The government’s brand new price check portal has been hit by a security breach, allowing hackers to obtain details such as email addresses and contact information of over 2,000 registered users which security experts say can be used to steal financial data in a roundabout way.
The breach follows 1 Malaysia Pengguna Bijak’s (1MPB) immediate outage after its launch on Tuesday, which government officials blamed on teething problems.
Online community portal Lowyat.net reported this morning that there were “several vulnerabilities” in the RM1.4 million 1pengguna.com site that allowed hackers to pull “signup details, usernames, email addresses and hashed passwords (encrypted).”
Personally identifying information such as names, addresses, birthdays and any banks or companies one does any business with can be used for identity theft or so-called phishing, which use personal details to make a phishing attempt look legitimate.
“These passwords are not difficult to decrypt. You can also use these vulnerabilities to defame the entire site,” Lowyat.net founder and chief executive Vijandren Ramadass told The Malaysian Insider.
Vijandren also said that Lowyat had discovered “a severe lack of security on the site” when it was launched and contacted the website administrator but received no response.
He said that a hacker group called Rilekscrew group also pointed out that “these vulnerabilities allowed almost all the data contained on the server to be remotely accessed.”
“Obviously, this is not an RM1.4 million job. Security and user privacy is a very important issue, especially on a site backed by the government,” he added.
The Malaysian Insider has also obtained a list of over 1,000 user details including that of two site administrators.
The government admitted yesterday that the 1MPB portal was not ready for the 3.5 million hits it has received since being launched two days ago.
Domestic Trade, Co-operative and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that the 1pengguna.com website had “teething problems” after expecting only 300,000 to 400,000 hits.
The government had launched the portal on Tuesday, saying it will list the prices of 355 products sold at 110 hypermarkets, 100 products at 404 supermarkets, 50 products at 360 wet markets and 100 products at 24-hour convenience stores.
But it was down for most of Wednesday as attempts to obtain prices from the website located at 1pengguna.com resulted in repeated connection failures.
Showing posts with label News From Malaysia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label News From Malaysia. Show all posts
Google and sixthseal.com sued by Jothy's Fish Head Curry restaurant for RM6mil
Suing Google for defamation because Google listed links that relates to bad reviews on your company? Sue you may but it's none of Google problem.
In the western countries, if there were bad reviews, the owner would contact the reviewers and offer them free complements. That is their effort to prove the reviewer wrong. In the case that the reviews is true, the owner would improve and he or she will get the reviewers to try their improve products or services.
A popular Indian cuisine restaurant in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia that is recommended by travel guide Lonely Planet, is suing a blogger (who operates sixthseal.com) and Google for defamation.
Jothy's Fish Head Curry restaurant director Tharumaraj Sivaperumal filed a RM6mil civil suit at the Kota Kinabalu High Court here Monday, naming blogger Poh Huai Bin as first defendant and California-based Google Inc as second defendant.
The suit is arising from some allegedly defamatory statements about Jothy's Fish Head Curry restaurant posted in May last year by Poh, originally from Sibu in Sarawak and now residing in Kuala Lumpur.
Jothy's, represented by counsel Marcel Jude Joseph, is seeking exemplary or punitive damages to deter them from making similar statements in future and an order to restrain Poh from defaming the restaurant on the Internet.
Jothy's is also seeking an order from the court to remove the offending articles from Google and other popular search engines used on the Internet.
The company claimed that the alleged defamatory statements published by both the defendants tended to prejudice against the plaintiff in the conduct of its business and deter others from dealing with it and were injurious to the business.
As a result of the defendants' action, the plaintiff claimed it had suffered loss and damage, and its reputation had been affected both locally and internationally.
The plaintiff claimed that the good reputation of the restaurant, in operation since 1987, was known globally and reported as a well-known destination in Kota Kinabalu and Sabah, in the global television and book series Lonely Planet, referred to as an authority for tourists throughout the world.
The plaintiff also claimed that the posting and articles of the first defendant were available and read by Internet users throughout Sabah and Malaysia, adding that the second defendant conducted business within the jurisdiction of Malaysian courts because its search engine was used regularly by Internet users in the country.
via TheStar
Recommended reading:
* What if everyone whose account was canceled sued Google?
