However, he said, yoga was not to be encouraged among Muslims for fear that it could erode their Islamic faith since the physical part was a component of yoga practice as a whole.

He said there were three stages to yoga practice, which originated from the Hindus, — first, the physical aspect which is the exercise part; second the mantras and worshipping and third the unification of oneself with God.

“Therefore, members of the council reached a consensus that any practice, regardless of type and in whatever form that have such elements, contradict Islamic teachings,” he told a press conference here.

Abdul Shukor said the matter was decided at the 83rd National Fatwa Council meeting held in Kota Baharu from Oct 22 to 24 and that the decision would be conveyed to the respective state religious councils for gazetting.

He said yoga practice among Muslims had also been banned in Singapore and Egypt.

Abdul Shukor said various programmes would be carried out by the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) to enlighten Muslims on yoga.

He also advised Muslims to get information on any exercise programme before practising them to ensure that they would not affect their religious faith.

He said there were many other ways which Muslims could do to exercise for health, like praying.

Yoga has been practised since 3000 BC and is said to be able to slow down the ageing process, reduce the risk of diabetes, asthma and heart-related diseases.

Source: BERNAMA

Technorati Tags: exercise, fatwa, haram, Health, hindu, islam, muslim, yoga

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The actor is demanding the return of US$900,000 (RM3.2 million) of the US$2 million he invested in the venture.

According to court papers filed in federal court in Los Angeles, California, Petra’s chief executive Datuk Vinod B. Shekhar and Tunku Imran had induced him to invest in a company that was developing a non-toxic and recyclable rubber.

Willis had a put option, whereby for a specified period time he could get a full refund of his investment, according to the complaint. He exercised the option on March 17, Willis said, according to the Bloomberg report.

Willis said in his filing that he was told former US Vice-President Al Gore and actor Mel Gibson had also invested in the company, Elastomer Technologies Ltd.

“Despite the defendants’ obligation to immediately refund Willis’ investment in April 2008, the defendants continued to provide different specious excuses for the retaining of Willis’ funds,” the actor said in the complaint, quoted by the Bloomberg report.

Andrew Murray-Watson, a spokesman for Kuala Lumpur-based Petra, told Bloomberg in the report that Willis was due to be repaid the remaining US$900,000 in the next couple of weeks.

“We’re very surprised Mr Willis is taking this action,” Murray-Watson said in a phone interview.

According to an earlier Bloomberg report, Green Rubber Global Plc, named then as the Malaysian tyre-recycling group partly owned by actors Gibson and Willis, could sell shares in London by the year-end if the market condition improves.

The report said the company was looking to raise between US$20 million and US$50 million in a pre-IPO fund-raising.

Bloomberg reported that Green Rubber was expanding its existing plant in Kuala Lumpur and planned to lease a facility in China or scout for a partner in the north Asian nation.

It was also reported that the company is set to tie up with US rubber product manufacturer Apachi Mills, which supplies to retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

The company is said to be able to make rubber compound through its recycling process at a cheaper cost than creating new compounds, saving costs and the environment.

Source: The Malaysian Insider

Technorati Tags: bruce willis, court, elastomer, green rubber, petra group, rubber, sue, tunku imran

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“I know that Najib and his wife had never met the deceased Altantuya,” Abdul Razak told a packed press conference at a hotel here today and pleaded for the media and the public to stop spreading “lies about Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife.”

He said that those who have slandered the Deputy Prime Minister and Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor can “never produce authentic evidence because there is none.”

Abdul Razak was recently acquitted of the charge of abetting in the murder of Altantuya in one of the country’s most sensational murder trials.

While Abdul Razak was acquitted, two policemen are still facing trial for the murder.

Pressed today on how he knew Najib had never met Altantuya, Abdul Razak simply replied: “I know.”

His relationship with Najib and the sensational nature of the murder in which Altantuya’s body was blown to bits with C4 explosives have sparked allegations and numerous questions over possible political conspiracies.

