Cheaper abalone, slightly dearer cured meat for CNY

Compiled by ARFA YUNUS AND C.ARUNO

MALAYSIANS can look forward to cheaper abalone this Chinese New Year, thanks to stores stocking up early, reported Sin Chew Daily.

A survey conducted by the daily in Negri Sembilan showed that a can of the edible molluscs imported from China now costs around RM20.

Local operators selling seafood and cured meat began stocking up on abalone early last year to meet the Chinese New Year demand.

According to Huang Guo Wei, who runs a shop in Seremban, they are selling five cans for RM110 this year.

Last year, the same price could only fetch four, he said.

Huang added that they started selling abalone in December and it has been a hit among customers.

More than 10 boxes, with each box containing 14 cans, had been sold.

The daily found that the price for cured meat, however, remained largely the same.

According to local store operator Yang Jin Xiong, cured meat has gone up by only around 1% to 2% as it is produced locally.

> Taiwanese rock band Mayday created headlines again when several fans were injured by fireworks during a concert, just weeks after the band was accused of lip-syncing.

The same daily also reported that during the band’s 25th anniversary concert in Taipei on Dec 31, organisers planned to set off a series of fireworks lasting one minute to mark the New Year.

There was even a timer counting down to midnight while the band was performing Song for You.

However, rather than shooting upwards, some of the rockets shot towards the crowd, causing panic among concertgoers.

According to Internet users, several fans were injured.

While the band has yet to release a statement, its record label revealed that the injured concertgoers had been sent to hospital for treatment.

“None of them suffered serious injuries. We will follow up on the matter and offer them comfort,” it said.

It was earlier reported that Mayday was investigated by Chinese authorities in December for lip-syncing during their performances on the mainland.

Commercial regulations in China prohibit lip syncing before paying audiences as it is considered “deceptive.”

The offence is punishable by a fine of 100,000 yuan (RM64,913). Artistes can also be banned from performing and their organisers could have their licences revoked.

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.