In the western countries, if there were bad reviews, the owner would contact the reviewers and offer them free complements. That is their effort to prove the reviewer wrong. In the case that the reviews is true, the owner would improve and he or she will get the reviewers to try their improve products or services.
A popular Indian cuisine restaurant in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia that is recommended by travel guide Lonely Planet, is suing a blogger (who operates sixthseal.com) and Google for defamation.
Jothy's Fish Head Curry restaurant director Tharumaraj Sivaperumal filed a RM6mil civil suit at the Kota Kinabalu High Court here Monday, naming blogger Poh Huai Bin as first defendant and California-based Google Inc as second defendant.
The suit is arising from some allegedly defamatory statements about Jothy's Fish Head Curry restaurant posted in May last year by Poh, originally from Sibu in Sarawak and now residing in Kuala Lumpur.
Jothy's, represented by counsel Marcel Jude Joseph, is seeking exemplary or punitive damages to deter them from making similar statements in future and an order to restrain Poh from defaming the restaurant on the Internet.
Jothy's is also seeking an order from the court to remove the offending articles from Google and other popular search engines used on the Internet.
The company claimed that the alleged defamatory statements published by both the defendants tended to prejudice against the plaintiff in the conduct of its business and deter others from dealing with it and were injurious to the business.
As a result of the defendants' action, the plaintiff claimed it had suffered loss and damage, and its reputation had been affected both locally and internationally.
The plaintiff claimed that the good reputation of the restaurant, in operation since 1987, was known globally and reported as a well-known destination in Kota Kinabalu and Sabah, in the global television and book series Lonely Planet, referred to as an authority for tourists throughout the world.
The plaintiff also claimed that the posting and articles of the first defendant were available and read by Internet users throughout Sabah and Malaysia, adding that the second defendant conducted business within the jurisdiction of Malaysian courts because its search engine was used regularly by Internet users in the country.
via TheStar
Recommended reading:
* What if everyone whose account was canceled sued Google?
Cancer cure from Aglaia foveolata tree?
A compound from the Aglaia foveolata tree, found in Malaysian state of Sarawak’s highlands, has entered pre-clinical trials, showing positive results in inhibiting the growth of some forms of cancer like leukaemia.
According to scientists at the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC), which owns the intellectual property rights to the plant, experiments found an extracted compound called Silvestrol offered benefits not found in other cancer-fighting drugs.
“First, it seems to inhibit leukaemia growth compared with controlled tests performed on mice. Second, the tests show that it seems to bypass drug resistance,” said Dr Yeo Tiong Chia, senior research officer at the centre.
Dr Yeo, a graduate of the Washington University in immunology, said he was confident of the compound’s potential.
He added that if tests continued to be positive, then the next step would be to conduct clinical trials on humans.
However, as with all experiments, he added, outcomes were hard to predict and could go either way.
Dr Yeo was speaking to The Star during SBC’s annual open day at its headquarters near Padawan, here.
Meanwhile, SBC chief executive Dr Rita Manurung said the centre needed funds to speed up research.
She said the centre had submitted a development proposal of RM5mil to both state and federal governments.
The development included expanding its chemistry labs and having better facilities to attract more visiting scientists.
Dr Rita explained the urgent need for funds.
“Intellectual property rights are not forever. At SBC, we hold just one right, which is for the Aglaia plant.
“We acquired that right in 2004, but such rights usually expire after 15 to 20 years. As such, all research must be speeded up,” she said.
Another important role of the centre is documenting indigenous vegetation, with focus on those that have medical qualities not yet known to the scientific community.
The programme has been ongoing for almost a decade, with about 3,000 plants documented.
via theStar
According to scientists at the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC), which owns the intellectual property rights to the plant, experiments found an extracted compound called Silvestrol offered benefits not found in other cancer-fighting drugs.
“First, it seems to inhibit leukaemia growth compared with controlled tests performed on mice. Second, the tests show that it seems to bypass drug resistance,” said Dr Yeo Tiong Chia, senior research officer at the centre.
Dr Yeo, a graduate of the Washington University in immunology, said he was confident of the compound’s potential.
He added that if tests continued to be positive, then the next step would be to conduct clinical trials on humans.
However, as with all experiments, he added, outcomes were hard to predict and could go either way.
Dr Yeo was speaking to The Star during SBC’s annual open day at its headquarters near Padawan, here.
