Problem with CIMB, but NO admit to it

Base on the published news form lowyat forum on CIMB might have a serious security issue. There were three major issues, the CIMB Clicks password issue, the sudden implementation of the reCaptcha code, and finally the CIMB Debit Card fraudulent transaction issues.

The CIMB Clicks password issue, which covered in depth here - should not have happened in the first place. Enforcing a mandatory password change to the updated password policies would have easily solved the problem. CIMB has yet to do that.

If this whole incident was only in relation to the weak CIMB Clicks password implementation, then it would not have blown up to where it is now. The fact that people were loosing money at the same time was what made customers sit up and take notice.

And the CIMB Debit Card issue is the more serious of the two. At the end of the updated FAQ CIMB released on the 17th of December, they included a quick mention of the Debit Card/Paypal issue.

You would think that something this serious would deserve its own press release and investigation, but instead it was quietly added into a FAQ on their site. Even then, all they are saying is “Yes, these two issues are separate issues, but OTP on PayPal is not the problem, and that the fraudulent transactions are within ‘normal levels’ and affected customers should raise the matter through ‘official channels’ to get a refund.”

MORE: CIMB Clicks May Contain Serious Security Flaws [UPDATE: CIMB Responds]

Nothing about this is ‘normal’

Fraudulent card transactions are always going to happen. There are a variety of reasons and means that fraudsters and carders are able to acquire card details of customers. Sometimes, eCommerce sites involved in a data breach might leak this information out. Sometimes users might be tricked into sharing their card details on phishing sites. And there is also even the occasional time when physical cards are stolen from legitimate owners.

But the case to be made here is this, there is just too many fraudulent transactions happening over the last week, and it is almost all tied down to one particular card – the CIMB issued Debit MasterCards. These debit cards are issues to all account holders as it doubles up as an ATM card. The modus-operandi of the transactions are also very similar – overseas transactions via Paypal involving small amounts under RM100 per trasaction. More often then not, these transactions happen quickly over a short period of time and often involve multiple transactions.

These are  the small collection (sample) screenshots taken from comments section of a single post on CIMB Malaysia FB page . Click [here] for the original post on more screenshot or go to CIMB Malaysia’s Facebook page to view more.

All these users are facing the same issue with unauthorized transactions with their CIMB Debit Card. Some of these customers have never even used their Debit Cards for online transactions. The victims are also scattered all over the country ruling out the possibility that this affected only customers from a single branch.

The question that needs to be asked here is how did so many CIMB Debit Card numbers fall into the wrong hands. Even if the transactions were done through PayPal, the fraudsters would still need complete card details, inclusive of card number, security code, expiry date, customer name as well as their billing address on PayPal.

Updated New:
MORE: PDRM: No Reports of Money Missing From CIMB Account Have Been Made So Far

As there is no police report needed for normal credit card fraud case, sure there is no report of money lost! And it need to go through PayPal, so there is another stage of "protection" (where PayPal will hold the money before anyone can withdraw)

This information is not available on CIMB Clicks, and as far as we know, even CIMB’s own credit card customers are not affected. It is only exclusively limited to CIMB’s Debit MasterCard holders – a card that is automatically issued to each and every CIMB account holder as an ATM card. And while Credit Card fraud involves a credit line that the bank offers you, Debit Card fraud directly impacts the cold hard cash already in your account.

but still CIMB will not admit there is a problem with them.

A chinese version can view by this [ link ]

23款香水含逾10种致敏物

香港消费者委员会抽验市面55款香水，全都验出4至15种不同浓度的香料香料致敏物质，其中23款更验出10种以上的致敏物质。

综合报导，香港消委会测试的55款香水，其中28款宣称是淡香精（Eau de Parfum）、23款为淡香水（Eau de Toilette），其余4款为古龙水（Eau de Cologne）。测试旨在检验是否含有欧盟《化妆品条例》列出的26种香料致敏物质。

