Elusive Justice

A friend remarked that she left legal practice because she felt disillusioned about this whole idea of justice. You'll also be surprised to know that a majority of my young students (ages 18-21) seem to strongly believe that our judicial system is corrupt. Of course I view the former statement with respect, coming from someone who was in the frontlines fighting the good fight. As for the latter view, I can't help but wonder what it was that gave such a bad impression to our youths.

Perhaps the powers that be should just review what happened in 1988. I believe our society is mature enough to accept the findings, whatever they may be. Faith in the judicial system has to be restored & the review may well be the first step towards it.

Maybe the next step is to make good on the "fight against corruption" promise by whomever it was who started it. Corruption is like cancer- it grows and becomes lethal. If checked early, we might just fight it and survive.

Simply the Better Bread?

I received this via e-mail a couple of days ago:

"Dear friends,

I believe most of you would have received some news or e mail with regards to an article about High5. I would appreciate if all of you could assist in circulating this e mail as appended below. Many Thanks.

Kindly ignore accusations and pictures attached in the earlier email circulated as they are absolutely untrue. All breads imported into Singapore are manufactured in the Shah Alam plant. This is printed on the packaging and documents proving the source of products have to be provided to AVA to obtain clearance for every consignment that is brought in. Looking at the attached pictures of how the actual production line in Shah Alam looks like, it is definitely a far cry from the pictures in the email being circulated.

This is definitely a case of sabotage. Silver Bird is a public listed company in Malaysia, would they do something like that to jeopardize their brand image? The Silver Bird HQ is currently carrying out their investigations and are in the midst of taking legal action against the perpetrators. Attached is also a statement released by Silver Bird Group in the Malay Mail today 13 Sep.

Thanks with Regards.

Christopher Lee
Key Account Manager
Silver Bird Foods ( S ) Pte Ltd
12 Chin Bee Drive
Singapore 619868
Tel : (+65) 6 264 8103
Fax : (+65) 6 264 8104
www.silverbird.com.my "

The attachments are available via Silver Birds' press release (link: http://www.silverbird.com.my/press2.php?year=2006- accessed 25 Sept 2006)

As usual, I have some questions. I’m just curious. If Singapore gets their High-5 from the state-of-the-art Shah Alam plant, which plant supplies for Malaysia? Nilai? However, I’m assuming that the Shah Alam plant also supplies for Malaysia, based on the statement in the Malay Mail advertorial stating breads supplied ‘nationwide’ comes from Shah Alam. So, all is fine & dandy.

Fact 4 of the statement (See: "High 5: Facts" 13 Sept 2006 in the above press release link) is very interesting: I agree that there is an issue of trespass etc. but what is the Nilai plant for? R&D? If the company had run their Nilai plant according to regulations, wouldn’t their Nilai plant be as spotless as the Shah Alam one? Would it have made a difference if the photos of the Nilai plant were taken with prior notification of inspection?

From what I understand in The Star’s article on 14 Sept, the press was invited on a media tour to view the Shah Alam plant (See: "Quality of bread strictly controlled, assures baker" The Star, 14 Sep 2006; link: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/9/14/nation/15427192&sec=nation- accessed 25 Sept 2006). The company was ready & everything looked spick & span- wonderful! Bear with me as I move on to my next question, coming after the next passage.

The Star on 16 Sept 2006 reported that the group executive director Derec Ching Siew Cheong stated, and I quote "“You have to be fair. For example if you have a nice beautiful house and people only show pictures of the rubbish bin or unwashed dishes, isn't that a misrepresentation?... Please understand that our Nilai factory is an old factory and shows signs of normal wear and tear." (See: "Silver Bird plans to fly past storm" The Star, 16 Sept 2006; link: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/9/16/bizweek/20060916095028&sec=bizweek- accessed 25 Sept 2006).

Why did the company respond by showcasing the Shah Alam plant and not the Nilai plant? If the photos of the Nilai plant were a misrepresentation of its actual (compliant?) state, can we have photos that are a proper representation of the Nilai plant then? Why not showcase the Nilai plant when the published photos ‘misrepresent’ its actual condition?

My final question: there was never any denial that they have used Trennaktiv PR100 that has certification issues- why has there been no public apologies?

I have been a very faithful user of High-5 in the past & I'm all for Malaysian companies and products. I even dismissed the initial e-mail circulation- I didn't believe it, thinking that this must be another case of sabotage, not unlike the Gardenia e-mail previously.

But now, I have some niggling doubts that wouldn't go away.

Durians2u

Just the other weekend when I was in the kitchen (on those few rare occasions when my maid goes on leave...) my eldest son came running in and said "someone's at the door.. he wants to give us durians". I initially thought that our neighbour has returned from a trip from their kampung and brought us some 'buah tangan'.

When I peered through the window, there was this durian seller with a half opened durian, asking me & my neighbour to test it. I declined and went about my business.

Maybe this could be a good case study for the marketing students.. about pervasive marketing or something. Or I could use this as a discussion for my law class- sale of goods.