By IANS
Kuala Lumpur : The latest must-have among Malaysian politicians, corporate honchos and others anxious to guard their privacy are anti-spy devices, following the resignation of Health Minister Chua Soi Lek who was caught on camera in a sex romp.
After Chua admitted that it was him in the DVDs, anti-spy electronic devices are being sold like hot cakes, especially to people in power, The New Straits Times reported.
The scandal has led to many trying to avoid a similar fate.
More than 1,000 such devices that can detect hidden CCTV cameras and handphones have been sold here since news of Chua’s romp made headlines.
It is learnt that several prominent businessmen and politicians who visit China regularly on work or on holiday have been using the device in their bedrooms.
Amongst them is a minister who has bought a unit “as it is very difficult to identify one’s enemies, especially in politics”.
“People who are out to topple you in politics will resort to anything including recording or filming who you see and what you say,” the unnamed minister was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
His unit, costing approximately $40, will emit a beep if it detects electronic devices such as CCTV cameras and hidden handphone usage within a radius of 10 metres.
The minister, who did not want to be identified, said many were flocking to outlets selling electronic items to buy such devices.
Even Deputy Health Minister Abdul Latiff Ahmad advised people to use the gadget to protect their privacy. “I won’t buy it as I do not need it but people who feel threatened should get it,” he said.
The person who sold the device to the minister said he had run out of stock due to overwhelming demand.
“I do not have any more in stock due to heavy demand from people, including politicians, corporate figures and women,” he said, adding that he was accepting orders for the device.
A check by the New Straits Times revealed a number of people selling such devices in the past week.
One online seller using the pseudonym Eagle833 offered the device with the title, “Spy Camera Detector – Hot in Town – Get it Before Getting Trapped!”