BURBERRY Mr. Burberry Indigo Eau de Toilettehan含7种致敏香料，达2.21%。

其中「ACQUA DI PARMA」验出约5.35%致敏香料物质，为验出浓度最高的样本。此外「GIORGIO ARMANI」、「TIFFANY」、「CHANEL」GABRIELLE、「VALENTINO」和「GUERLAIN」所验出的致敏香料物质总量为3%或以上。


验出最多种类、达15种香料致敏物质的是 CHANEL一款「No.5 Eau de Parfum Spray Vaporisateur Spray」淡香精，每瓶售价为1350港元（约722令吉），价格在样本中位列第三高。

至於验出致敏物质的浓度总量最高的 ACQUA DI PARMA Magnolia Nobile Eau de Parfum Natural Spray 淡香精，其售价为1775港元（约949令吉），乃每瓶售价最昂贵的测试样本。

测试中37款样本验出不同种类和浓度的人造麝香，包括酮麝香及2款多环麝香(佳乐麝香和吐纳麝香)，其中酮麝香及吐纳麝香含量符合内地及欧盟规定。

另外，全部样本均验出柠檬烯（limonene）和芳樟醇（linalool），两者均属於致敏香料物质，儘管这些物质的致敏性不算高，但当接触空气后经过氧化会形成致敏性较高的物质，有机会令消费者出现皮肤过敏。当中以「GIORGIO ARMANI」，「ACQUA DI PARMA」和「VALENTINO」验出的芳樟醇及柠檬烯总量较高。

有11款样本验出塑化剂 DEP，含量由0.00086%至1.1%不等。消委会指，消费者若长期或经常使用香水，並习惯大面积使用添加香味的身体护理產品，应留意香水中的DEP含量。


去年8月，欧盟修改《化妆品条例》，要求所有在欧盟地区贩售的化妆品，从2021年8月起一律禁止含有 HICC（新铃兰醛）、氯化苔黑醛和苔黑醛3种高致敏物。此次测试亦发现17款样本检出高致敏性的致敏物 HICC，有15款浓度均高於0.02%，其中以TOM FORD含量最高。

TOM FORD GREY VETIVER的HICC含量最高，达0.34%。

23款检出含有10种或以上的香料致敏物质的香水

15种：

• CHANEL No. 5 Eau de Parfum Spray Vaporisateur Spray

14种：

• CHANEL GABRIELLE Eau de Parfum Vaporisateur Spray
• diptyque 34 TRENTE-QUATRE Boulevard Saint Germain Eau de Toilette Vaporisateur - Natural Spray
• MICHAEL KORS Sexy Ruby Eau de Parfum Spray Vaporisateur

13种：

• DIOR J'adore 香薰DIOR J'adore Eau de ParfumVaporisateur Spray
• Elizabeth Arden 5th avenue Eau de Parfum Spray Vaporisateur
• LANCOME Miracle L'Eau de Parfum Vaporisateur - Natural Spray

12种：

• ACQUA DI PARMA Magnolia Nobile Eau de Parfum Natural Spray
• Estee Lauder Pleasures Eau De Parfum Spray Vaporisateur
• GUCCI Flora Eau de Parfum Vaporisateur Natural Spray
• GUERLAIN Mon GUERLAIN Eau de Toilette
• Kiehl's Original Musk Blend No. 1 Eau de Toilette Natural Spray
• miu miu Eau de Parfum Natural Spray Vaporisateur
• THE BODY SHOP White Musk Eau de Parfum

11种：

• adidas Dynamic Pulse Eau de Toilette Natural Spray/Vaporisateur
• Narciso Rodriguez For Her Eau de Toilette Natural Spray Vaporisation
• TOUS Eau de Parfum Natural Spray Vaporisateur
• YVES SAINT LAURENT Black Opium Eau de Parfum Vaporisateur - Natural Spray

10种：

• Calvin Klein CK Be Eau de Toilette Spray
• Hermes Twilly d'Hermès Eau de Parfum Vaporisateur Natural Spray
• L'Occitane Roses et Reines Eau de Toilett
• TOM FORD Grey Vetiver Eau de Parfum Vaporisateur Spray
• Zara R Rose Eau de Toilette