Meanwhile, SBC chief executive Dr Rita Manurung said the centre needed funds to speed up research.
She said the centre had submitted a development proposal of RM5mil to both state and federal governments.
The development included expanding its chemistry labs and having better facilities to attract more visiting scientists.
Dr Rita explained the urgent need for funds.
“Intellectual property rights are not forever. At SBC, we hold just one right, which is for the Aglaia plant.
“We acquired that right in 2004, but such rights usually expire after 15 to 20 years. As such, all research must be speeded up,” she said.
Another important role of the centre is documenting indigenous vegetation, with focus on those that have medical qualities not yet known to the scientific community.
The programme has been ongoing for almost a decade, with about 3,000 plants documented.
via theStar
Selamat Jalan Dunia Pondan by Azwan Ali
Love him or loathe him, you've got to respect Azwan Ali for his brutal honesty. Which is also his biggest vice. Azwan Ali made his confession with a explosive book on transvestites title "Selamat Jalan Dunia Pondan".
The top Malaysian TV host - notoriously known for his acidic tongue and flamboyant style - is set to release a tell-it-all book on his conflicted life as a man who has kept in touch with his feminine side, and how Islam is changing him, titled Selamat Jalan Dunia Pondan [Goodbye Transvestite World].
"It's my true confession. It's my real life story," Azwan told The Daily Chilli exclusively about his controversial autobiography.
So is he out of the closet, you ask? "I'm not a hypocrite. I am who I am," he declares.
"There are a lot of male celebrities like me in the local entertainment industry. But I don't think they've got the guts to own up to it like I do. Semua guna cover line [Everyone is trying to cover up his sexuality]."
But as a 'born-again' Muslim who has performed umrah [small haj] twice, the 44-year-old says he's learning to live his life as a practising Muslim these days.
"I've always been searching for God's divine guidance," he says. "That's why I went to Mecca. I want to learn to be a better human being who can serve his Lord better. And the idea to write the book came when I was doing my umrah for the first time in 2009."
Selamat Jalan Dunia Pondan comprises 15 shocking chapters that redefined his life the most.
In the book, Azwan also reveals his special friendship with the "3 Siti" - pop stars Ziana Zain, Siti Nurhaliza and Fauziah Latiff and how they altered his perception of women.
So far, Ziana is the only love interest that Azwan has made public.
"The world has accused me of becoming a pondan because the three women rejected me," he drops hints. "But you have to read my book to understand my relationship with them. The stories come with never-released-before photos - all taken from my personal collection."
Well, that's not all the juicy bits. Azwan also talks about married men whom he knows are crazy about gay sex. "It's meant to be a good lesson for everyone," he opines. "I'm sharing my life experience with everybody."
Citing that the world of pondans is constantly misunderstood, he adds, "It takes someone who's lived that kind of life to really know how it feels. We're mocked at. We're ridiculed. I even got tranny friends who have been murdered mercilessly in hate crimes."
Priced at RM21.90, Selamat Jalan Dunia Pondan will be available in major bookstores nationwide on Feb 13 next year.
Via dailychilli.com
The top Malaysian TV host - notoriously known for his acidic tongue and flamboyant style - is set to release a tell-it-all book on his conflicted life as a man who has kept in touch with his feminine side, and how Islam is changing him, titled Selamat Jalan Dunia Pondan [Goodbye Transvestite World].
"It's my true confession. It's my real life story," Azwan told The Daily Chilli exclusively about his controversial autobiography.
So is he out of the closet, you ask? "I'm not a hypocrite. I am who I am," he declares.
"There are a lot of male celebrities like me in the local entertainment industry. But I don't think they've got the guts to own up to it like I do. Semua guna cover line [Everyone is trying to cover up his sexuality]."
But as a 'born-again' Muslim who has performed umrah [small haj] twice, the 44-year-old says he's learning to live his life as a practising Muslim these days.
"I've always been searching for God's divine guidance," he says. "That's why I went to Mecca. I want to learn to be a better human being who can serve his Lord better. And the idea to write the book came when I was doing my umrah for the first time in 2009."
Selamat Jalan Dunia Pondan comprises 15 shocking chapters that redefined his life the most.
In the book, Azwan also reveals his special friendship with the "3 Siti" - pop stars Ziana Zain, Siti Nurhaliza and Fauziah Latiff and how they altered his perception of women.
