits have been put forward, in a measure of desperation, in the midst of this hearing and it doesn't make her behaviour any more reasonable," said Mr Yoe, who added that he did not think the affidavits were worth very much.

Justice Pillai did not make a decision on whether the affidavits would be admitted. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

From Brunei Direct, "Dr Susan Lim's Lawyer Scores 'Own Goal'".

Pay for SIA flights using PayPal ... not for me, though.

Interesting? Well maybe for those paranoia who likes to add more layer to their sense of security. Shrug.

From PayPal "Check-in with Singapore Airlines, Check-out with PayPal":

Now, with Singapore Airlines added to our growing list of travel partners, we're sweetening every trip by giving you the chance to win your money back*!

And all you need to do is book your Singapore Airlines flight online on
singaporeair.com and pay with PayPal. You'll be automatically entered into the daily contest to win back the price of your flight. No minimum purchase is required.

We'll select one (1) winner a day from 7 March to 6 April 2011.
Best of luck and enjoy your flight!

Go ahead, book your flights today if you're travelling from
Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Australia, United States

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SINGAPORE Airlines customers in the United States, Singapore and five other Asia-Pacific countries and territories can now pay for their flights with PayPal on singaporeair.com.

This facility will progressively be made available to the Airline's customers in up to 17 countries, making this the largest collaboration between PayPal and an Asian carrier to date.

After booking Singapore Airlines flights online, travellers can now pay for tickets using their PayPal account in as few as three clicks and without the need to retype their credit card or financial details.

Besides using their online balance, PayPal users can pay for their Singapore Airlines flights from their bank accounts, credit cards or debit cards that are linked to their PayPal account.

Because PayPal doesn't share its users' financial information, this increases the security of the online transaction and protects privacy of users.

More marketing promotion deals: www.paypal.com/sg/sia.

From Straits Times, "Pay for SIA flights using PayPal".

Brandtology: a proof the grass is greener on the other side

Congratulations to Brandtology! The gnawing question is that if the company does have potential, why it's not identified first by, say, SPH??

Is this a case of "the grass is greener on the other side" whereby Brandtology being on the other side from Down Under is seen as having potential and not by, SPH, which is being on the same pasture with Brandtology?

A THREE-YEAR-OLD Singapore start-up has been snapped up by a regional media group for a tidy eight-figure sum.

Brandtology - whose business is to keep track of what Internet users are saying about its clients, ranging from SingTel to DBS Bank - has been bought over by the Australian-headquartered Media Monitors group.

From Straits Times, "Singapore tech start-up sold for 8-figure sum".

SYDNEY-based Media Monitors has acquired a majority stake in Singapore-based social media measurement company Brandtology.

Media Monitors did not disclose a purchase price, sources only indicating it was an eight figure sum.

Media Monitors CEO John Croll said acquisition was the company's first since being acquired by private equity company Quadrant in July last year.

"This will create significant opportunities for cross-selling across all markets, and Brandtology’s strong presence in China in particular supports our strategic growth story in that market. As a group we now have over 1,000 employees servicing 5,000 clients across 17 countries globally."

“Brandtology’s business model reflects Media Monitors focus on accuracy, timeliness and deeper insight – all rare commodities in the current world of social media monitoring and analysis."

Brandtology was launched in 2008 and experienced fast growth with staff in 15 countries across Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America and processing over 100 million online conversations per month.

Brandtology founder and CEO Eddie Chau said the acquisition would allow the firm to "continue our rapid growth across existing and new markets".

From The Australian, "Social media monitoring seen as a growth market".

Australian media researcher Media Monitors has acquired a majority stake in Singapore-based social media tracking firm Brandtology.

Terms of the deal, which is Media Monitors’ first buy since it was acquired by private equity firm Quadrant last summer, were not disclosed.

Brandtology will remain a distinct brand in the Media Monitors Group. The firm’s founder and CEO Eddie Chau said: “This is the logical and exciting next step for Brandtology, allowing us to continue our rapid growth across existing and new markets and maintain our focus on research and development.”

Media Monitors’ CEO John Croll (pictured) said in a blog post: “The acquisition further strengthens Media Monitors’ ability to provide the highest quality and most comprehensive suite of media intelligence services across our region and beyond.”

From Research, "Media Monitors takes majority stake in social media researcher Brandtology".

3M do not object Health Minister using the acronym "3M"

Have you read this article titled, "Health minister replies 3M and drug subsidies queries"?

No, 3M is not referring to the company of "3M", but to "Medisave, MediShield and Medifund".

