NIELSEN: ONE IN TWO MALAYSIANS TAKE VITAMINS AND DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians are faithful vitamin poppers with around half of the population (52%) found to be consuming vitamins and dietary supplements, ranking them fourth in the Asia Pacific region and seventh globally,
according to findings from the latest survey by international market research firm, The Nielsen Company.

The online survey undertaken across 52 countries highlights the importance of vitamins and dietary supplements in the lives of people around the world. Usage is more prevalent in North America and Asian countries than Europe and Latin America. Highest levels of usage were recorded in Philippines and Thailand where two thirds (66%) of those surveyed claimed to use the products, with the USA not
far behind at 56 percent.

“Urbanites find it tough to stick to a well-balanced diet and meal-skipping is quite common given the frenetic pace of city life. Hence, it’s not surprising that many consume vitamins and dietary supplements to ensure that they get enough nutrients that might be missing from their diet,” commented Ms Sujata Mehta, Director of Consumer Research, The Nielsen Company Malaysia. Among Malaysians who consume vitamins or dietary supplements, 66 percent claim to make it a daily ritual, much higher than their regional counterparts who averaged 47 percent. Denmark tops the global ranking, scoring 81 percent for daily intake. Overall, less than 60 percent of global consumers are regular daily users.

“It is obvious regional considerations play an important role with vitamins and dietary supplement products. Daily usage is prevalent in the more developed economies of Western Europe and North America compared to most Asian and Middle Eastern markets. This could be an indication of the types of products used and the routine in which they are taken, but also of the economics of daily usage and the reasons for usage,” added Mehta.

The primary benefit that consumers globally are expecting from their usage is “to boost their immune system”. Over 60% of consumers chose this option globally and 39 out of 52 countries had this as their top response. This is also the case in Malaysia where 79 percent choose strengthening their immunity as their top consuming reason. One other important driver for usage among locals was the response "to ensure my
diet is balanced" (56%).

“Manufacturers have eagerly latched onto this growing consumption trend and aggressively marketed their host of healthcare products such as multi-vitamins as well as traditional herbal-based products which are also very popular here,” said Mehta. Based on Nielsen Advertising Information Services (AIS) data, vitamins and tonics products ranked as the sixth highest advertising category in 2008 valued at RM100 million, a whopping 39% growth over 2007.

Meanwhile, the survey also explored the reasons why respondents claim they do not use vitamins and dietary supplement products, providing a range of options to choose from. Nearly half of all respondents who do not consume these products said they did not see any need for them. This was the top response in 42 out of the 52 countries, including Malaysia (48%) and was particularly strong in Europe (55%).

Interestingly, among Malaysian respondents who claim to never consume vitamins and dietary supplements, 44 percent cited the expensive price tags as a deterrent. Close to one fourth (26%) also find it too confusing to understand what products to use. “It would seem that locals shy away from these products not because they don’t want to but rather they are put off by the high prices and mind-boggling array of information,” said Mehta, adding that manufacturers can address these concerns by embarking on educational roadshows and health themed campaigns for their targeted customers.

HOLIDAY SPEED TRAP LOCATION FOR YOU INFORMATION

PLUS North Bound (ke Utara)
*Under a bridge at about 456km, Sg Buloh junction.
*Under a bridge at about 459km, Bukit Lanjan interchange.
*Under the overhead restaurant at Sg Buloh.
*Under the last bridge before Sg Besi toll at 309.2km.
*Under the bridge at 296.5km, Bangi junction.
*Under the newly constructed bridge at 289.0km, after Nilai North junction.
*Under the bridge at 286.5km, Nilai North junction.

PLUS South Bound (ke Selatan)
*Below signboard at about 454.6km and 455.2km, Sg Buloh layby.
*Under the bridge after Subang junction at 11.3km.
*Under the bridge at 22km, Bukit Lanjan junction.
*Under the bridge before Mint hotel, Sg Besi Toll. 80km/h only!
*Under the bridge at 302.8km, Kajang junction.
*About 1km south of Bangi junction, both south and north bound outer lanes
*At 296.5km and 297km, Bangi junction.
*Under the newly constructed bridge at 289.0km, before Nilai North junction.
*At 285.5km and 285.8km, Nilai North junction.
*On center divider at 251.8km and 253km after Senawang junction.
*After Alor Gajah junction at 213.9km, next to water theme park.
*Behind the right hand crash barrier at 198.4km.

Elite Central Link East/North Bound
*On left hand side at 4.8km after Batu Tiga/Shah Alam exit
*Under the overhead restaurant at USJ/Hicom junction about 8.5km. 90km/h zone!
*Below the bridge before USJ/Hicom junction at 10.5km.

