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By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: Meat, eggs and dairy products are safe to consume if handled and cooked properly, say experts. A microbiologist from Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin’s (UniSZA), Prof Dr Yeo Chew Chieng, said proper cooking and hygiene practices will protect consumers from being exposed to antibiotic-resistant bacteria in food-producing animals. “These drug-resistant bacteria might contaminate foods like meat, eggs and milk, but the bacteria will not transmit to humans if the foods are properly cooked as most of the bacteria could not survive. “Cooking, if done properly, destroys these bacteria. “The main issue is not the cooked food itself, but contamination that happens when raw meat juices come into contact with ready-to-eat items like salads or fruits,” said Prof Yeo.  Prof Yeo, who is chairman of the Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases and Biotechnology at UniSZA’s Faculty of Medicine, said drug-resistant bacteria can survive in animal guts or on their...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: Rising antibiotic resistance has been detected in livestock due to improper use of antimicrobial drugs at farms, says the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS). The department said samples of bacteria taken from livestock, including poultry, pigs, and dairy cattle showed increasing resistance to certain types of antibiotics over the past few years. The department assured that animal-based products are safe to consume (see related story) but said measures are needed across the entire food chain to deal with the problem. It said rising Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in livestock is mainly due to the improper use of antibiotics among farmers. This includes administering the wrong dosage, extending treatment beyond recommended periods, or using unsuitable types of antibiotics that do not align with regulations and guidelines. “High usage of antibiotics for preventive (prophylactic) and growth promoter purpose...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: Sales of fully imported electric vehicles (EV) surged by 33% last month with customers rushing to beat the EV tax holiday deadline on December 31. The import tax and excise duty exemption for completely built-up (CBU) battery electric vehicles (BEV) was first announced in Budget 2022. BEVs are cars that are fully electric, powered only by a battery pack, with no internal combustion engine to provide additional power. Also announced in the Budget was a road tax exemption for all EVs - both CBU and complete knocked down (CKD) - which also expires after Dec 31, 2025. Beginning January 1, all EVs will need to pay road tax, calculated based on the vehicle's power output. Currently, all EVs in Malaysia enjoy full exemptions on import duty, excise duty, and road tax, although they remain subject to sales tax. According to the latest available figures from the Road Transport Department, CBU BEV registrations ros...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: Sales of fully imported fully electric vehicles (EV) has jumped by 33% last month compared to others as customers rushed to beat the EV tax holiday deadline on December 31. The complete built-up (CBU) EV car tax exemption, which ends after Dec 31, 2025, was first announced in the Budget 2022. Also announced in the Budget was a road tax exemption for all EV cars - both CBU and complete knocked down (CKD) - which also expires after Dec 31, 2025. Beginning Jan 1, all EV vehicles will need to pay road tax, calculated on the car's power output. Currently, all EVs in Malaysia enjoy full exemptions on import duty, excise duty, and road tax, although they remain subject to sales tax. According to data from the Malaysian Road Transport Department, CBU EV registrations surged to an all-time high of 4,282 units in November, the highest monthly figure recorded since 2000. This was a sharp rise from 3,211 units in ...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: It is still safe to consume meat, eggs and dairy products as long as they are handled and cooked properly, says microbiologists. Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin’s (UniSZA) microbiology expert, Prof Dr Yeo Chew Chieng said while antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli can be present in food-producing animals, proper cooking and hygiene practices can prevent them from reaching consumers. “These drug-resistant bacteria might contaminate the food like meat, eggs and milk, but the bacteria may not transmitted to humans if the foods are properly cooked as most of the bacteria could not survive. “Cooking, if done properly, destroys these bacteria. The main issue is not the cooked food itself, but contamination that happens when raw meat juices come into contact with ready-to-eat items like salads or fruits,” said Prof Yeo.  Prof Yeo who is also chairperson of the Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases and Biotechnology at the Fa...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: The Department of Veterinary Services Malaysia (DVS) has assured the public that animal-based food products are safe to consume despite the an upward trend in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) detected in livestock. This follow the surveillance data by the department showing that bacteria in local livestock are becoming resistant to several antibiotics, including ones critical to human health. (see related story) The department said all animal-based food products, including meat, eggs, dairy products, and pork, that reach consumers undergo strict veterinary inspections. “Only healthy animals are allowed to be slaughtered, and the entire process is monitored to ensure compliance with established standards “Veterinary drug residues are monitored annually through the National Food Safety Monitoring Programme for Animal-Based Products,” it said. The department also monitors animal welfare, farm biosecurity measures and disease control to reduce the need for...