Singaporeans (and their newspaper) really love their acronyms, huh? It's a free publicity to the company, "3M", though (Wow, we're being replied by Health Minister! Hoorah!)

SINGAPORE'S basic healthcare model of Medisave, MediShield and Medifund paid for almost one-quarter of the total cost of hospital stay in 2009, according to latest figures.

Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan gave the figure on Monday saying it referred to costs incurred by citizens and permanent residents warded in both public and private hospitals.

The Government picked up 51 per cent of it in the form of subsidies, while employers and patients paid the remaining 27 per cent, he said in a written reply to a parliamentary question from Non-Constituency MP Sylvia Lim.

The Health Ministry subsidises 55 drugs for treating cancer, and reviews its list of subsidised drugs regularly.

The most recent additions include paclitaxel for breast and ovarian cancer, and oxaliplatin for colorectal cancer, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said in a written reply to Non-Constituency MP Sylvia Lim on Monday.

Another 17 drugs which are used for supportive or palliative cancer therapy are also subsidised, he added.

From Straits Times, "Health minister replies 3M and drug subsidies queries".

Ris Low in "The Magnum" ... Rated: Boomz!!

Don't you think she'll be the best to be She-Hulk?

Great work (Magnum Opus) it won't be. No way.

Ris Low--the former Miss Singapore World cum one of Asia's 25 most influential people cum the youth spokesperson for Espire Condoms--will star in a Singapore-made movie, titled "The Magnum". The character in the movie "will show her serious side". No kidding?!?!

I'm Anonymous_X and I'm laughing at you!

If you think Ris Low has finally stayed away from the limelight, think again.

The former Miss Singapore World, who lost her crown due to credit card fraud charges, told Yahoo! Singapore that she is going to star in a Singapore-made movie.

Titled "The Magnum", she says the character she will play will show her serious side - something she wants to portray to the public.

The director, CJ Harvaraj, told Yahoo! Singapore that it was a business decision to cast Miss Low and that he thinks the buzz around her will cause people to watch the movie.

The controversial 21-year-old created much buzz in 2009 when she made herself infamous when she won then gave up her Miss Singapore World crown due to former credit card fraud charges.

Her winning of the crown was also questionable due to a scandal surrounding the beauty pageant in Singapore as contestants had to purchase tables for support which gave the impression that the more you spend with the organisers, the higher chance of winning.

She also revealed that she has bipolar disorder and blamed her stealing urges on her condition.

Netizens were not impressed by this woman who also invented catchphrases such as "Boomz", "shingz" and "Preenz" while many criticised her English language skills.

2009 was certainly the year for Miss Low as she was ranked as one of the 25 most influential people or groups in Asia in 2009 by CNN, a United States news network channel.

Mr Harvaraj did not reveal anything about the movie other than it is an action film.

Yahoo! Singapore reported that "The Magnum: is back by Jayam Ni Pte Ltd and is expected to cost between S$500,000 to S$1 million.

The film will be shot entirely in Singapore and is slated to start in late February.

From Asiaone, "Ris Low to star in movie".

House of M(ahathir)

Frogs, your time has come!
(From "Mahathir: Next Pond")

Magnetic Mahathir. Commenting on Minister Mentor Mr. Lee Kuan Yew as "a big frog in a small pond", I'm just wondering how Dr Mahathir Mohamad thinks of himself. One possibility just jumps out of my mind: Dr Mahathir is "a small frog in a big pond". Oh well...

PS. The title of the post is inspired from Marvel's eight-issue comic book limited series, "House of M".

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“He’s a big frog in a small pond.”

That is what Dr Mahathir Mohamad thinks of Singapore’s founding father, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew.

In the book ‘Doctor M: Operation Malaysia’, the country’s former leader was also quoted describing Mr Lee as someone who is not satisfied with what he has.

But despite being at loggerheads with Mr Lee for more than 20 years, Dr Mahathir had to admit that Lee “will go down in history as a very remarkable intellectual and a politician at the same time, which is not a very often thing.”

On the other hand, Lee graciously acknowledged Mahathir as an “outstanding” prime minister of Malaysia, adding that the latter educated his people and sent many of them abroad on scholarships and who in turn transformed the country.

“During his premiership of over 20 years, he changed Malaysia from an agricultural, placid society into an industrial, dynamic society,” said Mr Lee as quoted in cover leaf of the same book.

As the author of the book, professor Tom Plate, veteran journalist-turned-academic, was in town, I took the opportunity to have a one-on-one interview with him to talk about the two long-time rivals.

