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Thursday, November 23, 2023

Chinese herbal firm denies using Dr Noor Hisham’s image to promote products


FMT:

Chinese herbal firm denies using Dr Noor Hisham’s image to promote products



Koong Woh Tong says it merely used newspaper cuttings and articles which reported that herbal remedies had aided in the recovery of Covid-19 patients.



Former health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah accused the company of ‘irresponsible marketing’ after it used his image and name to allegedly promote its products.


PETALING JAYA: A company selling traditional Chinese herbs has denied trying to profit off former health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah in using his image to promote its products.

Koong Woh Tong said it had merely used newspaper cuttings and articles which reported that herbal remedies aided in the recovery of Covid-19 patients.

“This was an extract of one of Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah’s previous press briefings in his capacity as director-general of health,” the company said in a statement.

It also said it never attempted to confuse or mislead the public into believing that its products were endorsed by Noor Hisham or by anyone else.

“It is most regrettable that this matter has escalated into this as it was never our intention to reap any commercial benefit from our use of original newspaper cuttings and articles.”

Koong Woh Tong clarified that none of its products had at any point been endorsed by Noor Hisham or any other prominent figure. Its products are also not affiliated to these individuals, it added.

“We have taken immediate steps to remove all newspaper cuttings and articles from the shops displaying them.”

On Sunday, Noor Hisham accused the company of “irresponsible marketing” after it used his image and name to allegedly promote its products and said he would haul them to court.

Noor Hisham came into prominence as the government spokesman during the Covid-19 pandemic. When one of his followers on X, formerly known as Twitter, said the article was based on a speech he made during the pandemic, Noor Hisham said: “It’s misleading to link (it) with the product”.


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