The contents of a letter suspected to be tainted with anthrax bacteria received by a factory in Butterworth is expected to be made known this weekend.

Penang Chief Minister Koh Tsu Koon said the envelope had been sent to the Veterinary Research Institute (VRI) in Ipoh yesterday. "Experts from the Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur, will assist in the investigation and analysis," he said.

In a press statement quoted by Nanyang.com , Koh said the result will be announced by the health ministry and police department.

Koh urged the people to be calm and not to panic over the letter incident.

"The state government will take action to prevent and investigate the matter, because the safety of the people is a priority of the government," he said.

Be cautious

Koh also did not reject the possibility that the letter was a hoax.

"However anyone receiving suspicious letters should be cautious and report to the police," he said.

He urged the public not to resort to pranks to create fear and social disorder which will ultimately undermine the country's economy.

A source told malaysiakini that a mattress factory in the Mak Mandin Industrial Estate in mainland Penang received the letter from Chicago, USA, on Tuesday afternoon.

"The managing director was surprised because they had not been getting letters from the US for two years and the company does not have business in US. When he spotted the letter from the US, he felt suspicious and decided to lodge a police report," said the source.

By mid-night, the police cordoned off the factory.

It has been reported today that three people who came in contact with the letter - the secretary and general manager of the company as well as the postman - have been put under medical observation for flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills and headache.

State CID chief Senior Asst Comm II Mustafa Abdullah confirmed that a report had been lodged, adding that the "contents" of the envelope had yet to be determined by the health authorities.

When contacted by malaysiakini , an officer from Health Ministry Disease Control Division said there are no further information for the moment.

"VRI is in charge, and we are waiting for the result," said the officer, who asked not to be named.

Seek advice from experts

Meanwhile, the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) today said that Pos Malaysia and courier firms staff must be given full protection immediately.

Its president SM Mohamed Idris said in a statement that Pos Malaysia and the courier firms must be extra careful and prudent in checking all letters and packages coming into the country.

"They should seek advice from local and foreign experts, and cooperate with foreign postal agencies for the best way to detect materials contaminated with anthrax," he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi also today advised Malaysians not to panic over possible anthrax infection here following such attacks in the United States.

"The Health Ministry is monitoring the situation and it will take immediate action on matters pertaining to the disease," he was quoted as saying in Bernama .

Fears of biological terror attacks deepened after more than 33 people, including 29 staff of the US Senate, have been tested positive for anthrax exposure in US.

Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium bacillus anthracis . It is commonly found in animals such as cattle, sheep and goats. It is most common in agricultural regions and is not easily spread between humans.