I was interviewed by BFM Radio over a statement by Parti Sosialis Malaysia Chief Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj regarding a warning notice by Biotropics Malaysia Berhad which has taken out a patent for the bioactive component of Tongkat Ali (Patent No. MY-134867-A – corresponding patent can be seen here). In gist, Dr Jeyakumar said that patent laws have been misused to create monopolies over a natural product like Tongkat Ali which has been used for its medicinal properties “for centuries”.
I was asked to explain what this patent is about and the scope of it.
MESTECC and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have joint ownership of a Tongkat Ali extract- what does that mean and will this impact communities that harvested the traditional herb for centuries? We speak to an IP lawyer.
Produced by: Tasha Fusil
Presented by: Kelvin Yee, Kam Raslan, Aiman Rashad
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