MP Seng Han Thong ‘progressing well’

Singapore News // Weekend, January 24, 2009 MP Seng Han Thong ‘progressing well’ TWELVE days after he was hospitalised with burns to 15 per cent of his body, Member of Parliament Seng Han Thong has started rehabilitation — and has gotten into the swing of Chinese New Year. Since Thursday, he has been signing self-made greeting cards for friends as well as the doctors and nurses taking care of him. His family said in a statement to the media on Friday: “:Han Thong is progressing well and he is out of intensive care. He is alert and able to feed himself slowly. “He has started his rehabilitation in earnest. On the hands which were skin-grafted, he has begun therapy to prevent stiff hands and is progressing very well. As part of his hand therapy, he is advised to practice his handwriting.” Mr Seng, 59, is expected to remain in hospital past the Chinese New Year. Meanwhile, the man who allegedly set Mr Seng on fire at a community event on Jan 11 was ordered to be remanded for two more weeks at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) for further psychiatric assessments. Retired cabby Ong Kah Chua, 70, faces two charges of causing grievous hurt toMr Seng and Chu Sheng Temple’s chairman Aw Chui Seng, 69, who got burnt while trying to help the MP. On Friday, Mr Ong told the court through a translator that he was “suffering pain in his intestines”. He asked to see a doctor, claiming he had “a lot of tumours inside him”. The judge said he would make a note for IMH to have Mr Ong undergo a medical examination. His case will be mentioned again on Feb 6. TEO XUANWEI