In ‘Doctor M: Operation Malaysia’, Mr Plate chronicled the experiences of Malaysia’s fourth and former premier, someone who was infamous for his disdain of the Western media as well as for his controversial and outspoken views on Israel and the Jews.:

Mr Plate had also written a book on Singapore’s own former long-time premier titled ‘Conversations with Lee Kuan Yew’ which was launched in May last year. The book touches on Lee’s views on issues such as his “authoritarianism”, and reveals details of his personal family life.

The book together with that on Mahathir is part of the ‘Giants of Asia’ series which recounts the stories of some of the brightest but yet also controversial leaders in Asia.

Similarities between LKY and Dr Mahathir?

Describing both ‘Giants of Asia’ as two peas in the proverbial pod, Mr Plate pointed out that they actually have much in common despite their sometimes cold relationship.

In his latest book, Mr Plate said they relish making painful decisions, work out almost daily for their health and profess similar social-Darwinian views.

Apart from that, he noted that Lee and Mahathir are Asian evangelists who consistently and stoutly defend Asian values but are also welcoming towards multinational investments.

“They often lecture their countrymen like schoolmarms, prioritize education and champion a sweltering, non-stop work ethic,” Mr Plate said.

In the interview with Yahoo! Singapore, Mr Plate also highlighted the difference in the intensity of the men.

Comparing Lee to that of the dean of academic studies, the author said that he is extremely articulate, has a penetrating mind and is very careful with his language.

“There is just no sloppiness to Lee Kuan Yew. He is very structured and doesn’t easily go off message when discuss about an issue.”

But you might be surprised that as rigid as Lee might appear to be, Mr Plate said that he has a very good sense of humour. Even Lee himself might agree with this assessment. In the book, Lee acknowledged that while he would not call himself “fun-loving” or “light-hearted”, he is not serious all the time.

“Everyone needs to have a good laugh now and then, to see the funny side of things, and to laugh at himself,” Lee said.

On the other hand, Mahathir was described as a slightly “looser” individual who would often crack jokes. But this, Mr Plate said, is not for the better or worse.

“Because of this, it is easier for one to underestimate the intelligence of Mahathir than Lee Kuan Yew because of the differences in style,” he said. “But Mahathir is nobody’s fool, he is still very sharp even at 85.”

The West can learn from LKY

Talking of Singapore’s founding father alone, Mr Plate had also much to say.

“The West can learn a lot from Lee Kuan Yew,” said the author, who also noted that it might not be feasible to transplant the Singapore system which works for about five million people to a country such as the United States.

Still, he gave Lee credit for the country’s impressive meritocratic system and its public service which “America has lost a little bit”.

Describing Lee as a “global geo-political guru”, he said that the Western media generally thinks of him as a “hard authoritarian”. Perhaps this was borne out of the fact that Singapore has consistently been described as a ‘Nanny state’ and also because of the nation’s strict laws such as caning and the ban on chewing gum.

While he admitted that it was a struggle for the American media to move away from that stereotype now, Mr Plate claimed that there has been an “appreciation” of Lee though it “took too long” for the media to recognize the former leader’s achievements.

Going back to a comparison of the two former premiers, Mr Plate said it is hard to gauge the success of governance of one against the other.

Since both men held power almost during the same time, although Mr Lee became prime minister much earlier and Dr Mahathir stepping down a later date, it is easy for others to rush and compare the achievements and legacies of both these heavyweight champions.

While Singapore might be more successful, Malaysia is roughly five times the size and population of Singapore, Mr Plate said.

“So the control environment is messier. But they are both leaders in their parties, and both are what we used the term in America soft authoritarianism to describe their styles”

When asked what he meant by ‘Giants in Asia’, Mr Plate says, “They are larger than life personalities that by looking and talking to them, that they can illuminate their time and their area of the world and how their area will fit in the rest of the globe. That’s really what it’s about. It’s a way of a magical mystery tour through Asia.”

From Yahoo! Fit to Post, "What do MM Lee and Dr Mahathir think of each other?".

Dr Susan Lim: The High Cost of Living ... Unwell

Especially if you're a patient linked to the Brunei palace? You can expect your bill to be as high as $24.8 million!!!

The infamous doctor in this outrageous case (yes, the news has reached as far as New Zealand--and not just Brunei & Singapore) is a surgeon Dr Susan Lim. According to her website, she is the first Singaporean & also the youngest Fellow of Trinity College. Oh, and she has a Wikipedia article about her too! I guess all these may lead to the ridiculously high bill?!?!

And the sad irony is despite all these fantastic amount of money involved, the patient still died of her breast cancer.

With the patient had suffered so much, how credible it is for Dr Susan Lim to claim that "the bill was made with the consent of the victim"? C'mon, the patient was very ill & unlikely to be in her right mind when she agreed to that heart-stopping figures?!?!

