2 theSun | FRIDAY DECEMBER 19 2008

Govt mulls hydro

savings, cleaner
environment, substantial
reduction in operating
costs for other internal
combustion engines such
as fishing boats, industrial
generator sets and even
aircraft could benefit

power for vehicles consumers in controlling

by Karen Arukesamy
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
SHAH ALAM: The
government is in the
Lee (left) process of approving a
explaining locally developed hydro-
to Ong fuel technology that uses
(right) how water and a “Brain Chip” to
the H-Fuel power internal combustion
system works. engines.
Looking on Named the H-Fuel
are EGR CEO System, the use of the
K.B. Woo “Brain Chip” is believed
(second from to be the first of its kind
left) and Sirim for such technology
Bhd president applications.
and chief H-Fuel will not only
executive promote a cleaner
Yahaya environment, it can help
Ahmad. save millions of ringgit
on petroleum-based fuel
consumption for all types of
engine applications.
Transport Minister
Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat
said the H-Fuel was to date
the first and only hydrogen-
fuel technology application
which the Road Transport
Department (RTD) received
for commercialisation
approval.
“Pending approval, it
will have to go through
the necessary procedures,”
he said after witnessing
the memorandum of
understanding (MoU)
signing between Sirim Bhd
and EGR Tech Sdn Bhd, the
inventor of H-Fuel.
The MoU is the
final step in perfecting the
system and it comprises
testing, development and
certification of H-Fuel.
“The important aspects
that we are looking closely
at are the safety level,
user-friendliness and
affordability. The MoU
reflects the ministry’s
support to keep it
environment friendly as
the number of vehicles on
the road has exceeded 17
million,” said Ong.
He said the effort to go
hydro-power was also in
keeping with the Kyoto
Protocol for all nations to
reduce their respective
emissions by 60% by the
year 2050.
Ong said the invention
was very timely in
the current economic
slowdown when such
technology could save up to
50% in fuel consumption.
“The ultimate product
would be an internal
combustion engine that
is fuelled purely by water
– any type including
corrosive sea water. That
would mean a tremendous
betterment of mankind as
we move on to the next
century with water-fuelled
engines,” he said.
“When I spoke about the
product, many could not
believe it. But let’s prove
it!” Ong laughed, adding
that it can bring about
changes not only to the
entire automobile industry
but also the livelihood of
the people.
If proven successful,
Ong said the benefits
of H-Fuel would result
in fuel consumption
rising costs of living.
“Water will be abundant
in most parts of the world
and is without doubt a
fraction of the cost of fossil
fuel,” he said.
Ong said the use of
natural gas in taxis has
proven the importance of
alternative fuel.
“However, having a large
gas tank in the boot, the
long queues waiting to refill
and the limited number
of natural gas outlets for
motor vehicles causes
inconvenience,” he said.
“However, H-Fuel is
a very compact device
requiring only a small
amount of water to reduce
the fuel consumption
by half, and a full bottle
of about a litre lasts for
hundreds of kilometres,”
said Ong.
“Every installation of
gadgets to any vehicle needs
RTD approval. If successful
it will be the kind of a
hybrid-car which means
there is a combination of
water and fuel.
“This is just partially
using hydrogen. Japan has
approved full-hydrogen
cars and I will be going
there to see the operations,”
he said after witnessing a
demonstration that showed
the use of partial hydrogen
in various percentages.
EGR technology director
Lee Eng Khim clarified that
many countries installed
hydrogen tanks in the car,
which is very dangerous.
“It means you are carrying
a hydrogen bomb in your
car,” he said.
Lee said although
some luxury cars have
already developed the
whole hydrogen system,
the cost is about RM36
million for each engine
and thus not viable for
commercialisation.

Umno slow to act

on money politics,
says Mubarak
KUALA LUMPUR: Mubarak, the association
of former elected representatives, has urged
Umno to take prompt action on complaints of
money politics in the party elections.
Its secretary-general Datuk Md Di A. Ghani
said the Umno disciplinary board had been
slow to act on the complaints.
“By delaying the matter, the party would
be perceived by members and political ob-
servers as not serious in weeding out political
corruption and wants the issue to die down,”
he said in a statement here yesterday.
In a meeting chaired by its deputy presi-
dent, Datuk Seri Abdul Aziz Rahman, Mubarak
proposed that the disciplinary board and its
investigation team be enlarged to probe
hundreds of cases brought before it by next
March.
He said, however, the function of the board
should not be likened to that of the court and
its decisions should not be interpreted as fair
or unfair.
“The committee should not bow to pres-
sure from certain quarters who advocate
selective prosecution. Do not make the
committee a black sheep should Umno
fail to weed out political corruption as the
responsibility rests on the shoulders of party
leaders,” he said, adding that it should carry
out its responsibility without fear or favour.
– Bernama