Najib and Rosmah have been the subject of often wild allegations about their involvement.

This has resulted in a smear on the record of Najib, who was recently elected unopposed as Umno president and is expected to become the next Prime Minister in March.

Today his friend and adviser Abdul Razak attempted to help clear his name.

Hoping to “close one chapter of my life and open a new chapter”, he expressed frustration that “many have jumped on the bandwagon of skullduggery. The innocents have become the victim while the liars are running supreme.”

With several relatives including his father present, Abdul Razak reiterated that he was innocent and was in fact “caught in the system, the system puts you in and the system will get you out.”

He said that there was no link between the deceased and the submarine deal which has been the subject of widespread speculation as the motive for the murder of Altantuya.

He said the “purported deal” was inked in June 2002 but he had only met the deceased in late 2004.

“Everyone is lazy and did not check the facts. I fail to see the connection. These are vicious lies,” he said.

He was also visibly agitated at a suggestion that he was still not exonerated in the court of public opinion.

Remarking at how the media blows up “people power” with references to recent uprisings in Thailand, he retorted by asking: “Is that democracy? If you talk about 500 people in the streets as opposed to a population of 100 million? If I have money and I pay everyone RM10 and I get 100,000 people out in the streets to protest against the government, is that public opinion? Blimey, that is not public opinion that is manipulation.”

“You talk about it as if it is a coherent consensus. I do not want to pander to so-called public opinion. Can a blogger reflect public opinion? Then I can run you down as well, mate,” he sniped.

Lifting up a tape recorder, he said if the press chose to report him as holding a gun or whisky, he could not be responsible for that.

Abdul Razak also said that he has had no contact with Najib since his release.

“I have not met him, seen him, spoken to him, SMSed him, e-mailed him. Not at all,” he exclaimed.

He clarified his relationship with Najib, saying that it has “evolved” since it began professionally in the ‘90s, and they have since become personal friends but he has never held an official position with Najib as a member of his staff and could not be classified as an “aide” as was often reported.

Abdul Razak, however, said he felt Najib would make a very good Prime Minister as he is a well-read person and attuned to global affairs but he was not interested in becoming a member of Najib’s staff as he is “quite happy with my freedom at the moment.”

He said his immediate concern now was to return to Britain as he was a doctorate student at Oxford and had submitted in September 2006 his dissertation which was placed on hold due to his arrest.

He bristled at a suggestion that he would not return.

“Why the hell should I run away, I am innocent. You will see me back in a few months after I get my doctorate unless I get a cushy job like the Prime Minister of the UK,” he quipped.

He also refused to comment on several issues such as why he was implicated in the first place, his relationship with the two accused police officers and why he dropped prominent lawyer Datuk Shafee Abdullah when he was finally charged with abetting the two police officers, saying that a trial is still proceeding and legal ethics had to be adhered to.

He, however, denied that he had met Altantuya at a party as reported in the media and said that a photo of him, Najib and the deceased was doctored.

As for the recently leaked text message exchange between Najib and Shafee which led to claims of abuse of power, he said that by that time he was already in remand and he could not imagine how there could be a suggestion of interference.

“How can there be any intervention if I went through all that? God almighty, come on,” he said.

He added that while he was sympathetic to the family of the deceased, he has never met them and if they chose to bring the matter to an international court, it was up to them.

Abdul Razak also expressed surprise that he has not become “a leper”.

“A lot of people came to wish me all the best and congratulate me. Of course, when I walk around I hear people whispering but that’s obvious.”

Source: The Malaysian Insider

Technorati Tags: altantuya shaaribuu, najib tun razak, razak baginda, statement

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“Why is the 30-year standing rule or of longer vintage that both the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister should not be out of the country at the same time being broken this week?” he said at a press conference in Parliament yesterday.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is currently in Uzbekistan for a four-day official visit, while his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Razak will leave for the 16th Apec Economic Leaders Meeting (AELM) in Lima, Peru today.