PS. The title of this article is inspired from the graphic novel, "Death: The High Cost of Living".

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SURGEON Susan Lim treated a patient linked to the Brunei palace for seven months in 2007. Her bill: $24.8 million.

Singapore's Ministry of Health was upset when it learnt about the amount, and that led to it filing charges against the well-known doctor.

That was the claim her lawyers made in the Supreme Court on Tuesday. They also noted that Dr Lim later reduced the bill twice, although it has yet to be paid.

The bill is at the heart of a case between Dr Lim and the Singapore Medical Council (SMC).

She is fighting the SMC's decision to appoint a second disciplinary committee to investigate an accusation by the Health Ministry that she overcharged the patient.

On Tuesday was the first time that it came out into the open that the patient, who had breast cancer and later died, was linked to the Brunei royal household.

From Straits Times, "Surgeon's $24.8m bill landed her in the soup". (23/02/11)

A senior Brunei health official came to Singapore to ask for a discount on the more than S$20 million medical fees being charged to a patient who had been operated on by Singapore surgeon Susan Lim, a court heard on Tuesday.

This evidence surfaced on the second day of Dr Lim's action against the Singapore Medical Council (SMC), which is seeking to start another move to investigate an accusation by the Ministry of Health (MOH) that she overcharged the patient.

The court heard that in mid-July 2007, the director of medical services of Brunei's health ministry flew to Singapore to meet Professor K Saktu, the director of medical services of MOH, to seek a discount on Dr Lim's fees.

When Professor Saktu learned about the amount, he said the fees were very high and might tarnish the reputation of Singapore, especially the medical community.

He told the director to write in to MOH and he would investigate the matter.

During his visit, the director also met the chief executive of Parkway Holdings to see if the latter could help negotiate a reduction in the fees.

Senior Counsel Lee Eng Beng, Dr Lim's lawyer, also told the court that after the Brunei director wrote in to MOH, Dr Lim's clinic was raided five times and the case notes of the patient were seized.

A complaint against Dr Lim was lodged by MOH to the SMC, which launched disciplinary proceedings against her.

Mr Lee said that as Professor Saktu is also the registrar of the SMC and was involved in the disciplinary proceedings against Dr Lim, there was a clash of interest and "reasonable apprehension of bias".

He added that he took issue with the raids on Dr Lim's office since the complaint against her was of a financial nature and not one of medical malpractice.

Dr Lim's lawyer added that the Brunei director did not allege professional misconduct during his visit to Singapore and was only looking for a commercial resolution.

But Professor Saktu "elevated a commercial remedy/discount to a disciplinary hearing."

The hearing continues on Wednesday.

From Channel NewsAsia, "SMC must explain why no inquiry was launched". (23/02/11)

A SPECIALIST who treated surgeon Susan Lim's patient sent a bill for $400. She marked it up to $211,000 when she billed the Brunei High Commission here.

Another doctor charged $500, but Dr Lim bumped that up to $93,500. Yet another bill for $3,000 was raised to $285,100.

These and several other revelations of how Dr Lim charged her patient - a woman member of Brunei's royal family - for treatment by other doctors were made in the High Court yesterday by Senior Counsel Alvin Yeo.

Representing the Singapore Medical Council (SMC), he cited the allegedly inflated bills to show there was a case for a disciplinary committee to launch an inquiry against the doctor.

Dr Lim is fighting the SMC's decision to appoint a second disciplinary committee to investigate an accusation by the Health Ministry here that she overcharged her Brunei patient, Pengiran Anak Hajah Damit.

The patient, the younger sister of Brunei's Queen and a cousin of the Sultan, had breast cancer and died in August 2007. Dr Lim treated the woman from 2001 until she died.

From Straits Times, "Surgeon inflated $400 bill to $211,000". (24/02/11)

THE deceased younger sister of Her Majesty Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hjh Saleha was the victim of overcharging by prominent Singaporean surgeon Dr Susan Lim, an article from Singaporean daily Straits Times reported.

According to the February 24 issue of the newspaper, Dr Lim was treating the late Pengiran Anak Hajah Damit since 2001 up till her death in 2007, which was caused by breast cancer.

The report said a specialist, who was not named, treated the deceased and sent a bill for $400, which Dr Lim bumped up to $211,000, when she billed the Brunei High Commission. In another instance, another unnamed doctor charged $500 but Dr Lim once again raised the price to $93,500.


Dr Lim also charged the patient for cancelling two conferences, on top of treatment fees, with one bill costing $78,000 and the other up to $180,000.