垃圾公司的五大特徵

垃圾公司最容易坑害人，浪費員工的才華與青春，浪費對未來的認知，所以儘量要避免長時間呆在這樣的公司。去優秀的公司，自然就會享受到公司良好的環境、昇華自己的機會，這才是在職場最需要關注的問題。選擇一個優秀的公司，會省去很多麻煩，賺更多的錢，有一個好的前途。垃圾公司的五大特徵，認清了就及時離開。

一、一下班就開會

開會本來是件很正常的事，大家遇到事情了開個會商量一下，非常有助於工作的開展。但是天天開會，甚至在下班時間開會，就非常讓人討厭了。本來上了一天班就很累了，偏偏還要在這個時間點開會，誰能聽得進去呢？

最可恨的是，有些領導一點芝麻大的事情就要開會，而且一開就開兩、三個小時，不去還說你沒責任感。


二、說好的工資水準，轉正的時候又變卦

入職的時候說好的工資水準，試用期倒是達到了，但轉正的時候工資水準卻比之前談的降低了。只要是這種情況，不論降低工資水準的理由是什麼，都可以考慮立即辭職。


三、長期招人卻留不住

一般情況下，一個公司出現高員工流失率的時候，它離倒閉也就不遠了。一個公司有員工流動很正常，但如果經常有人辭職，甚至公司老員工集體辭職，那就說明這家公司的狀況不太正常了。

要麼是壓力大工資低，要麼是老闆領導管理方法有問題，再要麼就是公司發展狀態不行了，所以才會出現人事地震。如果公司想要有一個好發展，就一定會留住優秀的人才，減少員工流失。


四、強調員工感恩

要員工幹活時，讓員工要感恩公司；而賺到錢時，公司卻不願意分給員工。其實勞動者去公司上班呢，說白了就是一種合作，根本上談不上什麼感恩。而公司之所以強調感恩，無非就是想壓榨更多的勞動力，讓員工心甘情願的付出更多罷了。

這樣的公司待著沒前途，對員工都是這種態度，對客戶肯定也好不到哪裡去。


五、一談錢就畫餅

有些老闆在對待客戶時非常大方，總說自己不缺錢，可是一旦員工過去跟他提報銷，立馬就變了個臉，說得自己比員工還窮。而且這樣的老闆還特別會畫餅，一張嘴就畫出一個又圓又大的餅，說得好像明天就要掛鐘上市，後天就要趕超馬雲馬化騰了一樣。

畫完了大餅，還會拍著你的肩膀信誓旦旦的告訴你，等咱們發展好了，給你百分之多少的股份，讓你做千萬富翁。

在我們的職場生涯中，一般會遇到3家或者3家以上的公司，他們有的好有的壞。遇到好的，我們應該學會珍惜；而遇到壞的，我們也應該及時撤離，否則就會越陷越深。而如果你現在所處的公司有以上五種情況，中一個就該考慮離開了，中兩個請不要猶豫馬上辭職！

