Halal scientist' dies

By LING POH LEAN | lplean@nst.com.my

INNOVATOR: Dr Yaakob Che Man invented system to detect pig DNA'

KUALA LUMPUR : PROMINENT scientist and 2010 Tokoh Maulidul Rasul recipient Professor Datuk Dr Yaakob Che Man died yesterday. He was 58.

Yaakob, who was known as the "halal scientist" from Universiti Putra Malaysia for inventing a system to detect pig DNA in food, died of pancreatic cancer at 2.30pm.

His daughter Nadiah said her father was buried at Tanah Perkuburan Islam Sungai Merab, Bangi.

Yaakob invented a halal verification system which can detect porcine DNA within an hour through a polymerase chain reaction. The system is known as the Halal Verification System (HAFYS).

Acknowledged as a breakthrough innovation in halal detector technology, the system bagged awards at the local and international levels, including the National Intellectual Property Awards, Islamic Innovation Awards, Brussels Eureka Awards and the BioInno Awards.

The product is patented in Malaysia and 22 other countries, including the United States and Europe.

Yaacob had also contributed to syair Islam (Islamic poetry) and was bestowed the honour of National Tokoh Maulidur Rasul in 2010.

Among his other awards were the Anugerah Saintis Halal Malaysia, Anugerah Harta Intelek Negara and Anugerah Khas Inovasi Islam Malaysia.

He was also among 15 academics from UPM who received the Vice-Chancellor Fellowship Award from Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah at the Putra Academic Excellence Awards ceremony last year.

Professor Datuk Dr Yaakob Che Man invented a one-hour system to detect porcine DNA

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Halal scientist' dies

INNOVATOR: Dr Yaakob Che Man invented system to detect pig DNA'

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