She also charged between $35,000 and $45,000 a day when her employees accompanied the patient for radiotherapy sessions as the hospital, the newspaper reported.

When the patient was in intensive care for five days in May 2007, she was attended to by the doctors and nurses and for that, Dr Lim charged $450,000 for the first day and $250,000 for the other four days for "monitoring services", according to Straits Times.

The Brunei High Commission, which had by then noticed the irregularities in charges, alerted the Ministry of Health (MoH) and expressed concern over costly medical fees in July 2007.

In the same month, two representatives from MoH came to Singapore and spoke to Dr Lim Cheok Peng, the chief executive of Parkway Holdings, which runs medical centres where Dr Lim holds clinic.

These were allegations that were revealed in Singapore's High Court by Senior Counsel Alvin Yeo, the lawyer representing the Singapore Medical Council (SMC), according to the newspaper.

Yeo also said that the third party specialists who treated the patient would send their bills to Dr Lim and she would then mark up the bills when she sent her invoices to the Brunei High Commission.

In the hearing, Yeo also said that he was not asking the High Court to conclude that Dr Lim was overcharging, but added that a disciplinary committee should look into the matter.

Meanwhile, in August 2007, Dr Lim wrote to MoH to disregard the bills that were for services provided by other doctors and gave a 25 per cent discount on her own bills.

Almost three weeks later, she wrote to MoH apologising for the "inadvertent mistakes" made by her office.

The ministry then requested that Singapore's Health Ministry to intervene, stating that the charges were "unacceptable".

Three months later, Dr Lim once again wrote to MoH, and offered to waive her fees from January to June of 2007, as a gesture of goodwill and suggest that they pay up to $3.25 million only.

Originally, after the patient died, Dr Lim queried the rest of the 2007 bill, which came up to a whopping $24.8 million.

Senior Counsel Lee Eng Beng, Dr Lim's lawyer, told the court that his client had informed the deceased earlier on in their relationship that "the close care and attention she needed" would cost $100,000 to $200,00 a day.

The deceased had also assured Dr Lim that charges were not a problem and quoted that the "Istana is paying."

By January 2009, Dr Lim and her husband went to Brunei and offered to waive all her fees and third party bills if the ministry was prepared to issue a "letter of good standing".

The letter would have stated that the Brunei government would not pursue the matter any further and take no issue with her bills.

Her request was not entertained and claimed that she had a "fee agreement" with her patient.

The lawyer was further quoted in Straits Times as saying that an amendment to a regulation and its subsequent revocation appeared timed to target his client.

The amendment freed the legal adviser of the Singapore Medical Council of the obligation to inform the other party of any advice he gave to a disciplinary committee.

The hearing continues on February 28.

From Asiaone (reprinted from the Brunei Times), "S'pore doctor overcharged Bruneian patient: report". (25/02/11)

A case of medical fraud is making the headlines of leading news papers. A well renowned surgeon of Singapore, Dr. Susan Lim, is accused of over blowing the medical bill of a Bruneian patient.

Reportedly, the victim, late Pengiran Anak Hajah Damit, died of breast cancer after suffering the ordeal for the last seven years. Apparently, the specialist who treated the victim had made a bill of $400, which Dr. Lim pulled up to whopping to $211,000.

Additionally, the doctor had levied cancellation charges of another $2, 58,000 over the stipulated bill. Moreover, she added another $80,000 on account when her staff took her for the CT scan.

Shockingly, when the patient got admitted to the intensive care unit, she asked for $450,000 for the first day and $250,000 for the subsequent four days, in the name of "monitoring services".

With the case, becoming the point of contention for the medical fraternity, the Brunei High Commission sent alarming signals to the Ministry of Health (MoH) to intervene in the matter so that medical practices can be monitored.

In the wake of rising concern over the brewing issue, two MOH representatives visited the medical centers of Dr. Lim Cheok Peng, Chief Executive of Parkway Holdings. Moreover, Singapore's High Court Senior Counsel, Alvin Yeo has made an appeal from the behalf of the Singapore Medical Council (SMC), to conduct t a thorough investigation of the matter so that the perpetrator can be appropriately penalized.

Responding to the allegation, Dr. Lim has refuted all the charges made on her claiming that the bill was made with the consent of the victim.

From Top News New Zealand, "Dr. Lim Embarrassed the Medical Fraternity". (25/02/11)

Mohanlal-Blessy movie "Pranayam" starts soon.