According to Lim, Abdullah will only be back on Nov 21 while Najib returns in early December.

“Who will be the Acting Prime Minister in these two days when both the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister will be out of the country?” Lim asked further.

“It cannot be Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is the front-runner for the election for Umno deputy president, as he will be leaving together with Najib tomorrow for Peru,” he said, referring to Umno party polls in March.

Lim also ruled out the possibility of the most senior Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Tan Sri Bernard Dompok or the newly elected MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat as it would fall foul of Umno MPs.

“This is of course anathema particularly to Umno MPs who cannot even accept the clear-cut constitutional position that the post of Prime Minister is open to any Malaysian regardless of race, religion or territory,” Lim commented.

Lim concluded by calling the Prime Minister’s Office to disclose to all Malaysians the number of times in the past 30 years when both the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister have been out of the country at the same time.

The Ipoh Timur MP also called on Najib, who is also Finance Minister, to clarify the status of his RM7 billion stimulus package before leaving on his long trip.

“Najib should not leave behind a RM7 billion ‘black hole’ but direct Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Mohd Nor Yakcop to incorporate the package into the 2009 Budget for parliamentary approval,” he said.

The RM7 billion plan which Najib announced in his winding-up speech for the budget debate has been a bone of contention as the opposition continues to insist that the details have not been approved.

The government’s stand however is that no allocation in the budget has actually been changed as the RM7 billion will be sourced from fuel subsidy savings and it is up to the Finance Ministry to issue an “administrative order” to carry out the projects which Najib has said will roll out early next year.

Source: The Malaysian Insider

Technorati Tags: abdullah ahmad badawi, away, deputy prime minister, najib tun razak, prime minister

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Education Director-General Datuk Alimuddin Mohd Dom said the candidates comprised 388,079 people or 87.6 per cent from schools under the Education Ministry; 16,019 or 3.6 per cent were sponsored candidates; 10,331 or 2.3 per cent were from private schools and 28,507 or 6.5 per cent were private candidates.

He advised candidates to refer to the latest SPM examination time-table for the time of their respective papers and to always bring along their identity cards to the examination hall.

“In case of floods or fire, there is a possibility of changes in the examination time table and centres.

“I advised candidates to keep abreast with developments, which will be announced through the mass media,” he said in a statement.

He also advised parents not to believe messages, which were being distributed through the short messaging service, of leakage in the SPM examination questions.

Timetable for the the exam can be obtained from Jadual Waktu Peperiksaan SPM 2008.

Technorati Tags: examination, sijil pelajaran malaysia, SPM, timetable

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This rice dish, which is eaten with various curried meats and fish as well as special condiments, has developed into a signature cuisine for Pulau Pinang and would always come to mind whenever this ‘pearl island’ is mentioned.

A visit to Georgetown would not feel right without a stopover at any of the nasi kandar joints in this city to sample this out of the world pleasure.

At Restoran Kassim Mustafa here, nasi kandar connoisseurs could testify that the food served at this joint is really tantalising and invigorating to the taste buds.

Inherited Recipe

According to 43-year-old Saleem Manshor, the reason behind why his customers find the nasi kandar fare offered at the restaurant as being so scrumptious and tasty is due to the recipe that has been passed down over the past 18 years.

The various spices and chili are blended using the ‘giling’ (traditional way of blending spices using a baton-shaped rolling pin made from stone), said Saleem who is the restaurant owner.

Saleem said his cooks would never add any of the artificial flavours and the monosodium glutamate (msg).

He also said the cooks never used the ‘chili boh’ (blended chili) sold at the grocery shops.

“Right from the very beginning, all the spices used to cook the various dishes are hand-rolled by the two cooks and the rolling pin used is already more than 20 years old”, he told Bernama here.

Rolling Pin

Saleem said the rolling pin has been in use since the days when his uncle Kassim Mustafa, 72, migrated to Pulau Pinang from India and sold nasi kandar at a stall here.

“This restaurant was named after him as he started the business. The nasi kandar is from our own recipe”, he said.

