The Star Online: Metro: South & East

Creative solution to metal problem
Buildings to be painted for Johor Ruler’s birthday bash
Businessman found cheaper tablet not better

Posted: 21 Oct 2012 09:24 PM PDT

The mussels and selected marine shellfishes consumed by the masses are usually rich in heavy metals such as mercury, nickel, arsenic, cadmium and lead.

Too much intake and accumulation of such metals can cause swollen legs, skin damage, itai-itai disease (softening of bones and kidney failure) and spots on the skin in the long run.

That prompted a team of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) to develop a chemical solution that removes up to 96% of the metals from the shellfishes.

UTM Faculty of Science lecturer Prof Dr Razali Ismail, who headed the team, said that the mussels are be soaked in the chemical agent concocted from citrate for 30 minutes to an hour to remove the metals.

"The product took one year to develop and is very easy to use as you just need to pour the liquid into a basin and leave it to soak," he said when met at the university's 14th Industrial Art and Technology Exhibition (Inatex) here.

Razali added that the original unwashed shellfishes contain a range of about 30% to 200% in parts per million (ppm) of the metals in them.

"The percentage is quite high, compared to the ppm permitted by the Malaysian and European standards," he said.

He also said that the product took one year to develop with a team of five others.

Meanwhile, UTM research management director Prof Dr Abdul Rahim said that the main objective of the exhibition was to promote the university's innovation and invention to industry players.

"In last year's exhibition, there were 154 products exhibited and 10 products were picked by interested industry players and are in the process of commercialising.

"Since starting the exhibition 14 years ago, we managed to garner more than RM8mil from the products marketed," he said.

Buildings to be painted for Johor Ruler’s birthday bash

Posted: 21 Oct 2012 09:16 PM PDT

MUAR: Building owners in towns under the Muar municipality have been directed to put up fresh coat of paint in conjunction with Johor Sultan's birthday celebrations on Nov 22.

Muar municipal council president Zulkiflee Abbas said directives had been issued to some 937 buildings under its jurisdiction to be freshly-painted by end of this month.

He said the directive was issued last month when the council launched a special campaign for the buildings to be repainted before Bandar Maharani was accorded a royal status next month.

The district office has announced that Johor Ruler, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar plans to celebrate his birthday in Muar this year.

The Ruler is also expected to officially declare this town as the Royal town of Johor during the celebration, he said recently.

Zulkiflee said in conjunction with the celebration the council decided for all town buildings in Bandar Maharani, Bukit Kepong, Lenga, Bukit Pasir, Parit Jawa and Tanjung Agas to have a fresh coat of paint.

He said there would be different colours for buildings along Jalan Bakri, Jalan Arab, Jalan Sulaiman, Jalan Maharani, Jalan Yahya, Jalan Salleh. Jalan Ali. Jalan Majidi, Jalan Abdullah, Jalan Sayang, Jalan Haji Abu and Jalan Meriam.

He said since most of the buildings in the town were old, the fresh paint would give the town a more vibrant image, adding that, it would be more beautiful.

He said certain corporate businesses such as banks were allowed to use their corporate colours and the most beautifully decorated buildings would win cash prizes and a plaque.

We will give away a plaque and RM3,000 to first prize winner, a plaque and RM2,000 to second prize winner and a plaque and RM1,000 to the third most beautiful building, he added.

Businessman found cheaper tablet not better

Posted: 21 Oct 2012 09:17 PM PDT

JOHOR BARU: A businessman thought he had scored a deal after buying a Taiwan-made tablet device for half the price of a branded one but the device's software began stalling after only two weeks of usage.

Ismail Abdul Halim, 37, bought the 10-inch tablet device for RM770 as a gift to his five-year-old son for completing his fasting responsibilities during Ramadan.

He said that the device began to stall and eventually the screen went blank despite bringing it for repair at the shop for four times.

The father of three said that he initially wanted to buy a Samsung tablet device but the salesman told him that the device was more expensive because of its popular brand.

"I was told that this device (that I bought) was of similar quality with Samsung but just different brand and I even wanted to buy two more for each of my children," he said before consumer claims tribunal president Quaik Chong Yurecently.

Ismail explained that he bought the product on Aug 16, this year and it became faulty on Sept 3.

"Initially the salesman told me it was the charger problem so he replaced a new one for me. When the device hang again a few days later, the shop sent the device back to the factory for repair but the problem still persists," he said, adding that he went back and forth to the shop in Plaza Angsana for about five times.

During the hearing, a Century Mobile representative said that he offered Ismail a refund of RM500 to take back the device but he refused the offer.

Quaik advised both the complainant and the respondent to try to come up with a settlement outside the courtroom but after four discussions, they still could not see eye-to-eye.

In the end, Quaik ordered the company to compensate Ismail with RM600 within 14days, saying it was a good compromise for both parties as the consumer only got to utilise the product for a few days.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

Isnin, 22 Oktober 2012