The Swiss-based multinational Syngenta - the world's largest agribusiness firm - is o­n a public relations offensive to erase the stigma associated with the herbicide paraquat, following Malaysia's decision in August to phase out the hazardous substance.

Hosting journalists to a ''media roundtable'' in Penang last week, John McGillivray, general manager of its Malaysian arm Syngenta Crop Protection Sdn Bhd, addressed what he referred to as the 'myths' surrounding paraquat.

''So what is the issue? You have got a dream product,'' he concluded, after extolling what he called the social, economic and environmental benefits of paraquat.