Malaysian Man Known as "Mr. Magnetism" : Facts

Story:

This 70-year-old Malaysian guy is called “Mr. Magnetism”.

Other Versions

Liew Thow Lin of Malaysia is known as the “Magnet Man”, or “Mr. Magnet” because he has the ability to stick metal objects to his body.

Picture about Malaysian Man Known as 'Mr. Magnetism' — Malaysian Man Known as ‘Mr. Magnetism’

Analysis:

The messages talk about Liew Thow Lin, an old man in Malaysia, who seems to have unusual ability to stick metal objects to his body – calling him as the “Magnetic Man” of Malaysia. It is a fact that Liew is able to stick metal objects to his body, but as such, there was no magnetism associated with him.

About Liew Thow Lin

As shown in the news report in above video, the Malaysian old man Liew Thow Lin has the ability to stick metal objects to his body and has performed in many public events. He has also pulled a car using this ‘magnetic’ ability. Liew was also featured in the second episode of the Discovery Channel’s program, One Step Beyond shown in the video below.

Facts about His Magnetism

Like the messages suggest, Liew’s ability to stick metal objects is not due to any source of magnetism in his body. Scientists from Malaysia’s University of Technology tested Liew and found NO magnetic field in his body, but did determine that his skin exhibits very high levels of friction that provides a “suction effect”. It is unclear whether Liew’s body can stick non-metal objects, as the available tests do not validate against it. The trait is perhaps genetic, and also appears in Liew’s grandchildren sometimes.

Similar Claims

It is to be noted that there have been many people in the past who have claimed to exhibit ‘Human Magnetism’. In most of these people, the unusual stickiness of their bodies was attributed to their natural skin secretions that made their skin unusually adhesive. In 2011, a 7-year-old Serbian boy named Bogdan attracted media attention for his apparent ‘Magnetic’ ability to attract all kinds of things. Again, skeptics pointed that there was no magnetism in his body, and only has a sticky skin. The skeptics also pointed that the people who demonstrate such magnetism sticking objects to their bodies – usually lean back and trick as if they are defying the gravity.

As shown in the video above, James Randi of the JREF once demonstrated that “magnetic” people’s miraculous powers disperse when talcum powder is applied over their skin. Talcum powder counters the greasy effect of the sticky skin, and does not interfere with magnetic field, if any.

Qigong Magnetic Fields

Apart from the false claims of magnetism, psychic and paranormal powers, studies have shown that some people who practiced Qigong (also called chi kung, or chi gung) emitted extremely strong magnetic field from their head and whole body during the oriental breathing exercises.

Bottom Line

The Malaysian old man Liew Thow Lin, known as “Mr. Magnetism”, does not have any paranormal magnetic behavior in his body; his unusual sticky skin, which is perhaps genetic, allows him to stick things to his body.