Why can't we cure cancer? We're busy playing with our coconuts.

It was reported a few years ago on a Malaysian news website that a local university professor invented a new type of body armour. Made from coconut. I admire inventors because they think outside the box. When I see a coconut I don't exactly consider them to be bullet proof.

It took Dr. Mohammed Dan Mohammed Palil two years to develop his body armour made out of a combination of coconut husks and fibreglass. Typically body armour made out of kevlar weighs around 9KG and costs RM16,000. Coconut armour would only weigh 3KG and would sell for less than RM2000. Even though coconut armour is a cheaper alternative (imagine all the ammo you could buy) would you really want to be thrifty with something that could potentially save your life?

The professor wanted to prove that Malaysia could invent products and use waste material in the process. Hmmm...patriot and eco-warrior as well? Of course one of the other main reasons the Doc wanted to use coconuts was to give employment opportunities to the thousands of monkeys currently out of work. Hopefully this will help reduce anti-social behaviour amongst the monkey population and stop them stealing food from the tourists. I may have made that last bit up.

There wouldn't be much point in having a Malaysian made bullet resistant vest. At least for us locals. This is because it's illegal for Malaysians to own one. I understand why gun usage is controlled but with all the gun related crime taking place in our country you'd think we'd be given a chance to protect ourselves.

I want to go off topic slightly and mention the fact that in Malaysia only cops, politicians and criminals get to carry guns. It's sometimes difficult to distinguish them from each other.

I don't really know of the feasibility of such a product being mass produced for the world market. Since the article was published a few years ago there hasn't been any new mention of the coconut armour. Just because "Malaysia Can" doesn't mean we always should. Spending QUITE A LOT OF MONEY on a VERY TALL BUILDING is just a waste don't you think? Hmm...don't we arrest bloggers these days? Or maybe it's just cartoonists...or communists...I forget.

Of course with the austerity measures taking place in various other countries maybe there will be a demand for cheap body armour to be supplied to foreign armies. There are quite a few "long" wars still going on. Hopefully World Peace won't ruin things for us.

"The best armour is to keep out of gunshot"- Italian Proverb

Links:

Coconut armour from "THE STAR"