Elite Central Link West/South Bound
*Under the overhead restaurant at USJ/Hicom junction about 8.5km. 90km/h zone!
*Below the bridge before USJ/Hicom junction at 10.5km.
*After exit from KLIA toll to the airport, below Jalan Pekeliling
flyover. 90km/h

NKVE East/North Bound
*300m before Jalan Duta toll, 60km/h!
*Behind crash barrier on the left when going towards Jalan Duta toll,
at 24.9 km, 80km/h!
*Below bridge at Damansara Junction, 17.5km

NKVE West/South Bound
*Behind crash barrier on the left when leaving Jalan Duta toll from
KL, at 25.3 km and 25.7km, 80km/h!
*From Jln Duta, below the bridge, 23km, 80km/h zone!
*From Jln Duta, at the underpass at Sg Buloh Y-junction, 22km.
*Behind crash barrier at Damansara Junction, 17.7km and 16.8km
*Below railway bridge at 11.2km
*Under the bridge at Shah Alam junction.

Kesas East Bound
*Under the bridge at 44.8km, downhill run after Puchong junction.

Kesas West Bound
*At Sg Besi side of East Bound Toll. Kuala Lumpur City
*Jalan Duta; below the flyover at the Damansara junction, 70km/h zone.

Klang
*Dual carriageway between Klang and Port Klang. Towards Klang direction, at
about 13km mile stone. 70km/h only!

East Coast
*Road sign at Karak highway is inadequate especially at Y junction; if
you are unfamiliar, go slow.
*East bound, downhill run after Raub junction.
*Maran, 60km/h zone.
*Paya Bungor, 70km/h zone.

SPEED TRAPS IN JOHOR
South Bound
*Tangkak junction.
*Under the bridge after Yong Peng

North junction
*at 97.3km.
*Ayer Hitam junction.
*Sedenak junction.

SPEED TRAPS IN PERLIS, KEDAH AND PENANG
North Bound
*Around Ayer Hitam in 60km/h zone.
*Before Perwaja Steel.
*Sg Petani junction.
*Between Seberang Jaya junction and Sg Dua Toll.
*Penang Bridge at island end.Speed limit 80km/h.



South Bound
*Penang Bridge island end. Speed limit 80km/h.
*About 2km before Juru Toll Speed limit 90km/h.

SPEED TRAPS IN PERAK
North Bound
*Under the bridge at 197.1km and 198.8km, after Kamunting Junction.
*Under the bridge at 204.3km, after Kamunting Junction.
*Under the bridge at 208km, before Kamunting Junction.
*Under the bridge at 214.8km, before Kamunting junction.
*Ipoh Vista Point at about 263km. Speed limit 80km/h.
*Under the bridge at 271km, Ipoh North Junction.
*Under the bridge at 274.4km, Ipoh South Junction.
*Under the bridge at 286.9km, Simpang Pulai Junction.
*Under the bridge at 296km, Gopeng Junction.
*Under the bridge at 352.6km, after Sungkai Junction.
*Under the bridge at 353km, Sungkai Junction.
*Under the bridge at 373km, Slim River Junction.

South Bound
*Under the bridge at 199km, before Kamunting junction.
*Under the bridge at 241.9km, at Kalau Kangsar junction.
*Under the sign post at 296.1km, before Gopeng Junction.
*Under the bridge at 297km, at Gopeng Junction.
*Under the bridge at 300km, after Gopeng junction.
*Under the bridge at 308.6km, after Gopeng junction.
*Under the bridge at 372.6km, at SlimRiverjunction.

汽油降15分·柴油降20分 政府再调低油价明天生效

【本刊记者撰述】政府今天再次调低燃油价格，从明天开始，无铅97汽油每公升售价2元45分降15分，无铅92汽油2元30分降10分、柴油则从每公升售价2元40分降20分。

首相署今午宣布调降汽油价格后，从明天（10月15日）凌晨12时过后，新油价是无铅97汽油每公升售价为2元30分降，无铅92汽油无是2元20分、柴油每公升售价为2元20分。

http://www.merdekareview.com/news.php?n=7860

How much do you know about obesity?‏

Do you know?

• At least 20 million children under the age of 5 years are overweight globally

• In many countries, more than 25% of 10 years old are obese / overweight

• Recent research study in Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak reveals that 20% of boys and 18% of girls are obese or overweight

SHOKING REVELATION ON ALTANTUYA CASE...

http://jelas.info/2008/07/03/statutory-declaration-proves-najib-knew-altantuya/

True or fake ?! You decide my yourselves....