So far, Ziana is the only love interest that Azwan has made public.
"The world has accused me of becoming a pondan because the three women rejected me," he drops hints. "But you have to read my book to understand my relationship with them. The stories come with never-released-before photos - all taken from my personal collection."
Well, that's not all the juicy bits. Azwan also talks about married men whom he knows are crazy about gay sex. "It's meant to be a good lesson for everyone," he opines. "I'm sharing my life experience with everybody."
Citing that the world of pondans is constantly misunderstood, he adds, "It takes someone who's lived that kind of life to really know how it feels. We're mocked at. We're ridiculed. I even got tranny friends who have been murdered mercilessly in hate crimes."
Priced at RM21.90, Selamat Jalan Dunia Pondan will be available in major bookstores nationwide on Feb 13 next year.
Via dailychilli.com
Richard Branson to become AirAsia stewardess after losing a bet
It looks like Virgin Group boss Sir Richard Branson will be dressing up as an AirAsia stewardess after all for losing a bet with Lotus Racing team principal Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes over which of their teams would do better in the just-concluded Formula 1 season.
The two men had made a bet at the start of the season in March that the loser must serve as a “stewardess” on the winner’s airline.
Despite both teams failing to score any championship points throughout the season, Malaysian-backed Lotus Racing finished ahead of Virgin Racing in all but two races (in Italy and Singapore).
After the season’s final race at the sensational Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, Lotus finished in 10th spot while Virgin finished last among the 12 teams.
Fernandes said: “It’s time for Richard to start preparing himself for some hard work ... and the likely pain of a pair of high heels!”
The date of the Kuala Lumpur-London AirAsia flight has yet to be set, but seats will be auctioned off and the money given to Branson’s chosen charity.
“We have agreed that we will run an online charity auction for the seats on the route to raise money for a charity of Richard’s choice and give fans of both teams the chance to be on the flight.
“The aim is to raise as much money as we can for a good cause ... So the discomfort Richard will have to go through will be worth as much as it possibly can be.”
The friendly wager aside, Fernandes was delighted to have achieved the team’s primary target to be the best team among the newcomers.
Besides Lotus and Virgin, the other new team on the grid was the Spanish Hispania Racing (HRT) team, which finished 11th.
“I am completely relieved, completely ecstatic, happy and vindicated in making the decision to go into F1,” said Fernandes, who had the support of Malaysian conglomerates like Naza, Proton and Maxis to bring Lotus back into the premier racing fraternity after a 16-year hiatus.
“To complete 19 races and finish in 10th spot, after having just five months to build the car, is something that is truly magical.”
“This is the first chapter of a long career ahead and we will create our own future, destiny and history from here,” said Fernandes.
Recommended reading:
* Liew Siaw Hsia Get Free AirAsia Flights For Lift
The two men had made a bet at the start of the season in March that the loser must serve as a “stewardess” on the winner’s airline.
Despite both teams failing to score any championship points throughout the season, Malaysian-backed Lotus Racing finished ahead of Virgin Racing in all but two races (in Italy and Singapore).
After the season’s final race at the sensational Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, Lotus finished in 10th spot while Virgin finished last among the 12 teams.
Fernandes said: “It’s time for Richard to start preparing himself for some hard work ... and the likely pain of a pair of high heels!”
The date of the Kuala Lumpur-London AirAsia flight has yet to be set, but seats will be auctioned off and the money given to Branson’s chosen charity.
“We have agreed that we will run an online charity auction for the seats on the route to raise money for a charity of Richard’s choice and give fans of both teams the chance to be on the flight.
“The aim is to raise as much money as we can for a good cause ... So the discomfort Richard will have to go through will be worth as much as it possibly can be.”
The friendly wager aside, Fernandes was delighted to have achieved the team’s primary target to be the best team among the newcomers.
Besides Lotus and Virgin, the other new team on the grid was the Spanish Hispania Racing (HRT) team, which finished 11th.
“I am completely relieved, completely ecstatic, happy and vindicated in making the decision to go into F1,” said Fernandes, who had the support of Malaysian conglomerates like Naza, Proton and Maxis to bring Lotus back into the premier racing fraternity after a 16-year hiatus.
“To complete 19 races and finish in 10th spot, after having just five months to build the car, is something that is truly magical.”
