Compiled by C. ARUNO, LIEW JIA XIAN and R. ARAVINTHAN
A LOCAL publisher has drawn flak online after releasing a tote bag which features a Chinese New Year greeting that sounds like a profanity in Hokkien, reported Oriental Daily.
It was reported that Mentor Publishing released a tote bag featuring two cartoon cats holding mandarin oranges and saying “gan ni na” (Mandarin: you take the mandarin oranges).
However, many Internet users complained that it was phonetically similar to a Hokkien phrase that is derogatory and offensive.
The tote pack was a limited edition Chinese New Year merchandise initially put up for sale on the Mentor Publishing website for RM38 each.
Following the Internet backlash, the tote bag was taken off the website less than 24 hours after it was put up for sale.
“After some discussion, we have decided to only post it (the bag) to those who have placed their orders.
“At the same time, we have taken the product down from our official sales channels and will no longer be selling them. Regarding criticisms against us, we humbly accept them and we thank everyone for their support,” the publishing house said in a statement on Facebook.
Mentor Publishing, which is currently helmed by Malaysian poet Chiew Ruoh Peng, was started in 1999 and has published more than 500 books since.
> A man in China who sold his kidney more than a decade ago to buy an iPhone 4 is currently bedridden and may soon require a new kidney himself, reported China Press.
The 27-year-old from Anwei province underwent a nine-hour illegal surgery at a clinic in 2011 to extract his kidney in exchange for 22,000 yuan (RM14,529).
The man, whose surname is Wang, used the proceeds to buy an iPhone 4 and an iPad.
His story made headlines in the press all around the world.
Eleven years later, with Apple having recently launched its 13th iteration of the iPhone, Wang’s health is no longer as it was.
Due to poor hygiene practices at the clinic where his surgery took place, Wang suffered an infection, which led to his remaining kidney being damaged.
The 190cm tall man now weighs only 60kg and requires long-term dialysis treatment.
He is unable to care for himself and is deemed to have a level-three disability by the Chinese government.
Wang’s parents sued the clinic which carried out the surgery and managed to receive 1.47 million yuan (RM924,609) in damages.
However, due to his poor health, Wang dropped out of school and was unable to work.
Wang’s mother revealed that her son could contract uremia, which is the condition of having high levels of urea in the blood, or lose his remaining kidney if his condition is not managed well.
The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item.