毁掉一个年轻人最好的办法 就是向他鼓吹财务自由

卡尔·马克思是这样定义人的：“人是一切关系的总和。”那么，幸福就是各种关系的平衡，各种状态的平衡。

1. 财务自由是个坑

现在套路深，到处都是坑。财务自由，是最大的一个。

财务自由这个词，在职场上已经火了很久，你经常可以听到各种造富神话：

谁谁谁买了股票，低价抄入，现在涨了很多倍，身价翻翻；又是谁谁谁辞职做公众号，现在身价已经上亿了；谁谁谁，抓住了风口，投资了比特币，半年之间暴富。

最终的结局，无一例外，都是实现了财务自由。

但我要说的是，你只看到了1%业已实现了的造富神话，不明就里地信以为真，你没有看到剩下99%被“财务自由”忽悠了的年轻人。

许多人喜欢给我讲孙宇晨的故事。

孙宇晨是90后，是一家创业公司老总，年纪轻轻，很早实现了财务自由。

在他自传体的书《这世界既残酷也温柔》中，他是这样讲述自己的财富之路的：

比特币刚出现时，孙宇晨还在美国念大学，他就在朋友的带领下进入币圈。

那时候，比特币尚未大众化，只是在小圈子里流通，价格也远远没有涨上去，才几美分，就可以买一个。

在朋友怂恿下，孙宇晨拿出三千多美元，买了很多比特币。

三千多美元，不是一个小数字，但也算不上一笔巨款。

结果半年之后，比特币突然在全球范围内被爆炒，单个比特币价格涨至八千多美元。

孙宇晨一夜暴富，挣得了人生第一桶金，由此，迅速改头换面，实现了财务自由。

随后，他把挣来的钱投了一个创业项目，做直播APP，变身成创业者。

这是你所看到的孙宇晨的故事：

一个年轻人，抓住了风口，飞了起来，挣了钱后，又迅速投身于互联网创业大潮中。多励志，多令人振奋。

2. 神话背后，一定有深渊

同样是赶风口，其它千千万万如你如我一般普通民众的故事，就一点不令人振奋了，反而令人悲伤。

在天涯网贴上，我看到另外一种故事，懊悔凄惨的故事。

一个贫困大学生，毕业之后，辛辛苦苦工作，挣了十几万块钱，如果不出意外，过几年，再存点钱，借点钱，就可以凑个首付买房了。

比特币大潮来了，身边人都在谈论，说这是风口，是机遇，一定会再涨，要抓紧时间上车。

每天都是“财务自由”、“炒币买房”、“上车”之类的词语在他耳边轰炸，很有诱惑力，他热血沸腾，冲动之下，拿出所有的钱，买了BCX币。

一开始涨很快，他迅速赚了几万块钱。这令他振奋，心想，既然是风口，为什么不加仓啊。于是他去找了金融公司，贷款一大笔钱，又加仓买入大量BCX币。

他很有信心，一定会继续涨。

可随后，全球各个主要国家出台政策，开始打击炒币行为，各类假币应声下跌，BCX币跌得更惨，一夜之间，连同贷款和自己的本金都没了，亏得倾家荡产。

“我毕业五年了，工资一发下来，就存着，省吃俭用，平常连饮料都舍不得买，才存下首付，这是我一个梦想。但这个梦想，不到半个月时间，就亏没了。”

类似的有很多，一位韩国大学生，炒币，亏了1.85万美元，还不完，跳楼自杀了；一位30岁的韩国IT工程师，也是因为炒币亏空，房子都亏了，跳楼自杀。

每一个造富神话的背后，都有很多人坠入了深渊。

神话背后，一定有深渊。

3. 警惕赌徒心态和两个误区

多思考一下，为什么孙宇晨会成功，而这位贫困大学生亏得倾家荡产。

孙宇晨入场很早，在美国，他比国内绝大部分用户更早接触比特币，有更大机会买到低价位比特币，三千美元，买来，即使亏了，这风险也承担得起。

投资有度，风险可控，前景算不上明朗，但也不能说毫无希望，这个决策，是健康的。

那位大学生就不一样了，全部存款投入，后期还贷款加仓，根本承受不起丝毫下跌，风险太大。

这根本就不是投资，而是赌博，和在赌场上希望一赌暴富的心态一模一样。

为什么我说“财务自由”被捧上天，忽悠了很多年轻人？

因为它给年轻人带来的，就是这种赌徒心态：在极短的时间内，依靠不可控的方式，获得巨额财富。多可笑，一样可怕。

除了赌徒心态，人们对“财务自由”还存在两个很大的误区：

1、财务自由就是快速赚钱

吴晓波做过一个关于财务自由方面的调查。

你认为，什么叫财务自由？

绝大部分人理解的财务自由是：有了一定数量的钱，然后一辈子都花不完。

当人们把财务自由理解成赚了一定数量的钱之后，“赚快钱”就会成为主流心态，无论用什么方式，先尽可能快地把钱挣到手。

而赚快钱，恰恰是毁掉一个年轻人最好的方式。

律师钱虹讲过一个故事，她手底下有一个助理小孙，从名牌大学法律系毕业，前途可期，她对他也很重视。

可是小孙一门心思想挣钱，除了做助理，还兼职跨领域做了很多工作。又做公众号，又在朋友圈里卖东西。

他说：“我一定要趁年轻，多挣钱，尽早实现财务自由，就能自由地去做自己想做的事情了。”