Among the ingredients used by Saleem’s cooks are dried chili, kunyit (turmeric), jintan putih (cumin) and jintan manis (fennel). They would also add in extra onions to boost the aroma and flavour.

Saleem, who owns nine Restoran Kassim Mustafa statewide, said the eatery’s approach is to ‘roll’ all of the spices used for the dishes.

“That what makes us different from the other nasi kandar shops”, he said.

Saleem also claimed that many of the other nasi kandar restaurants used curry powder from popular brands but if not well mixed, the gravy of the food would congeal and thicken at the surface while being in the cooking pot.

Secret Recipe

“Only the cooks know what are the ingredients and we will never reveal them to others”, he said when asked about the ingredients of the shop’s nasi kandar.

However he said one of the reasons that made nasi kandar in Pulau Pinang could be the water used to wash the rice and cook the ingredients.

“It could be the water supplied on the island”, he said.

Saleem said he used to receive an order from a national leader for a nasi kandar feast in Putrajaya.

To maintain the nasi kandar’s taste, Saleem said he brought along 30 drums of water from Pulau Pinang to cook the meal for the leader’s guests.

“I am not sure what is so special about the Pulau Pinang water but there are those who said that nasi kandar sold elsewhere is not as tasty as that cooked on the island. Hence it could be the water supplied on the island”, he said.

Art Of Mixing The Gravy

Saleem said the method of mixing the various gravies is crucial towards offering a really tasty nasi kandar meal.

He said the art of mixing the gravies with the rice is unique and only could be done by the restaurant’s hands.

“If too much of each gravy is added, it could alter the taste. That is why nasi kandar at Restoran Kassim Mustafa is well known among the food connoisseurs”, he said.

Saleem said he had received many offers to franchise the restaurant abroad. “We have not decided on anything. Our restaurants are growing well here.”

Source: Bernama (ERMA IDAYU MOHD YUSOP)

Technorati Tags: curry, indian muslim, nasi kandar, penang, pulau pinang

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Today, the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court judge S M Komathy Suppiah ruled the certificate signed by the Attorney-General requesting the case be transferred to the High Court was invalid.

This will give a fillip to Anwar’s fight against the sodomy charge which he has denied and suggested is politically-motivated.

His case will now be heard in the Kuala Lumpur Criminal Sessions Court.

“This case raises a unique situation where it is evident that any involvement by the AG in this case would seriously undermine public confidence in the administration of criminal justice,” she said in declaring Attorney General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail’s certificate of transfer to the High Court invalid.

On Sep 10, the prosecution had produced this certificate but the defence objected on the basis of the promise given by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi that the AG would not be involved.

Outside the court, Anwar said that he was pleased that Komathy took pains to hear arguments from both sides and kept to her principles.

“At first I was afraid that it might be a repeat of 1998,” he said referring to his first sodomy conviction which he maintains, as he does with the ongoing case, was trumped up and politically motivated.

Komathy’s grounds of judgment were two-fold, citing legitimate expectation and rule of bias.

“The Prime Minister as the head of the Executive… gave his word and intended it to be taken seriously. That the office of the AG also took it seriously is evident from the fact that the Solicitor General led the prosecution team,” Komathy said, referring to Datuk Idris Harun.

“That assurance, in my view, created a legitimate and reasonable expectation in the accused and the public that Gani would not be personally involved in this case,” she ruled.

Komathy also said that it must be accepted that “there is no love lost between the accused and the AG” as “the defence contends that the AG is in a position of conflict of interest and is thereby disqualified from this case” and with the prosecution not refuting the alleged conflict of interest, the AG’s involvement would contravene the rule of natural justice and give rise to bias.

However, Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Yusof Zainal Abiden told reporters that the prosecution would refer to a High Court judge to have a judicial review to revise the ruling.

The sodomy case will now be mentioned on Nov 14 where a date for hearing will be discussed.

