Verify findings with Govt, researchers told

Malay Mail Online: "University research teams are advised to refer their findings to the relevant authorities for verification before making them public.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Shafie Salleh said by cross-checking their findings with the authorities, the results would be more accurate and there would be no reason to doubt the quality of the research.
“There are also universities which undertake research with grants from the Ministry. They should inform us of their findings so that we can cross-check with the relevant Ministries.
“I hope our researchers will give us the feedback so that their findings can be verified. Only then will we release the results,” he said after visiting Taylor’s College in Subang Jaya yesterday.
Shafie was commenting on Health Minister Datuk Chua Soi Lek’s criticism on the findings of Universiti Putra Malaysia’s (UPM) research on the ‘Tak Nak’ anti-smoking campaign.
Chua said the findings of the UPM study was “not correct” as it contradicted the findings of the National Health survey and those of cigarette companies.
While the Health Ministry’s study showed that the number of smokers had not been reduced since the five-year ‘Tak Nak’’ campaign was launched, the UPM study showed otherwise.
The UPM study, undertaken between 1996 and last year, revealed that 1.1 million smokers had quit.
A National Health Survey last year showed that 23.2 per cent of adults smoked.
Chua questioned the UPM findings as a check with cigarette companies showed that the number of smokers had actually gone up."