“This is the first chapter of a long career ahead and we will create our own future, destiny and history from here,” said Fernandes.
Recommended reading:
* Liew Siaw Hsia Get Free AirAsia Flights For Lift
Killer monkey abducts and kill an infant
As with all wild animals, never trust a monkey. TheStar.com.my reported that a couple from Seremban, Malaysia lost their baby after a monkey stole the baby and drop the baby from the roof.
In mere minutes, a young woman turned from a happy mother to a grieving one when she lost her four-day-old baby to a wild monkey that was shot dead several hours later.
In the 1.15pm tragedy yesterday, the macaque stole into the living room; snatched the child and fled up the roof of the house. The baby fell to the ground and died.
The mother, V. Revathy, 26, had left her first-born child in the living room of the single-storey house near Taman Happy Garden to use the toilet. The baby’s body was discovered later outside the house with her face and neck badly bitten. She was rushed to the Tuanku Ja’afar Hospital here where she was pronounced dead.
Revathi’s father-in-law A. Valayutham, 70, was in the living room with the newborn but had gone to get a glass of water when the tragedy occurred.
“We frantically searched all over the house and saw her body covered in blood lying outside the house,” he said.
Valayutham added that he had noticed a few monkeys outside the house compound at that time.
The area where the family stayed was sandwiched between two residential areas with a foliage of trees nearby where there were monkeys.
Negri Sembilan Wildlife and National Parks director Ishak Muhamad said the macaque was shot dead at 4pm.
“We suspect the macaque was rummaging for food inside the house. It could have taken the baby to the roof thinking the newborn was food.
“The baby died when it fell to the ground. The monkey had apparently released the newborn, probably because it was alarmed by the parents’ shouts,” Ishak said yesterday.
He added that the parents had called the Fire and Rescue Department at 2.15pm, which immediately contacted the Wildlife and National Parks Department.
“We reached the house at about 3pm and set off with the baby’s father to look for the macaque,” he said.
Ishak said department officers saw the macaque in some bushes several metres from the house at about 4pm.
The macaque was shot when it began to act aggressively.
Ishak added that it was the first such case in the state, and believed the male monkey was attracted by a female kept in captivity as a pet by the family.
“This is very unusual. Normally, these monkeys simply steal food or pluck fruit from the yard,” he said.
The baby’s father, lorry driver V. Neru, 29, who was not at home when the incident occurred, said he could not believe that such a thing could have happened.
“I rushed to the hospital only to be told that she was gone.
“She was our bundle of joy and we were looking forward to spending many happy years with her ... I just cannot believe she’s gone,” he said.
R. Shanty, 35, who lives nearby said it was common to see monkeys in groups of three or four in the area.
“A while back, my pet dog was attacked by these monkeys. Its badly-bitten body was thrown from a tree.
“I really hope the authorities take action and not wait until another life is lost,” she said.
Rahang assemblyman M.K. Arumugam, who visited the family yesterday evening, expressed regret over the incident.
“I have brought this matter up before but sadly no action was taken. I am very disappointed that something like this had to happen before the authorities took notice,” he said.
In mere minutes, a young woman turned from a happy mother to a grieving one when she lost her four-day-old baby to a wild monkey that was shot dead several hours later.
In the 1.15pm tragedy yesterday, the macaque stole into the living room; snatched the child and fled up the roof of the house. The baby fell to the ground and died.
The mother, V. Revathy, 26, had left her first-born child in the living room of the single-storey house near Taman Happy Garden to use the toilet. The baby’s body was discovered later outside the house with her face and neck badly bitten. She was rushed to the Tuanku Ja’afar Hospital here where she was pronounced dead.
Revathi’s father-in-law A. Valayutham, 70, was in the living room with the newborn but had gone to get a glass of water when the tragedy occurred.
“We frantically searched all over the house and saw her body covered in blood lying outside the house,” he said.
Valayutham added that he had noticed a few monkeys outside the house compound at that time.
The area where the family stayed was sandwiched between two residential areas with a foliage of trees nearby where there were monkeys.
Negri Sembilan Wildlife and National Parks director Ishak Muhamad said the macaque was shot dead at 4pm.
“We suspect the macaque was rummaging for food inside the house. It could have taken the baby to the roof thinking the newborn was food.