Anwar has claimed trial to the charge of sodomising his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

Technorati Tags: anwar ibrahim, case, court, high court, saiful bukhari, sessions court, sodomy

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High Court Justice Syed Ahmad Helmy Syed Ahmad ruled that the Home Minister acted outside his powers in having Raja Petra arrested on Sept 12, said the blogger’s lawyer Malik Imtiaz Sarwar.

He quoted the judge as saying the grounds given for Raja Petra’s detention were insufficient and that his arrest under the Internal Security Act was unlawful.

The ISA allows the government to detain anyone for an initial two-year period without charges, and to extend the detention indefinitely.

Raja Petra, who was accused of threatening public security and causing racial tension by publishing writings that ridiculed Islam, will be taken to court later today to be formally set free.

Malik said the order was a “historic ruling”.

It’s not the first time that a court has ordered the release of ISA detainees, and the ruling also does not prevent the government from re-arresting him under the ISA. The government can also appeal the ruling.

Raja Petra, 58, has increasingly infuriated authorities by publishing numerous claims about alleged wrongdoing by government leaders on his highly popular site, Malaysia Today. The government has denounced most of Raja Petra’s allegations as lies.

He is also on trial in a separate case, having been accused of sedition by implying that Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was involved in the murder of a Mongolian woman. Raja Petra denies the allegation. If convicted, he faces up to three years in jail.

The detention came at a time when the government’s popularity hit at an all-time low and is riven with factional fighting and faces the threat of being ousted by the opposition.

The ISA is a holdover from British colonial days, when it was used against communist insurgents. Independent Malaysia’s post-colonial government has kept it in the statute books and has used it sparingly against political dissidents, ignoring calls from opposition groups and others to disband the law.

Raja Petra’s arrest triggered widespread protests by civil society groups, lawyers and other online commentators.

Some of Malaysia’s most popular blogs offer strong anti-government commentaries and present themselves as a substitute for mainstream media, which are controlled by political parties or closely linked to them. The government estimates there are more than 700 Malaysians who blog on social and political issues.

Source: Associated Press

Technorati Tags: court order, internal security act, isa, malaysia today, raja petra

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Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri, 32, and Corporal Sirul Azha Umar, 37, who are members of the police Special Action Force (UTK), were, however, ordered to enter their defence to the charge of murder.

The prosecution is expected to file an appeal against Razak’s acquittal.

Altantuya was allegedly shot before her body was blown up with explosives two years ago.

Azilah and Sirul are jointly charged with murdering Altantuya, 28, at a location in Mukim Bukit Raja, Selangor between 10am on Oct 19, 2006 and 1am the following day.

Razak, 47, was charged with abetting them. He is a close associate of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, and was known to have worked on government weapons procurement projects while Najib was Defence Minister.

The prosecution closed its case against the trio on June 23 after 151 days of testimony from 84 witnesses.

The following is commentary by Leslie Lau, Consultant Editor, title “Acquittal will not stop mud-slinging”;

It does not matter what the grounds are for the acquittal of political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda.

It does not matter that he is now a free man and should enjoy the benefits of being a free man discharged and acquitted of abetting in the murder of his former lover Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Ultimately, today’s decision by the Shah Alam High Court leaves more unanswered questions and will only become fodder for the conspiracy theorists.

The fact that the two policemen, Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri and Cpl Sirul Azhar Umar, will continue to face the murder charge will almost certainly ensure many Malaysians will be suspicious of the whole affair.

Regardless of whether it is fair or not, Razak’s acquittal will only go further to fuel rumours and speculation about the involvement of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

That has become the nature of politics in Malaysia.

Razak is, of course, a close associate of Najib.

When the political analyst was first arrested in 2006, Najib was, of course, quite concerned with what was happening to his friend.

The DPM’s subsequent involvement with securing legal counsel for Razak has become the subject of recent allegations that he may have interfered in investigations.

A recording of text messages between Najib and prominent lawyer Datuk Shafee Abdullah was published on blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin’s Malaysia Today website in what was a clear attempt to tarnish the DPM’s name and link him with improper behaviour.