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: Bacteria found in Malaysia’s livestock are showing increasing resistance to multiple antibiotics, including those considered critical for human health, according to the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS). Surveillance data in 2024 show that Salmonella and E. coli bacteria found in poultry, pigs, and dairy cattle remain highly resistant to several commonly used antibiotics, including ampicillin, chloramphenicol, and tetracycline. The department expressed concern over the growing resistance to third-generation cephalosporins, including cefotaxime and ceftiofur, which the World Health Organization (WHO) lists as critically important antimicrobials (CIAs) for human use. “From 2022 to 2024, we observed an increase in resistance to cefotaxime and ceftiofur, which are the third generation of cephalosporins, in Salmonella spp. isolated from broilers, pigs and dairy cattle. “These trends are worrying because these an...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: From Tenom coffee to Kek Lapis Sarawak, East Malaysia leads in having the most registered Geographical Indication (GI) products in the country, according to data from the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO). MyIPO defines a GI as a name or sign that identifies a product as originating from a specific location, where its quality, characteristics or reputation are closely linked to that place. Sabah and Sarawak each have 32 GI-registered items encompassing their rich food heritage, agricultural diversity, and traditional craft.  In Sabah, Kota Belud leads with five district-level GIs, including Tenunan Iranun Kota Belud, Penjaram Kota Belud, and Liking Kota Belud. Sabah also has seven state-level GIs, among them Sabah Seaweed, Sabah Batik, Kolupis Sabah and Bosou Sabah. In Sarawak, the Sibuti district recorded the highest number of GI registrations with five products, including Belacan Sibuti, Buah Ta...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI   PETALING JAYA: From Tenom coffee to Kek Lapis Sarawak, East Malaysia leads in having the most registered Geographical Indication (GI) products in the country, according to data from the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO). MyIPO defines a GI as a name or sign that identifies a product as originating from a specific location, where its quality, characteristics or reputation are closely linked to that place. Sabah and Sarawak each have 32 GI-registered items encompassing their rich food heritage, agricultural diversity, and traditional craft.  In Sabah, Kota Belud leads with five district-level GIs, including Tenunan Iranun Kota Belud, Penjaram Kota Belud, and Liking Kota Belud. Sabah also has seven state-level GIs, among them Sabah Seaweed, Sabah Batik, Kolupis Sabah and Bosou Sabah. In Sarawak, the Sibuti district recorded the highest number of GI registrations with five products, including Bel...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI and YUEN MEIKENG   PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s durian producers have been urged to register their varieties locally and abroad to better protect the fruits of their labour. The call was made by the Malaysian Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) and an intellectual property lawyer, in response to questions by The Star on how to safeguard the nation’s favourite fruit. MyIPO director-general Yusnieza Syarmila Yusoff said more farmer groups, producers and state agencies should consider Geographical Indication (GI) registration for unique, region-linked durian varieties. A GI is a sign identifying products as originating from a specific place, where their quality, reputation or unique characteristics are closely tied to that location. In Malaysia, applications for GI registration can be filed to MyIPO by eligible producers, associations, or competent authorities representing them. ...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI and YUEN MEIKENG   PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s durian producers have been urged to register their varieties locally and abroad to better protect the fruits of their labour. The call was made by the Malaysian Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) and an intellectual property lawyer, in response to questions by The Star on how to safeguard the nation’s favourite fruit. MyIPO director-general Yusnieza Syarmila Yusoff said more farmer groups, producers and state agencies should consider Geographical Indication (GI) registration for unique, region-linked durian varieties. A GI is a sign identifying products as originating from a specific place, where their quality, reputation or unique characteristics are closely tied to that location. In Malaysia, applications for GI registration can be filed to MyIPO by eligible producers, associations, or competent authorities representing them...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI   PETALING JAYA: East Malaysia holds the most registered geographical indication (GI) products in the country, according to data from the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO). Since 2003, MyIPO has received a total of 167 GI applications, comprising 147 local submissions and 20 from foreign producers seeking protection in Malaysia. Of these, 110 local applications and 18 foreign applications were successfully registered. To date, 128 products are protected under the Geographical Indications Act, with Sabah and Sarawak leading the national tally at 32 GIs each.  The two states continue to anchor Malaysia’s GI landscape, driven by their rich food heritage, agricultural diversity, and traditional craft specialties. In Sarawak, the Sibuti district recorded the highest number of GI registrations with five products, including Belacan Sibuti, Buah Tarap Sibuti, and Daun Sabong Sibuti. Beyond district...