Smoke clears for incense coil, joss stick makers and suppliers

The star

BY LOH FOON FONG

KUALA LUMPUR: Manufacturers and suppliers of incense coils and joss sticks can heave a sigh of relief now that the companies claiming design rights to the products have lost their claims in court and also dropped their appeal.

The expunge to Rong Qiang (M) Sdn Bhd’s claim on industrial design rights to incense coil was published in the government gazette on Sept 23 while the expunge to Seong Loong (M) Sdn Bhd’s exclusive claim to joss stick design would be published soon.

This follows their loss of claim on exclusive rights over the design of incense coil and incense stick on Oct 31 last year after the Kuala Lumpur High Court ordered for both the registered industrial designs to be expunged from the Register.

The judge had ruled in favour of the Prayer Goods Traders’ Association of Malaysia (Persatuan Pedagang-Pedagang Barang-Barang Sembahyang Malaysia).

The companies then filed an appeal to the Court of Appeal but withdrew it on April 30.

Associated Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCCIM) of Malaysia president Datuk Lim Kok Cheong said that incense coils and joss sticks were used worldwide and should not be classified as patented items.

“They are traditional products, regardless of shapes or designs.

“They have been around for ages and no one has exclusive rights over the design,” he told a press conference to announce the status of the case yesterday.

On Dec 6, 2011, ACCCIM received a written request from Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce regarding the issue and a ACCCIM legal affairs committee member subsequently offered pro-bono legal assistance.

Lim said that Rong Qiang and Seong Loong had published a warning notice in a Chinese national newspaper on Nov 17, 2011, claiming exclusive rights over incense coil and incense stick.

“This meant that all the trading and manufacturing of incense coils and incense sticks in Malaysia would be monopolised by them and others were not allowed to manufacture or sell them in the market,” he claimed.

ACCCIM Legal Affairs Committee chairman Michael Chai said that tthe Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) could have expunged the cases as they were clear cut.

“The relevant authorities should exercise their discretion to remove patents that have no basis to claims following complaints submitted, instead of pushing it to the courts, which is costly,” he said.

Rat menace in hospital could be a monster problem

The star

BY LOH FOON FONG AND SYED AZHAR

KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry has ordered the Kelantan state health department to investigate the rat infestation in Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital (HUSM) in Kubang Kerian immediately.

The department, however, could have a monster problem on its hands as the infestation may be too widespread.

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said that up to Wednesday, the hospital had not requested for technical advice from the health department there but the department had nevertheless been told to investigate.

“It is the responsibility of individuals or owners of premises to ensure that no pests, including rats, are to be found in their premises or surroundings,” he said in an SMS reply to The Star.

The steps to control the rat population could be carried out on their own or by using the service of certified pest control companies. Among the steps to control rats included taking care of cleanliness in the surrounding areas, garbage being disposed of properly, rat-proofing holes and using rat traps and rodenticides.

The ministry’s deputy director (Public Health), Datuk Dr Lokman Hakim Sulaiman, however, said it was hard to eradicate the menace as the infestation at HUSM was too high.

He said everyone including the local government and the public would have to chip in.

Health Ministry wants cigarette displays at cashier counters gone

The star

BY LOH FOON FONG

KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry is drafting a new anti-tobacco law that will sweep away cigarette displays commonly seen behind cashier counters.

It will also target the advertisements of lifestyle products that are related to cigarette companies.

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Helmi Yahaya said the drastic action was necessary because thousands of hard-core smokers in the country have been unable to kick the habit despite the Government’s efforts so far.

Special clinics set up to help have not been successful, with most of the 5,000 hard-core smokers finding it hard to quit because tobacco use was still being promoted, he said.

“What we need to do now is impose a point-of-sale display ban,” he said at the "Break Free from Smoke, a Healthier Mouth, a Healthier You" event.

Drafting the new law would take some time, and he could not specify when the draft would be ready.

Malaysia has 3.1 million smokers and 0.2% were hard-core.

While the hard-core smokers had difficulty beating the addiction, Dr Hilmi said, more than 100,000 social or light smokers were able to quit each year.

However, it was worrying that as many as 45 to 50 teenagers below the age of 18 were picking up the habit each day, according to data from the Ministry.

As many as 30% of boys aged 12 to 18 smoked while the number of teen females who smoked increased from 4% in 2000 to 8% in 2004. More recent data was unavailable.

Tobacco is the top public health problem worldwide and the main risk factor for various health morbidities. Smoking kills about 10,000 people every year.

Currently, tobacco control in the country is regulated under the Food Act 1983.

The Control of Tobacco Product Regulations 2004 was issued under the Food Act and regulates, among other things, smoke-free environments; tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; and tobacco packaging and labeling.

Malaysia is a signatory to the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control, which aims to reduce tobacco prevalence worldwide.

Groups: Price hike for sugar and flour for the good of all

The star

BY LOH FOON FONG AND NEVILLE SPYKERMAN

PETALING JAYA: Consumer groups are backing the possible hike in sugar and flour prices as long as the needs of the poor are safeguarded, claiming that the liberal use of these items has led poor health.

According to Consumers Association of Penang president S.M. Mohamed Idris, CAP had been calling for the total removal of Government subsidies for both sugar and flour for some time.

“These subsidies are making Malaysians unhealthy,” he said. “The money saved from the subsidies should be channelled directly to those who need them.”