But that was just the latest in a series of hammer blows sustained to the reputation of Najib since the murder in 2006.

It has not helped Najib’s reputation that a private investigator made a statutory declaration that Najib knew the murder victim and then retracted it the next day before disappearing.

Doctored photographs and other wild allegations also made their way to the Internet.

In all fairness, Najib has conducted himself with a certain degree of dignity considering the allegations thrown at him.

But two years of mud-slinging and some of it has stuck in the mind of many Malaysians.

This is the thing — you say something often enough, even if it is not true you will start believing it.

As Razak left the court house today he was surrounded by hordes of press photographers and reporters whom he calmly told to move aside so that he could go home.

After nearly two years the ordeal is finally over for him.

But for his close friend Najib, this will be a bitter-sweet moment.

His friend is acquitted, but the acquittal will almost certainly give rise to more allegations against him.

Source: The Malaysian Insider

Technorati Tags: abdul razak baginda, acquitted, altantuya, altantuya shaaribuu, high court, mongolian, murder, najib tun razak, razak baginda

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The action level for melamine established by the Health Ministry is 1 mg/kg for infant foods and 2.5 mg/kg for other foods. This action level will be reviewed from time to time based on scientific development and latest information.

2. How much Melamine contaminated food would a person has to eat before they are exposed to health effect?

It is a non direct effect of melamine but the concentration of cyanuric acid leading to crystals. However, the health effects can be extrapolated based on animal studies. Data are available from animal feeding studies carried out in rats, mice and dogs. The main toxic effects of dietary exposure to melamine in rats and mice is stone formation based on oral feeding of 63 mg/kg body weight/day in a 13 week rat.

3. What would you advice people with a pre-existing kidney or other health problems?

People with pre-existing kidney problems or those who develop symptoms related to the urinary system can seek advice from doctors.

4. The New Zealand Food Safety Authority, when recalling White Rabbit Candy said the product contained sufficiently high levels of melamine which may in some individuals, cause health problems such as kidney stones (An Associated Press report from Beijing, Sept 25, quoting the deputy chief executive of the authority Sandra Daly). What actions have taken by Health Ministry to address the issue on melamine?

Based on consumption of infant formula contaminated with melamine in China, there is some indication to show that melamine can contribute towards kidney problems. With respect to the melamine issue, the Health Ministry would like to affirm that Malaysia does not import any milk or infant formula milk powder from China, and specifically the affected powdered milk which is produced by Sanlu Group.

This has been confirmed by the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) which is responsible for issuing import permits for importation of veterinary products including for milk and infant formula milk powder.

Malaysia also imports milk-based products from China. However, as one of the requirements on importation into Malaysia imposed by the DVS, following the outbreak of the foot and mouth disease in cows in China, these products are manufactured using milk sourced from Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands and United States.

As a precaution, the Health Ministry took immediate action by imposing ban of imports on infant formula through the Food Safety Information System of Malaysia (FoSIM) on 13th September 2008 when the issue of melamine was first reported in the media. This ban was extended to dairy products which were implicated on 19th September 2008 followed by all confection containing milk as an ingredient i.e. milk-based products on 22nd September 2008.

So far, sealing of imported products suspected of containing the tainted milk from China undertaken across the country has involved 780 products which amounts to RM769,424.90. The Health Ministry also conducts monitoring activities by taking samples to be tested on the presence of melamine.

Analysis of melamine for enforcement and monitoring purposes is conducted by Department of Chemistry under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, National Public Health Laboratory under the Health Ministry, Doping Centre under Universiti Sains Malaysia, and Universiti Malaya. To date, test results of 87 samples analyzed for melamine are found to be in compliance with the standard for melamine whist 3 samples are found to contravene the standard.

