DIRECTED: INFORMAL LETTER

Your friend in Singapore has written to you to inform you that his cousin in Penang
was down with dengue fever. He would like to know the situation in Malaysia as he
plans to bring his family over for the holidays in June. Write a letter to brief him about
the current situation.
In your letter, include the following:

express concern over the health of your friends cousin

news about the situation
steps taken authorities
present situation

Do remember to:

use the informal letter format

use all the points given
expand each of the points given
write in paragraph

No. 34, Street of Fame,

Taman Bukit Bintang,
Bukit Bintang,
67500 Ipoh,
Perak
14 January 2011
Dear John,
How are you? Im sorry to hear that your cousin had dengue fever. This
problem seems to have become very serious all of sudden. We always feel that the
problem is not our concern until someone close to us is affected.
My neighbours daughter who was in Standard 6 last year could not sit for
UPSR examination because she was down with dengue fever on the eve of the exam.
Fortunately, the authorities gave her an exemption so she is now in Form One. There
were also a few students taking the examination in the hospital.
According to the news, students made up nearly 30 per cent of the 1 500
suspected cases over the first three weeks of the year. About 53 per cent of 621
confirmed cases last year comprised children and youth under the age of 24. These
statistics are quite worrying. This has prompted the health ministry to increase checks
on aedes breeding grounds in school and public areas. The construction sites are
largely to blamed. The problem is made worse by the rainy season. The stagnating
water attract the mosquitoes to lay egg and breeding on the areas.

The authorities have taken various steps to control the situation. Fogging has
been carried out in many public areas and most of the housing estates. Contractors at
the construction sites have been instructed to take appropriate actions and warned to
clean up. They could be fined up to RM 3 000 for breeding aedes mosquitoes. Lot of
campaigns through the television, radio and newspapers were taken to make people
aware of the issue and take precaution rather than cure them.
Before the long holidays for the Chinese New Year, schools all over Malaysia
carried out a clean-up campaign of the school compound. The residents association in
my housing are also organised a family day clean-up of the housing estate. There were
huge piles of rubbish especially old tyres and containers littered by the hawkers near
the might market site.
The situation in Malaysia has improved since the end of January. There have
been no reports of new cases of dengue. So, dont worry. You can bring your family
for a holiday here in June. Im looking forward to seeing them again.
Send my regard to your mom and dad. Do take care.
Yours sincerely,
Harun Din