钱虹劝他：“哪有这么容易实现的财务自由，你打好基础，钱自然会有的。”

他不听，着急赚钱。

律师行业门槛高，刚毕业的学生，必须经过一年实习，考核通过，才能独立接受办案子。

一年实习期过后，所里和他同批实习的律师，考核都通过了，成为具有独立办案资格的律师；而他没有通过，第二年继续实习，拿着低工资，不能独立办案。

经济学领域有个词语，叫“机会成本”，意思是，如果你选择把时间和精力花在某个领域，意味着要放弃在另外其他领域的投入。

你想赚快钱，全部精力和时间分散在各个赚钱渠道，必然意味着你无法在某个领域深耕。

对年轻人来说，一夜暴富，和赚快钱，像犯罪一样可怕，你年轻，你可以靠拼体力赚钱，但由于缺乏在一个领域深耕，没有形成知识体系，没有深厚积累，就无法突破。

赚快钱，本质上，是一种低质量的赚钱方式。

2、财务自由意味着一劳永逸

其实，财务自由并不是一劳永逸。

财经作家欧成效说过，人们对于财务自由有很大一个误区，就在于很多人认为，财务自由，就是挣一笔钱，足够花，此后，再也不用付出，再也不用劳动，想做什么做什么，彻底实现自由。

根本没有这样的财务自由。

究其背后，这是一种“一劳永逸”式的成功学思维，这种成功学思维渗透在我们思考中的点点滴滴。

求学时，“考上好大学就彻底轻松了。”

毕业了，“找了份好工作就轻松了。”

工作了，“等做上管理岗位就轻松了。”

人们似乎有一种执念，执念于毕其功于一役，度过某个阶段，人生彻底解放，彻底自由自在。

这种执念体现在财务自由的思考上，就会让人变得急功近利，焦虑，铤而走险。

多少人为了一个“在三十岁之前实现财务自由”的虚幻梦想，进入传销，甚至犯罪，毁掉一生。

再强调一次，根本没有这样的财务自由。

人生，是一场不断蜕变与成长的旅程，没有终点。求学之后会有工作，工作之后会有结婚生子，结婚生子之后会有中年危机……你可以停下来看看风景，但无法停滞。

4. 真正的财务自由，是一种富足的心态

智严大师讲过一个故事，富豪碰到一个渔夫，渔夫刚从海里打渔回来，笑容灿烂，富豪问渔夫：“今天打的鱼很多吗？笑得这么开心。”

渔夫说：“不算多，之前打过更多的。”

富豪问：“既然不多，为何今天这么开心？”

渔夫说：“虽然不多，但对我来说，已经够啦，为什么不开心呢。”

富豪不明白，这么点鱼，如果卖掉换钱，才卖几百块钱，几百块钱，连自己平常一包抽的烟，都买不起，为什么会开心呢？

富豪不明白，他需要几百块钱一包的烟，才能快乐，但渔夫并不需要，他不抽烟。

智严大师说：“真正的自由，不是拥有一切，而是管理自己的欲望，没有人可以拥有一切，但你可以学会知足。”

西方有一句谚语说得好：“真正富有的人，不是拥有最多的人，而是需求最少的人。”