Over recent years, there has been an improvement in the level of safety and quality of foods in Malaysia. This is evident in the decrease of the contravention rate from 12.29% in 1998 to 4.8% in 2007 although there is an increase in the food samples tested. From the total number of contravention in 2007, 628 cases were convicted with a total fine amounting to RM 827,681.00 and two (2) cases of imprisonment. RM 1,708,439.08 was collected from 46,127 seizures.

In 2007, 153,766 consignments valued at RM 6,433,566,640.00 were inspected at entry points. A total 44,360 (28.8%) samples were taken for testing and 765 (1.7%) was found to contravene the Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985. In 2007, imported food that contravened were recalled (6 products), destroyed (29 products), blacklisted (48 products) and 14 cases were prosecuted resulting in a fine totaling RM 34,800.00.

5. What would you advice families to do with the contaminated items they have had at home for some time-for example, if they purchased a pack of White Rabbit Candy last year, should they throw away the items or should they only discard items purchased in the last three months?

Yes, families are advised to discard and throw away the contaminated items.

6. What advice would you give to parents about feeding children dairy based sweets, chocolates and biscuits/snacks which may contain milk from China?

As a temporary measure, parents and guardian are advised not to feed their children with dairy based products and confection including sweets and biscuits from China, and to keep updated with the latest information from the Health Ministry on food contaminated with melamine.

Consumers are advised to always read labels on food products being making any purchase. If in doubt, consumers can contact the Food Safety and Quality Division, Health Ministry at its hotline 03- 88833655 / 88833503 / 88833500 / 88833652 and website (http://fsq.moh.gov.my).

7. What would you advice when buying fresh fruits and vegetables from the market or in cases where the source is not labeled?

Consumers should practice healthy eating including eating plenty of fruits and vegetables. Consumers are advised to wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly especially if eaten raw.

At the same time, the Health Ministry is monitoring fruits and vegetables in the market whether locally produced or imported to ensure that it complies with the Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985.

8. Under current legislation, what information is a food manufacturer obliged to disclose on the packaging?

Under Regulation 11 of the Food Regulations 1985, the information to be disclosed on the packaging are as follows:-
a) The appropriate designation or description of the food containing the common name of its principal ingredients;
b) The word “mixed” or “blended” conjoined with the appropriate designation of the food for mixed or blended food;
c) The words “CONTAINS (beef, pork; lard)” where the food contains beef, pork or lard;
d) The words “CONTAINS ALCOHOL” where the food contains added alcohol;
e) The name of the ingredients other than water, where the food consists of two or more ingredients;
f) The common name of animal or vegetable from which fat or oil is derived from for food containing edible fat or edible oil;
g) A statement in the form “contains permitted (state the type of the relevant food additive)” for foods containing additive;
h) The minimum net weight or volume or number of the content of the package;
i) A statement of the minimum drained weight of the food for food packed in liquid;
j) For locally produced food, the name and business address of the manufacturer or packer, or the owner of the rights of manufacture or packing or the agent of any of them. For imported food, the name and business address of the manufacturer or packer, or the owner of the rights of manufacture or packing or the agent of any of them and the name of the country of origin of the food;
k) Date-marking (for specific foods as in the Fifth Schedule of the Food Regulations 1985); and
l) The common name of the animal, where the ingredients or the food additives are derived from animal.

9. Is there any requirement for them to indicate the source of any of the ingredients? If there isn’t shouldn’t Malaysia be looking into introducing such as rule?

Currently, there is a requirement to indicate the source, that is the common name of the animal or plant of fat or oil, and the common name of the animal where the food additives are derived from animal.

10. What is the rule on food products that carry health claims (curing highblood pressure etc)? Are they regulated and how so?

Regulation 18(6) of the Food Regulations 1985 does not permit health claims on food labels. Health claims are claims which suggest or imply a relationship between a food and health condition or claims which describes the suitability of a food for use in the prevention, alleviation, treatment or cure of a disease, disorder or particular physiological condition.

11. Is there a central agency that looks at food safety from farm to table in Malaysia? If not could you tell us which government agencies share this responsibilities and what areas they cover?

