KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 — The local supplier and dealer for I-Mizu, a filtration system that produces water purportedly able to treat major illnesses like cancer and diabetes, has apologised for using a promotional poster that made such bold claims during a ceremony with Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) last week.

What drew the ire of some Facebook users was that the firm, Miresco Integrated Sdn Bhd, not only put up the poster bearing USM’s insignia at the event, but also uploaded a photograph of it on the university’s Facebook page.

According to the poster, I-Mizu claims to have successfully treated 150 types of ailments and health problems including cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, tumours, cholesterol, eczema and obesity.

"That is a mistake which was made by my staff during the ceremony. It was a hectic day, and I admit we made a mistake. We cannot put such a bunting or poster promoting our products in such a way, I understand that it is not allowed, especially when we are dealing with sensitive illnesses like cancer,” Miresco’s managing director Ihsan Mohd Noh told Malay Mail Online.

"The Ministry of Health called us up the next day with regards to the poster and we explained to them and have apologised, so the issue is settled. I admit our mistake, I don’t understand why people are attacking us on Facebook, maybe there are people with bad intentions,” he said.

But Ihsan maintained that he was only apologising for the use of the poster, and repeatedly stated that there is more than adequate research done in Japan which has proven that I-Mizu can successfully treat "chronic” illnesses as stated in the poster.

"We may not be able to say such things in terms of promoting our products here, but we have journals from Japan which prove this. It is proven in Japan that it (I-Mizu) can help cure cancer,” he added saying that Miresco wants to collaborate with local universities here to embark on local case studies with regards to the health properties of I-Mizu water.

"I don’t care what people want to say, they want to criticise us, this is good drink for everyone,” Ihsan claimed.

A check on I-Mizu’s official website showed summaries of research articles done, with titles such as "Hydrogen-water enhances 5-fluorouracil-induced inhibition of colon cancer” and "Magnesium metal-A potential biomaterial with antibone cancer properties.”

Some of the studies were conducted on lab rats, with titles like "Hydrogen inhalation is neuroprotective and improves functional outcomes in mice after intracerebral hemorrhage” and "Hydrogen improves neurological function through attenuation of blood–brain barrier disruption in spontaneously hypertensive stroke-prone rats.”

I-Mizu markets its product as an "excellent” filter system which converts regular tap water into hydrogen-rich alkaline water.