财务自由不意味着富有，很多富有四海的人，也未必自由，真正的财务自由，不是一个客观数字，而是一种主观心态。

有一技之长，有持续稳定的收入，收入能满足需求，带来价值感，这就是财务自由。

5. 关于财务自由，给你 4 点建议

对于财务自由，我还有四句话想告诉大家。

1、你必须有一样拿得出手

有一技傍身，才可能有持续而稳定的收入。

前段时间，有一个新闻，唐山撤销收费站，一大批收费站员工下岗，一位36岁的女士突然之间茫然不知所措。

“我在收费站呆了十几年了，我从毕业就来收费站了，我除了收费，我什么也不会干呀。”

十几年了，她只学会了收钱找钱。

林夕说，好的人生，你必须要有一样拿得出手，这代表你的形象，你的核心竞争力。

如果想要有一样拿得出手，意味着你需要在某一个领域，持续深耕，不断积累知识与经验。

这种理念，赚快钱，恰恰是相排斥的，它要求你不要急功近利，现在低质量地捞钱，不如高质量地夯实自己。

你现在对自己的投资，几十年后，都会十倍百倍收回来。


2、学会自我教育与更新

名人有一句很知名的话：

“人生不是线性的，不要以为一班车就能把你从现在的位置带到你所期望的位置。”

这就是说，不存在一劳永逸的情况。

永远不要指望着努力一把，你就能挣到足够的钱，站到足够高的位置。

即使是名人，即使已经爬到了总裁，做过主席，他依然保持每天学习，坚持阅读最前沿的论文，获知最前沿的科技思潮。

“我把自己想象成一个软件，今天这个版本，一定要比昨天那个版本更好。”

