DAP national publicity chief Tony Pua has invited Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai for a dialogue to resolve the quality issues of certain Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (KR1M) products.

He said he, Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar and Kuala Selangor MP Dzulkefli Ahmad are prepared to apologise and become ambassadors for KR1M products if their allegations that the products were substandard were incorrect.

In turn, they want the health minister to take “all appropriate action under the law” on any wrongdoers if Liow was wrong.

NONE “He blames us for not bringing up these things to him, so now we want to have an open dialogue with him to settle these products once and for all,” Pua ( centre in photo ), who is also Petaling Jaya Utara MP, told a press conference at DAP national headquarters today.

The dialogue, which Pua hopes would take place in Parliament on Tuesday, would focus on the KR1M products where issues had been raised: ice cream, evaporated milk, creamer, tinned sardines, tinned chicken curry, and growing up milk powder.

The dialogue would pit the three MPs against Liow and anyone the minister feels is relevant to the discussion.

Pua also rebutted the Health Ministry’s findings that the growing-up milk powder is safe, ahead of the dialogue, because he said it was the most serious claim.

NONE He claimed that it was the minister, not him, who quoted the wrong law. Even if Liow was quoting the correct law, Pua said the milk would still have exceeded regulatory limits according to the ministry’s own tests.

He explained that the 5,000 IU limit quoted by the minister was for an adult’s maximum recommended daily serving of Vitamin A.

Pua had earlier quoted the regulatory limits for “follow-up formula”, which is defined as “liquid part of the weaning diet for an infant from the sixth months on and for children” under the Food Regulations.

However, based on the ministry’s findings that the milk powder’s Vitamin A level was 3,420 IU per 100g, and the recommended dose at 480g per day for children one to two years old, he said the daily Vitamin A serving would come to 16,416 IU, over three times the regulatory limit for adults.

He also pointed out that under Section 395(5) of the Food Regulations, foods not standardised by the regulations should not be resemble food that are standardised.

“He has to clarify two points: Why is there a difference between growing up milk and follow-up milk. Second point: He said there is no overdose of Vitamin A, but his calculations seem to be flawed.”

Charge Najib for promoting KR1M?

Since the Health Ministry’s tests have shown that KR1M oyster sauce’s protein content is below regulatory requirements, DAP vice-chairperson Chong Chieng Jen wants to know what is the minister’s follow-up action, and asked whether Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak should be charged under the Food Act.

NONE He pointed out that any person promoting products that contravene regulations made under the Food Act is punishable by a jail term up to three years, a fine, or both, under Section 17(1) of the Act.

“Now, who promotes KR1M food products? Najib promotes it, the whole cabinet promotes it!” Chong ( left ) said while highlighting a June 23 media report of Najib launching the first KR1M shop at Kelana Jaya LRT station.

“I would urge Liow Tiong Lai, the Health Minister, to immediately take action against all those who promote, not only sell, KR1M (products),” Chong said at the same press conference.