Call it the coming together of two fine talents as superstar Mohanlal would be teaming up with director Blessy for a new project. It is heard that the film has been titled as Pranayam and it is slated to be a mature triangular love story. The leading lady of the film will be the eternal beauty Jayaprada and the key highlight of the film would be the presence of the Bollywood icon Anupam Kher doing a key role. The shooting will commence at Kochi.

Mohanlal's Blessy film to kick start by the end of February

Director Blessy with Mohanlal

One among the most notable Malayalam directors, Blessy is all set to start his new Malayalam film featuring our own Universal star Mohanlal in the lead. This new Malayalam film, named as Pranayam will also feature Bollywood actor Anupam Kher and yesteryear heroine Jayaprada in the lead roles.

This new Malayalam film will kick start it's shooting for the first schedule from the end of this month itself @ Kochi and the second as well as the final schedule of this film will be in June, once Mohanlal completes his Priyadarshan movie "Arabiyum Ottakavum Pinne Madhavan Nairum" and Roshan Andrews movie "Casanovva". Currently Mohanlal is in the sets of his this year's Vishu release, Rafi Mecartin's "China Town".

This new Malayalam film from Blessy featuring Mohanlal in the lead is expected to be a nostalgic romantic film, which will tell the romantic tale of Mohanlal, Anupam Kher and Jayaprada in their younger days. This new film, produced by Sajeev will have the lyrics penned by 'Gjanapeedam' winner Shri ONV Kurup, music by M Jayachandran and the camera by Satheesh Kurup.

This new Malayalam film, Pranayam is widely expected to become another milestone in the acting career of Mohanlal, since both the previous films from the Mohanlal-Blessy combo (Thanmatra & Bhramaram) happened to be great ones, etching a place in the history of Malayalam film industry. This new Blessy film with Mohanlal happens to be one of the most anticipated film for this 2011.

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"Arabiyum Ottakavum Pinne Madhavan Nairum" locations at UAE.

Priyadarshan will shoot his comeback movie to Malayalam, entirely in UAE. Titled as "Arabiyum Ottakavum Pinne Madhavan Nairum", this will be a hilarious movie shot in a budget of eight crores. Abudhabi Film Commission will give necessary support to the movie, which will tell a plot about the lives of expatriates. The movie will showcase the richness and magnificence of middle east, which is untouched by the global film industry. Mohanlal, Lakshmi Rai, Bhavana and Mukesh will don the lead roles in this movie written by Priyan. The movie will be produced by Jhancos entertainments, in which an Arab named Jamal Al Noemi is also a partner. This is the first time an Arab National is producing a Malayalam movie. This fun movie will be distributed by Seven Arts.

Mohanlal soon to do a Major Ravi film

The latest news to hear from the Malayalam film industry is that our God's own Superstar Mohanlal had once again given his dates to Major Ravi. Mohanlal's last release Kandahar was directed by Major Ravi and the film was a complete let down. Now it's hearing that Major Ravi will soon direct Mohanlal for another Malayalam movie, and more importantly it won't be a military movie.

This new Malayalam project by Major Ravi featuring our Mohanlal in the lead has now been tentatively titled as Amma and will tell the story of the bonding between a mother and her childern. As per the reports, Mohanlal might act in this movie as the elder son of a mother, who had to take care of the entire family. Just like his previous films, Major Ravi will script himself for this new Malayalam film also.

With Mohanlal approving this new project, it's hearing that Major Ravi had quickly started scripting for this film, which will shot completely inside Kerala and will be a low budget quickie. If all happens according to the plan, then this new Malayalam film will kick start by the end of this year itself.

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Mohanlal's Swapnamalika releasing on Jan 28

The dream comes true for our Lalettan as his new Movie Swapnamalika is releasing on this January 28th. The main attraction of the movie is the story which was written by our Superstar Mohanlal itself. As an actor, Mohanlal has already proven his tallents and he is now experimenting with his story. The screenplay of the movie swapnamalika is done by Suresh Babu while K.A Devarajan is the director of swapnamalika.

Swapnamalika's story is about a famous doctor Appu Nair Pallat who comes from US, to New Delhi for a medical conference. He undertakes a train journey to Varanasi, to do the last rites of his father. On the train he meets Radha Karmel who is going to do the last rites of her husband. Appu makes a friendship with Radha which takes him on a journey to Kerala, where they discover new facets to their relationship.

Heroine of the film is Ileana from Israel,new to molllywood. Ileana who came to Mumbai from Tel Aviv was working there as a model when director Devarajan spotted her. She has undergone a crash course in acting and is doing a very crucial role in the film. The film is being produced by Karimbil Films, camera is by Venu, and music by M.G Sreekumar.

