KUALA LUMPUR: “This is not magic. This is a scientific tool.”
Those were the very words that led Datuk Husam Musa to be ridiculed publicly, when the Parti Amanah Negara (PAN) vice president appeared in a video to introduce a “fuel-saver tool” for motorcycles, which resembles a limp wick commonly used in oil lamps.
Husam claimed the tool would create a complete fuel combustion when inserted in the fuel tank, and reduce smoke production.
“Lots of smoke means the fuel did not burn completely. And the residues of black smoke is what we call carbon. It is Pakatan Harapan’s policy, especially PAN’s to conserve the environment.
“So if you put it in the tank, it will lead to a complete fuel combustion. Insyaallah, at 100 per cent rate. This is not magic. This is a scientific tool. The science takes place when the molecules become round, solidified and burned completely,” Husam said in the video.
It is not clear whether the gadget was produced or manufactured by PAN. In the video, Husam was accompanied by Kelantan PAN Youth chief Hazmi Hassan and a few youths riding underbone motorcycles.
Husam said Kelantan PAN would distribute the ‘fuel-saver tool’ to motorcyclists at a discount.
Barrels of needling comments on the use and purported “science” behind the gadget were posted on the Facebook page of a pseudo-science watch community, “PW Community” and also on “Tentera Troll Kebangsaan Malaysia”.
Netizen Amin Rahman said Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 team should appoint Husam as its chief technical director or mechanical engineer on combustion technology.
“By inserting that ‘sumbu’ (wick) in the F1 car’s fuel tank, let’s hope it will function as a filter, prior to making way into the ICE (internal combustion engine) and TC (turbo charger) to increase fuel combustion during a race.
“We can now save fuel, (experience a more) powerful acceleration and go against the Ferrari team.”
Akhun Shah expressed his confusion over the tool’s function in changing molecular shapes.
“Molecules become round? What do you mean?”
A user who goes by the name Jx Amar suggested that there may be “some truths” behind fuel-saver tool promoted by Husam and PAN.
“Scientifically, petrol is (a mixture of hundreds of different) hydrocarbons molecules, of which compounds are made from carbon and hydrogen atoms joined by covalent bonds. It is not ionic.
“If you insert static wick inside the fuel tank, the whole car will explode. But it also means you don’t have to refuel ever again. It is fuel-saving indeed.”
The brickbats led to Hazmi, who is also known as “Jeming”, to defend his boss Husam against Internet trolls in another video.
“There were rather hurtful sarcasms. But I accept their comments. I also respect the scientific comments made.
“But what I want to stress upon here is, the thing (the fuel-saver tool) which Husam used (in the video) is not being sold by us (PAN).”
Hazmi clarified that it was not a video to confirm and promote the use of the tool.
“Actually, it is video where we had called up five people (the youths on motorcycles) to test the products first. We have taken down their contact numbers and hopefully we will know the outcome of the test in week’s time.”