“The baby died when it fell to the ground. The monkey had apparently released the newborn, probably because it was alarmed by the parents’ shouts,” Ishak said yesterday.
He added that the parents had called the Fire and Rescue Department at 2.15pm, which immediately contacted the Wildlife and National Parks Department.
“We reached the house at about 3pm and set off with the baby’s father to look for the macaque,” he said.
Ishak said department officers saw the macaque in some bushes several metres from the house at about 4pm.
The macaque was shot when it began to act aggressively.
Ishak added that it was the first such case in the state, and believed the male monkey was attracted by a female kept in captivity as a pet by the family.
“This is very unusual. Normally, these monkeys simply steal food or pluck fruit from the yard,” he said.
The baby’s father, lorry driver V. Neru, 29, who was not at home when the incident occurred, said he could not believe that such a thing could have happened.
“I rushed to the hospital only to be told that she was gone.
“She was our bundle of joy and we were looking forward to spending many happy years with her ... I just cannot believe she’s gone,” he said.
R. Shanty, 35, who lives nearby said it was common to see monkeys in groups of three or four in the area.
“A while back, my pet dog was attacked by these monkeys. Its badly-bitten body was thrown from a tree.
“I really hope the authorities take action and not wait until another life is lost,” she said.
Rahang assemblyman M.K. Arumugam, who visited the family yesterday evening, expressed regret over the incident.
“I have brought this matter up before but sadly no action was taken. I am very disappointed that something like this had to happen before the authorities took notice,” he said.
Malaysia set up task force to scour harmful blogs
Malaysia has formed a task force to scour the Internet for blog postings deemed harmful to national unity, authorities said on Friday in the latest of a series of actions against new media.
Home ministry deputy secretary general for security Abdul Rahim Mohamad Radzi said the unit would involve the police, Internet regulators, the information ministry and the attorney general's chambers.
"It is a mechanism that will coordinate these various agencies to help monitor what is being said in cyberspace and to take action against those that are trying to stoke racial tensions and disunity," he told AFP.
Abdul Rahim said the group would also monitor alternative and mainstream media for similar content.
"There is a disturbing trend now appearing on the Internet where some people are inciting racial unrest and causing confusion and this will damage the peace we have in the country," he added.
Abdul Rahim cited the recent case of a Facebook page that insulted Muslim Malays. They make up the majority of Malaysia's multicultural population, alongside large ethnic Chinese and Indian communities.
Police are also investigating ethnic Chinese rapper Wee Meng Chee (alias NameWee) for sedition, after he posted a three-minute rap on YouTube criticising a Malay headmistress accused of making racial slurs against minority students.
The government has ordered a probe into the case which caused anger among Malaysia's minorities, who complain their rights are being eroded as the country becomes increasingly "Islamised".
In another case, Malaysian journalist Irwan Abdul Rahman was charged this week over a satirical blog which made fun of the state power firm Tenaga, and faces a year's jail if convicted.
The prosecution caused a stir because unlike the mainstream press, the web and online media in Malaysia have remained relatively free, despite occasional raids, bans and government criticism.
Major newspapers and broadcasters are closely linked with the ruling coalition, so the Internet has become a lively forum for dissent and debate.
The government in 1996 pledged not to censor online content as part of a campaign to promote its information technology sector.
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Home ministry deputy secretary general for security Abdul Rahim Mohamad Radzi said the unit would involve the police, Internet regulators, the information ministry and the attorney general's chambers.
"It is a mechanism that will coordinate these various agencies to help monitor what is being said in cyberspace and to take action against those that are trying to stoke racial tensions and disunity," he told AFP.
Abdul Rahim said the group would also monitor alternative and mainstream media for similar content.
"There is a disturbing trend now appearing on the Internet where some people are inciting racial unrest and causing confusion and this will damage the peace we have in the country," he added.
Abdul Rahim cited the recent case of a Facebook page that insulted Muslim Malays. They make up the majority of Malaysia's multicultural population, alongside large ethnic Chinese and Indian communities.
Police are also investigating ethnic Chinese rapper Wee Meng Chee (alias NameWee) for sedition, after he posted a three-minute rap on YouTube criticising a Malay headmistress accused of making racial slurs against minority students.