• Malayalam Movie Swapnamalika Photogallery

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Prithviraj to become Mohanlal's villian

The latest to hear from the Malayalam film industry world is that a new Malayalam film is in it's planning stage, which will have an interesting star cast in it. This new untitled Malayalam movie will feature our God's own Superstar Mohanlal and Bigstar Prithviraj in the lead.

The main attraction of this new film is that Prithviraj will appear in this film as a strong villian opposing the lead role enacted by our own lalettan. This new film will be scripted by Suresh Babu and is going to be directed by Padmakumar, and it seems both are fresh from their latest hit movie, Mohanlal starrer Shikkar.

It is also hearing that this new film will keep almost all the crew members who have worked for Shikkar in it and the writer as well as the director are waiting for the approval from the part of it's lead actors. Even if, both the stars approve this new film, the shooting for this new film will commence only after a while, since all of them related with this film are busy with their other projects.

Ever since this new film is being announced, every Malayalam film goers are in a happy mood and are highly expecting to see a film that will feature Prithviraj opposite to our Mohanlal. Waiting for this film to happen as early as possible...

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Mohanlal,Mammooty and Dileep team up again

After the Hit film twenty twenty God's own super star Mohanlal,Super star Dileep and Super star Mammooty are once again joining together to build another Mega hit Malayalam movie.Malayalam hit scriptwriters Siby K Thomas and Udayakrishna are completely ready to direct a film,temperorily named as Arakkallan Mukkaal Kallan. The story depends on three robbers, which will be played by Mohanlal,Dileep and Mammooty.

Siby and Udayan had begun their film careers as ass.directors and later went on to reach the busiest scenarists in Malayalam films. They have scripted Twenty 20, with almost every actor in the Malayalam industry in its cast.Last year, the duo had written the script for the hit films Pokkiri Raja and Karyasthan. The multi-starrer Christian Brothers, scripted by them and directed by Joshiy, will hit the cinemas soon.

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Mohanlal back again with Blessy

Our God's own Superstar Mohanlal aka Lalettan is all set to make this new year, 2011 a memorable one in his filmy career. All the new films that he had chosen for this year proves it quite clearly.

It was earlier reported that our lalettan will act upon in the films to be directed by his all time favourites, Sathyan Anthicad and Priyadarshan. Now, the latest to hear is that in this year itself, Mohanlal will act in another Malayalam movie, which is to be directed by the highly talented Blessy.

It should be remembered that Blessy is the director, who had given Mohanlal two of his all time notable roles in his films Thanmatra and Bhramaram. Both these films were unanimously applauded by the mass people as well as by the critics.

With this latest news coming out, this time also, every Malayalam film viewers will expect for a thunderous performance by our lalettan in this upcoming Malayalam movie by Blessy, who will surely etch out the maximum potential as an actor, from our dearest Mohanlal.

Hope, this year ends up as a great one for our Lalettan...

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Mohanlal's hindi film Tez for a February release

Friends....... Get ready...........

Our God's own Superstar Mohanlal's third Hindi movie Tezz, directed by his mentor Priyadarshan is all set to release by the last week of this February. This latest news is not yet officially confirmed but it has been told us by some close sources and if it happens, then this new Bollywood film will be our lalettan's first release of 2011.

If so, then our lalettan along with Anil Kapoor, Ajay Devgan, Sameera Reddy etc will have to compete against the Cricket World Cup, which has a strong followers in our country. Anyways, let's wait patiently for this latest news to get confirmed by the makers and hope for the best.

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Mohanlal's new film Christian Brothers again gets shifted

Our God's own Superstar Mohanlal's much awaited multi-starrer film Christian Brothers have been in the making  for the past one year and have shifted it's releasing dates for more than a single time. The latest to hear about this new Malayalam film is that the releasing date has now been once again shifted.

This new Malayalam movie, Christian Brothers was scheduled to reach the theatres by the 26th of this January but now according to the producer of this film, Varnachitra Subair the film will only get into the theaters by the March 10th. The reason behind the shifting of it's releasing date is not yet revealed by the producer.

As per the source, this new Malayalam multi-starrer movie, Christian Brothers featuring Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi, Dileep, Sarath Kumar, Kavya Madhavan, Kaniha, Lakshmi Rai, Lakshmi Gopalaswamy etc in the lead will make the greatest ever wide release for a Malayalam film, ie around 300 theatres all across India.

But the trade analysts are predicting that the releasing date of this new film may get again shifted since March 10 is not at all a suitable date for the releasing of such a big film. The film will get surely affected by the ongoing exam seasons all across the state and also there is the Cricket World Cup at that time.

Let's hope for the best, and wish that the film will get released at the proper time and may went on to become a Blockbuster in the history of Malayalam film industry.