Various government Ministries and Departments are responsible for administering and regulating food safety along the food chaincontinuum.

At the primary production level, the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry through the various legislations is responsible for:-
• the registration and approval for use of agricultural inputs such as pesticides;
• the promotion of good farming practices such as Good Agriculture Practice (GAP), Good Aquaculture Practice (GAqP) and Good Animal Husbandry Practice (GAHP);
• food-animal-disease control;
• hygienic practices in abattoirs, milk produced in farms; and
• inspection and certification of imported meat/fish; and
• inspection and certification of meat/fish for export

While the registration and approval of veterinary drugs is under the Health Ministry. At the processing and retail levels, the Health Ministry ensures food safety and protects consumers against fraud in the preparation and sale of food through the Food Act 1983 and the Food Regulations 1985.

Import control programmes are to ensure safe and quality food supply. The DVS controls import of meat, poultry, eggs, milk and their products for human consumption as well as the animal’s health.

The DVS also facilitates export of animal products in accordance to requirements of importing countries. Similarly, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Fisheries control the importation of fresh fruits and vegetables, and fish and fishery products, vrespectively, at the entry points.

Food control systems require continuous re-examination and reevaluation to ensure substantial improvements in food safety systems. This is especially so where ensuring food safety is diverse with responsibilities spread over different ministries and departments and resources have to be optimised. Co-ordination and collaborations among these various agencies is imperative for an effective and efficient food safety programme.

The Health Ministry spearheaded the establishment of the National Food Safety and Nutrition Council in 2001 as the highest advisory body to the government on food safety and this Council is chaired by the Honourable Minister of Health. It provides a platform in enhancing national coherence; taking into consideration the need for a more integrated approach, reducing duplication of efforts and optimising available resources and expertise from both public and private sectors. The Council, which consists of relevant government agencies, industry and consumer representatives as well as other stakeholders from farm to table, set clear policies and strategies for the continuous improvement of food safety.

12. We understand the FoSIM system of food safety monitoring may not cover all ports of entry into the country, is it true? How does it work and if this is true, do some food items come into the country without ever having been checked?

FoSIM is implemented at 38 entry points in the country. However, Health work closely with other government agencies such the Royal Malaysian Customs, DVS and others at entry points to ensure the safety and quality of food imported into the country.

FoSIM is a web-based information system to enhance the management of food safety surveillance in ensuring that the food sold in the country is safe for consumption. The system having interfaced with Customs Information System (SMK) allows importers/ agents and authorized officers at the entry points to manage food importation activities electronically using ICT. The information is transmitted electronically to the respective authorities and the food products are subjected to six (6) levels of examination, ranging from automatic clearance, document examination, monitoring examination, surveillance examination, hold, test and release and automatic rejection. Once the products are in the local market, the routine premises inspection and sampling will be undertaken.

13. The recent Auditor-General’s report said that Malaysia did not have early warning system in place for a food scare of this kind. When will the Ministry put one in place?

The Health Ministry is currently in the process of strengthening the food alert system. Amongst the measures taken are strengthening the food alert management in FoSIM, and procedures for food alert management.

14. Is melamine a compound that food is usually tested for? If not, for how long is testing of products for melamine expected to continue?

The Health Ministry carries out testing of foods both for enforcement and monitoring purposes. These testing includes physical, microbiological and chemicals such as food additives, chemical contaminants such as pesticide residues, veterinary drug residues and other parameters. The testing of chemical contaminants has been extended to include melamine.

15. Since milk is used in the making of a host of products, do we know if the melamine contamination is confined to food products or does it also extend to items like supplements like pro-biotics?

The Health Ministry is testing food products for melamine including milk-based products both for enforcement and monitoring purposes.

Issued by
Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr. Hj. Mohd Ismail Merican
Director-General of Health
Ministry of Health

Questions and Answers on melamine by World Health Organization.

Technorati Tags: china, confectionery, contaminants, infant formula, melamine, milk

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