KUALA LUMPUR, June 27 — Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim has suggested that both the “swine flu” and Influenza A(H1N1) terminologies be used by the media in reporting the disease.
This was a better and more accurate way of reporting the pandemic to the public, he said. He added that many international media organisations such as the British Broadcasting Corporation, Voice of America and Australian Broadcasting Corporation as well as search engines like Google and Yahoo were using the term swine flu.
“As a responsible ministry, we should use both terminologies when explaining the issue.
“We in the ministry will continue to use the easy-to-understand term. We will use the A(H1N1) terminology but for subsequent mentions, we will proceed with the term ‘swine flu’,” he told reporters after the launching of the “1Malaysia” logo by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak here.
Rais said it would be up to the Health Ministry if it wanted to continue using the term Influenza A(H1N1) as stipulated by the World Health Organisation.
He also called on the media not to play up the swine flu issue as it could negatively impact the country, particularly its tourism sector.
Too much publicity would give the wrong impression among the public that the disease was more serious than dengue, which is still on the rise, he said. — Bernama

written by qamalhamzah, June 27, 2009
written by Judge, June 27, 2009
They got no talent at all.....
written by No value, June 27, 2009
The H1N1 influenza virus is not swine flu. H1N1 is not carried by pigs, it does not infect pigs. This influenza virus infects humans, and is carried by humans.
The H1N1 virus is hybrid between several strains of influenza viruses that infect birds, pigs and humans. So you might as equally call it bird flu.
In summary calling the H1N1 virus swine flu is misleading and inaccurate.
P.S: Rais you are making Malaysia appear stupid in the international press. 2009 has been a bad year for Malaysia image. So "Jangan memperbodohkan nama Malaysia!"
written by unbelievable, June 27, 2009
So, to ensure that the people will not get confused with the danger of virus, thinking that there are two categories of virus, may be we need to call it 'H1N1 alias swine flu'.
First, we make simple things complicated, now we have to make complicated things simple again.
written by Ed, June 27, 2009
Now we have this idiot, who have the least knowledge in medical science, trying to act smart. Although i know your ministry always do not play true the tune of reality, please for once, be more consistent and consult MOH. After that you can continue your role as the front man of umno-bn, the propaganda icon for umno-bn.
written by shalala, June 27, 2009
You have a pillock who goes wildly off-tangent, when fielding questions at a Washington press call with Hillary Clinton.
You have a ``mentri besar'' who compares himself with Gandhi and Mandela.
You have a tourism minister who gives away BIG sum of $$$ to an aging Italian to become a toiurism ambassador Malaysia - but how he's going to use the $$, the rakyat doesn't know. When you employ someone, don't you spell out some specific duties, or is that the flat retainer fee for doing nothing, and he's to be paid extra whenever he makes a star-like appearance with our Bond girl somewhere?
Oh, now we also have an Information Minister who's trying to politicises health problem. Can he contribute a solution to the growing global pandemic? No, but he wants to split hairs and go for name-calling.
Yes, this is the calibre of the BN cabinet...now guess why Malaysia is a laughing stock.
written by ipomaliloo, June 27, 2009
written by jijot ni, June 27, 2009
say what u will at that old man and nothing can change him but let me share something that u might or might not be aware of.
Malays and specifically muslims are made to beleive that in the Kitab Injil or the Old testament in Christian that there are a few types of animal are deemed dirty filthy and should not be eaten or else u r deemed dirty too and it was made to believe among them that these animals are associated with deseases. one of the animals stated is pigs. others are rabbit as such.
so ever since they are not allowed to even touch the poor animal nor eat it.
certain occassions have also strengthen thier believe that pig are dirty animal and the cause of deseases such as the ever infamous Japanese Encephalitis or JE where thousands of pigs were culled by non muslims army personnel mostly from Sarawak and Sabah just because they are the cause of the widespread of JE.
but that is only one occassions where it is related to a desease but what about those animals consume daily by muslims such as beef and chicken. are they related to any deseases as well such as the bird flu but they did not called it chicken flu or penyakit selsema ayam or mad cow deases but they did not called penyakit lembu gila. the best part is that they did not go to any reban ayam and cull all the chicken found in the country or to the grazing field to cull all the cows.
written by Anti Swine Flu, June 27, 2009
written by rakyat malaysia, June 27, 2009
written by Goblok II, June 27, 2009
written by jijot ni, June 27, 2009
but for non-muslims especially poor once do live on pork and rear pigs as pigs can withstand all whether conditions unlike chicken and cow or even ducks.
yes there is germs in pigs but dont u know that germs are everywhere and in anything....even in our body. do u know that? surely no
as you might think that your body is clean and free from any germs or virus?
i can bet with you anytime and send your any part of your body tissue and one can find not just one type of germs but millions.
dont forget...germs a living thing it is either they are harmfull or not.
do you know that vitagen or yogurt drink is made from germs but good ones? it help to kill off bad germs in the body?
also scientifically proven that swine flu does not come from pigs and spread through pigs.
non-muslim eats beef and chicken and they eat pork too but why the muslims like to condemn pigs and those who eat pork? what did pigs and pork eater have done wrong to muslims?
written by lalaland, June 27, 2009
problem with Malaysia is that we have got a lot of old ministers......
talking thru their dick heads...
written by jijot ni, June 27, 2009
if it is spread by pigs be it and pigs farmers and sellers dont mind if it is called pig flu literally but if it is not then why still refer to it as Swine (another name for pig) flu?
what happened to nasi ayam if a desease is called demam ayam? nasi ayam seller will stop selling it and he may lose his sole source of income and chicken framers will abe affected as well. chicken seller will affect too.
got the picture now?
written by soulsberry, June 27, 2009
what more can we expect?
written by lbeeeng, June 27, 2009
written by monk, June 28, 2009
Empty bowels through the mouth and eat with the butt. Use both.
written by Hang Kasturi, June 28, 2009
despite his phd - which anyway is of doubtful quality - it shows the old baldhead is a very poorly educated man, just trying to talk big and grabbing some cheap publicity. knowing that the health ministry in right now in daily limelight, the peabrained rais is also trying to cash in on the limelight phenomenon. if you can't beat them, don't join them - just resign and pack yourself off into outerspace or right down the cliff.
written by serendipity hopeful, June 28, 2009
written by Bird, June 28, 2009
Swine fever. dog fever or rais fever, solve the problems, not be part of the problem.
written by ygbenor, June 28, 2009
written by Not English, June 28, 2009
written by so sad, June 28, 2009
written by orang_melaka, June 28, 2009
I guess no serious steps will be taken until some Ministers or their family got infected by this virus...
Or Rais Yatim infected by AH1N1, then the reported should ask him: "Sir, how should we report the virus that infects you?"
written by Ismail, June 28, 2009
Rais just gave us all another good reason to vote opposition.
Keep up the good work Rais.
Keep them coming Rais, we like to see more half passed six minister in action.
written by bee yong, June 28, 2009
written by Jason, June 28, 2009
When a joker like Rais makes idiotic statements and acts like a clown, his bosses do not reprimand nor sack him. This is the reward Malaysians get because of plenty of voters still supporting the useless buggers in Umno. They are never accountable towards the rakyat.
written by unbelievable, June 28, 2009
written by John Lee, June 28, 2009
Talk less and do more.
written by Pig Fever, June 28, 2009
written by Yoke-Lim, June 30, 2009




