15 April 2002 (NSTP) - RESEARCH into creating eco-friendly diesel isunderway by the Science, Technology and Environment Ministry with Petronasand the Malaysian Palm Oil Board.

Researchers are testing a mix of raw palm oil and diesel to produce"bio-diesel", Deputy Science, Technology and Environment Minister DatukZainal Dahalan told the Dewan Negara.

If successful, the product can help reduce fumes from diesel-drivenvehicles, he said in reply to Senators' questions on curbing airpollution.

He said most petroleum companies had cut sulphur content in their fuel to0.3 per cent and the ministry was working with those which had yet toachieve this.

To a question on making weather information public, Zainal said theCabinet had decided to only allow twice daily weather reports ontelevision.

The Cabinet had also instructed that information such as Air PollutionIndex readings be issued only when necessary.

Zainal said this move was taken to pevent abuse of weather informationthat would depict the country in a bad light and affect tourism.

He said the public could obtain daily weather forecasts from theMeteorological Services Department website.

(The informations and opinions expressed in this article represent theviews of the author only. They should not be seen as necessarilyreflecting the views of Palm News)