On Monday, Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Hasan Malek said consumers should brace for a possible hike in sugar and flour prices if the Government decided to further reduce subsidies.

Idris argued that consumers who pay between RM200 and RM300 on monthly cellphone bills should not be complaining about paying a bit more for sugar and flour.

Fomca deputy president Muham­mad Sha’ani Abdullah said subsidies should be gradually removed as they were distorting the market, pointing out that those who didn’t need them were benefiting from these.

He said the money saved could be put to better use such as on public transportation, housing and education.

Clean up your act now, MMA tells hospital

The star

BY LOH FOON FONG
foonfong@thestar.com.my

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Medical Association has urged Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital (HUSM) in Kubang Kerian to take swift action and stop the rat infestation in the hospital.

Its president Datuk Dr N.K.S. Tharmaseelan said rats were nocturnal animals and were only visible when they had become overpopulated within their confined space. “By then, their numbers could be in the thousands,” he said.

“How a hospital has come to this state of affairs is really shocking and appalling,” Dr Tharmaseelan said.

“This is embarrassing and shameful.”

He said the rat infestation showed that HUSM had low hygiene standards.

“MMA hopes the other hospitals, especially university hospitals, learn from this and not let rats take over their premises,” he said.

However, Dr Tharmaseelan said tackling the infestation at HUSM was not only the responsibility of the hospital but also that of the patients, cleaners and its surrounding community.

“The main cause appears to be food and rubbish being thrown around,” he pointed out.

“The ward pantries and kitchens are important areas that should be kept clean at all times. Likewise, the wards and toilets,” he added.

Related stories:

Hospital unable to stop rat invasion

Pest breeding grounds too close for comfort

Financial education to be introduced in school soon

The Star

By LOH FOON FONG
foonfong@thestar.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: Financial education will be incorporated into the school curriculum in stages from next year.

Bank Negara assistant governor Abu Hassan Alshari Yahaya said the central bank, in a collaboration with the Education Ministry, would introduce it to Year 3 students next year and secondary school students from 2017.

“Part of the financial education elements have been introduced this year in Bahasa Malaysia and Maths subjects, ahead of the targeted date,” he said during the launch of the Financial Literacy Month yesterday.

Abu Hassan said financial education needed to be inculcated continuously from a young age to adulthood to help instill discipline and increase their financial management skills.

He said the curriculum would cover money management, planning, savings and investments, credit and debt management and insurance.

Abu Hassan said that parents should not rely only on the school curriculum for their children to be prudent with their finances as they should share the responsibility.

Between January and August, the number of consumers going to Bank Negara for financial advice and information went up from 264,306 to 290,696, a 10% increase, compared to the same period last year, he said.

Total complaints reduced from 5,824 cases to 5,661, he added.

“This means that consumers are now taking positive steps to know and understand their rights and responsibilities on financial products and services,” he said.

Since 2008, Bank Negara had received 1.4 million enquiries and complaints from individuals and entrepreneurs at an average of 1,700 a day.

Asked to comment on the Auditor-General’s Report 2013, Abu Hassan said the Government must continue to play its role and instil discipline among its staff in spending.

“What is important here is enforcement,” he said.

Meanwhile, Fomca’s research arm Consumer Research and Resource Centre found in a survey that many young Malaysians were living beyond their means.

Their personal debts were too hight and they had too little savings, Fomca president Datuk Dr N. Marimuthu said.

MACC: Address failings in the system

The Star

BY LOH FOON FONG
foonfong@thestar.com.my

PETALING JAYA: The Chief Secretary to the Government has been urged to form a special committee to act on the disgraceful findings of the Auditor-General’s Report 2012.

“Immediate action must be taken to address the weaknesses in the system,” said the Consultation and Prev­ention of Corruption Panel of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

It also called on the Chief Secretary to table proposals on improvements that would prevent such failings from recurring.

State governments and government-linked companies (GLCs) must take immediate remedial action as well, said the panel.

“We also support the proposal for a more frequent A-G’s Report, such as thrice annually, because this will enable more effective monitoring and supervision, as well as faster remedial action,” said panel chairman Datuk Johan Jaaffar.

The panel was disappointed with the discrepancies in the tender systems, supply and procurement systems and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) of the ministries, agencies, state governments and GLCs concerned.

“We take a serious view of these weaknesses that not only could lead to abuse of power and corruption but undermine the government delivery system,” Johan said.

He added that the panel viewed with deep concern the serious acts of negligence in the system of control and supervision, which had even resulted in dangerous assets such as firearms going missing from storage.

“What’s obvious is that there is a lack of supervision on suppliers and contractors that (in turn) resulted in shoddy work,” he said.

Johan said the panel was also baffled by the fact that despite these weaknesses being highlighted in previous reports by the A-G, they kept on being repeated.

He said that while the panel took cognisance of the remedial mea­sures taken by the various ministries, agencies and state governments in response to the criticism contained in the previous A-G’s Report, stronger actions were necessary.

The panel commended Auditor-General Tan Sri Ambrin Buang’s commitment for exposing these weaknesses and the willingness of the Government to be transparent.

“The Government, in accepting the report, is praiseworthy and shows that it has no intention of keeping any part of it out of the public domain, no matter how critical the findings or how much these would result in negative perception,” Johan said.