The government has ordered a probe into the case which caused anger among Malaysia's minorities, who complain their rights are being eroded as the country becomes increasingly "Islamised".
In another case, Malaysian journalist Irwan Abdul Rahman was charged this week over a satirical blog which made fun of the state power firm Tenaga, and faces a year's jail if convicted.
The prosecution caused a stir because unlike the mainstream press, the web and online media in Malaysia have remained relatively free, despite occasional raids, bans and government criticism.
Major newspapers and broadcasters are closely linked with the ruling coalition, so the Internet has become a lively forum for dissent and debate.
The government in 1996 pledged not to censor online content as part of a campaign to promote its information technology sector.
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Blood Nest - Fake Bird Nest
“Blood nest” – a much sought after variety of bird’s nest – is actually tainted with dangerous chemicals to deceive consumers into paying double the price for a premium grade.While the normal bird’s nest, which is ivory in colour, can fetch up to RM10,000 a kilo, the reddish “blood nest” fetches up to RM20,000 a kilo in Malaysia.
Traders justify the exorbitant price by claiming the “blood nest” is a premium grade of the Chinese delicacy.
In exposing this scam on Saturday, Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Chua Tee Yong said these tainted bird’s nests were dangerous to health and may even be fatal when consumed by humans.
He said the nests were either sprayed with iodine or stored at premises where there was high ammonia content to give them a uniform bright-red colour.
“Some also use karya gum (from a soft wooded tree) to give the bird’s nest its reddish colour,” he told The Star.
Chua advised the public against purchasing bird’s nest from dubious traders and urged the industry to practise self-regulation to ensure the quality and safety of the product.
He said that all bird’s nests must have a Veterinary Service Department health certificate before they could be exported.
Federation of Bird’s Nest Merchants Asso ciations chairman Datuk Beh Heng Seong said the term “blood nest” was coined by conmen and that there was “no such thing”.
“Bird’s nest is made up of the saliva of swiflets and is ivory in colour. It is impossible for bird’s nest to be red in colour.
“The so-called blood nests have high levels of nitrates from the artificial red colouring added to it,” Beh said, admitting that many consumers had been deceived into paying a high price for the dangerous product.
He said a kilo of bird’s nest costs between RM8,000 and RM10,000 in the market depending on the grade while a kilo of the “blood nest” was between RM15,000 and RM20,000.
Beh said Malaysia produced some 240 tonnes of bird’s nest worth RM1bil a year and 90% of it was exported to China.
Asked whether the federation, comprising 19 associations and 10,000 members nationwide, had tried to rein in those who were cheating consumers, he said they were looking at educating consumers on bird’s nests and coming up with guidelines for the industry.
Meanwhile, Fomca secretary-general Muhd Sha’ani Abdullah urged the Health Ministry to issue guidelines on what a genuine bird’s nest was and to warn consumers of bird’s nests with added colouring.
He said so far, they have not received any complaint from consumers on the so-called “blood nest” but added that could be because consumers were unaware of tainted products in the market.
He suggested that the Health Ministry issue certificates for untainted products.
“Traders should also be responsible by making sure no harmful chemicals are used in their products,” said Muhd Sha’ani.
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Breast enlargement without surgery
Ahmad Said, the Chief Minister of Malaysian state of Terengganu was once ridiculed for saying that Asiatic Bitter Yam (Dioscorea Hispida) contains the right natural steroid to turn a woman voluptuous and called for in-depth research on the common potato species.After a year, Ahmad proved his critics wrong ad research revealed that this yam is an excellent source of beta-carotene and diosgenin, a powerful phytochemical that aids in optimal breast enlargement, without surgery.
This yam also contains phytoestrogens that are associated with relief from menopausal symptoms.
"People made a mockery of me, labelling me all sort of names when I said that this yam that is found in abundance here benefits women and could be commercialised if proper research is done on its health properties.
"I am glad that finally a local university has came forward to have research conducted on the health properties of this yam," he said during the signing of MOU between Universiti of Sultan Zainal Abidin and Terengganu Government to spearhead the study on the yam locally known as Ubi Gadong.
The MOU was sealed between state government represented by State Secretary Datuk Mazlan Ngah and the university that was represented by its vice-chancellor Datuk Prof Dr Alias Daud.
With the M.O.U, the state government will provide a grant of RM2mil to the varsity for research and development on the yam.
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