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Mohanlal projects in 2011

2010 may not have been a terrific year for our Mohalal aka Lalettan, but 2011 is surely going to be...

As per the reports, Mohanlal will have his much awaited Christian Brothers releasing on this January itself and it will be followed by Rafi Mecartin's comedy thriller China Town by the end of March as our Mohanlal's 2011 Vishu release. Both these films are multi-starrers and is expected to work big time with the Malayalam film viewers. 

Soon after completing these two films, Mohanlal will go on to complete the remaining portions of his big budget film Casannova with director Roshan Andrews. Then there will two untitled projects for our lalettan, one with his mentor Priyadarshan in Malayalam, which is expected to be a fun filled comedy entertainer and the other one with veteran Sathyan Anthicad, with whom our lalettan had made some memorable films in the past.

All these films are expected to get completed and released within this year and hence we can wish that this year, 2011 may turn out to be a good one for our lalettan.

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China Town progressing @ Ootty

China Town, new multi-starrer film in Malayalam featuring God's own Superstar Mohanlal, Jayaram, Dileep and Kavya Madhavan in the lead has started it's shooting at Ootty. This new Malayalam film, which will be a comedy action entertainer is being directed by the hit makers Rafi Mecartin.

This new Malayalam movie, China Town is said to be a non stop comedy entertainer and all the three actors Mohanlal, Dileep and Jayaram have proved their talent in comedy in earlier films. According to the makers, this film is all about three friends going to a China Town in Goa and where they get into trouble with local mafia gangs, drug dealers and killers.

China Town was actually planned a 25 days schedule at Ramoji Rao film studio and some other parts of Hyderabad. But they were forced to change the location due to the film strike in Andhra. Now the makers solved the problem by shifting the location to Ootty. It should also be noted that Rafi Mecartin had shot their Mohanlal blockbuster Hallo in Ooty.

Then arises a new problem, one of the lead actress in this film, Roma has opted out of this multi-starrer and the reason behind this is not yet known. Anyways, the directors are in a look out for another young heroine. Let's hope no more issues will rise and the this new film will get completed as per the plans.

This new multi-starrer in Malayalam, China Town is being produced by Antony Perumbavoor under the banner Ashirvad Cinemas and will get distributed by Mohanlal's own distribution firm Max Lab. This new film, planned as a Vishu release for 2011 is one of the much expected films for the year 2011.

Let's wish all the best for the team of China Town... Expecting a good movie...

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Malayalam movie Kandahar Review and Initial reports

Our God's own Superstar Mohanlal's latest film Kandahar has released two days ago and to be frank, this film has fell well short of it's expectation. As per the theater reports, this new Mohanlal starer will surely end up as a loser at the Kerala Box office for this Christmas season.

There are a lot of drawbacks related with this film. According to Major Ravi, his new Malayalam film Kandahar is all about family relationships of the military people and then arises the main question that why did he named his film Kandahar, which will give the impression that it is all about the mission to rescue the hijacked plane at Kandahar.

I would also like to ask him, why did he used his iconic character of Major Mahadevan in this film, that has nothing to perform at all. Even, the character potrayed by KPAC Lalitha is much more notable one than the lead role by our Mohanlal. I felt it that our Mohanlal has done just an extended cameo in this film, just like in the films like Janakan etc.

Also, what was there in special for that role enacted by BigB of Indian Cinema, Amitabh Bachchan? It was just an ordinary role when compared with the high standards of our BigB. I also felt, the actual hero of this film, Ganesh Venkatraman was not fit for his role, which was underperformed by him. Major Ravi in his brief role was good to watch and the most disappointing fact is that all the female leads in this film has nothing to do at all.

Another doubt that comes in my way is that why did Maxlaab promoted this film in such a manner, giving hope to the Malayalam film viewers that this film might just be like the previous films from the Mohanlal-Major Ravi combo, Keerthichakra and Kurukshetra. No one can blame the viewers for expecting this new film to be an high voltage action drama, since the promos and trailers presented it in such a manner.

Finally, I would appreciate Major Ravi for his vision to make a military film that deals more about the emotional part of a military man than the usual patriotic heroisms done by our army heroes. But the script let down the film in that aspect too and as a result, this new film, Kandahar ended up as an overall disappointment to the viewers.

A film like this was not expected from the historic banner owned by our own lalettan, Pranavam Arts International, which had made a lot of memorable films in the past. All in all, this new Mohanlal starer, Kandahar, will be a film, that everyone will like to forget as soon as possible..

Dear Laletta, hoping for better films in the future..........

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