人生是动态前进，会有波峰波谷，真正的财务自由，并不是挣一笔钱，躺着晒太阳，而是无论你什么时候想要钱，都可以想办法挣得到。

这需要你持续自我教育与更新。


3、学会找到自己的兴趣，让工作与兴趣建立联系

工作带来收入，兴趣带来价值感。

一份无法带来价值感的工作，你可能可以做一段时间，但无法坚持，更无法深入。

每一个人在一开始的时候，都不可能幸运地找到自己终其一生要从事的事业，这需要慢慢摸索。

但这摸索是必要的。如果你做一份自己丝毫不感兴趣的工作，你不仅会变得憋屈，而且经常自我贬低自己。

心理学家赵晓璃老师讲过一个故事。

她的一个读者林静，毕业时在一家公司做出纳，她不喜欢这家公司的管理，准备考CP（注册会计师），买了一大堆教材资料来看。

学习的过程极其痛苦，尽管下了很大决心，每天回到家，都无心于学习，看一会儿书，就要刷会儿朋友圈。

备考了两年，一门都没有考过。

她很懊恼，两年时间里，不间断地怀疑自己，贬低自己。

赵晓璃建议她换个行业，换个自己真正喜欢的行业。

林静从小就喜欢电影，于是尝试买来一些电影和编导方面的教材，看起来完全不吃力，不用催，也看得极其入神。

两年后，她考入了一家艺术学院的编导系研究生，重新找到了自己的价值。

只有一种工作，能让你获得收入且感到快乐，那就是你喜欢的工作。

当工作和兴趣建立起联系，工作就是一种价值认可，而不仅仅是挣钱，工作本身，会带来幸福感。

财务自由，不只有钱，而是这样一种价值被认可，收入满足需求的状态。


4、做有钱阶级，不如做有闲阶级

《人民日报》曾经发表过一篇文章《靠物质获取幸福的时代已经过去了》，今天的人们，看着物质基础的同时，也更看重精神层面的滋养。

做有钱阶级，不如做有闲阶级：

在体面生活的基础上，不追求大富大贵，彻底的自由自在，有收入，有空闲时间，陪家人，做一些有意义的事情，还能做公益。

这是一种“新幸福指数”，“新幸福指数”有10个条件：

1）享受工作。改变不了工作就改变工作时的心情，积极乐观地投入到工作中，会有不一样的感觉。

2）有关系亲密的朋友和家人。分享的感觉很甜蜜，尤其是和亲密的人分享。

3）拥有稳定的经济来源。有基本生活的底线收入，少许多压力，幸福感会相应增加。

4）身心健康。“身体是革命的本钱”，拥有健康的身心就如同一辆安全上路的车子一样。

5）拥有富于刺激性的兴趣和生活方式。生活也需要调味剂，兴趣和别样的生活方式就是调味剂。

6）拥有一定的时间自由。能自由支配自己的时间，这本身就是成功的标志之一。

7）选择适合自己的居住环境。舒适不意味着豪华，适合才是最好的。每日能在自己喜欢的房间里醒来是件多么幸福的事啊。

8）具备有效的思维习惯。具有阳光心态是幸福生活的重要前提。

9）能够放眼未来。站得高，看得远。放眼世界，幸福自会到来。

10）感觉自己正在向目标迈进，充实而快乐地度过每一天。

卡尔·马克思是这样定义人的：“人是一切关系的总和。”那么，幸福就是各种关系的平衡，各种状态的平衡。

愿你热爱自己的工作，热爱投入工作中的自己，也热爱书中那些零零散散的诗歌，阳台上迎风生长的花草。心有猛虎，细嗅蔷薇。

source: https://nowstoday.net/2018/10/09/%E6%AF%81%E6%8E%89%E4%B8%80%E4%B8%AA%E5%B9%B4%E8%BD%BB%E4%BA%BA%E6%9C%80%E5%A5%BD%E7%9A%84%E5%8A%9E%E6%B3%95-%E5%B0%B1%E6%98%AF%E5%90%91%E4%BB%96%E9%BC%93%E5%90%B9%E8%B4%A2%E5%8A%A1%E8%87%AA%E7%94%B1/

Log in 5 Frozen Foods to Avoid and 5 That Are Safe to Buy

In just 3 years, U.S. citizens have spent over 53 billion dollars on frozen foods, making it one of the most popular food products on the market. But how safe this fan favorite, really?

They all for convenience and ease but when it comes to our health, we are not willing to budge. We have made a list of foods — both safe and unsafe — from the frozen aisle to let you know what exactly you’re putting on you and your family’s plates. Be sure to read the extra bonus fact at the end of the article.


Not safe: freezer burned foods

If you see any freezer burn on a frozen food item, you should go ahead and toss it in the trash. Such a burn is an indication of the food not being stored properly. Through the freezing and unfreezing process the moisture from the food had escaped and formed crystals on the surface. This eliminates flavor, nutritional value and texture properties of the food.

Not safe: breaded fish

Yes, fish sticks save us from our children’s temper tantrums at the dinner table but consider this: mass-produced breaded fish contains loads of palm oil, raising agents and added salt and sugar. So, maybe switch to a homemade version next time?


Not safe: allergen-free food

We tend to lean toward gluten-free and zero calorie options in an attempt to have healthier food in our homes. However, those types of food when frozen, have a multitude of different additives, not to mention high levels of salt and sugar. You don’t always see the “sugar” in the ingredients or in the picture on the packaging. That’s because it can also be listed as “maltodextrin” and “dextrose” which are also sugars.


Not safe: chicken

Of all the kinds of meat, chicken may seem the least harmful, however, for our supermarkets, manufacturers can pump it up to 5 times its mass with water and additives. Water, when frozen willform crystals, ripping apart the structure of the meat. Along with all that, the additives are never great.


Not safe: pre-made pasta

We know — it’s tempting to grab a pre-made pasta dish from a rack at the store and have it hot and ready in a couple of minutes. But dried pasta takes literally under ten minutes to boil and then you can add anything you like instead of digesting palm oil, unhealthy fats, flour treatments, and preservativesmanufacturers have put in your dinner.


Safe: broccoli

Martha Stewart’s go-to vegetable for quick dishes is rich in ascorbic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin E, and phosphorus, not to mention its protein value. And luckily, it is much cheaper and still perfectly safe to purchase in a frozen state since it doesn’t lose much in the freezing process.


Safe: green peas

To anybody who ever lost a ton of time peeling and preparing peas for a Thanksgiving dinner, this may come as a relief. Cooked frozen peas actually beat fresh ones in their levels of beta-carotene and lose just 10% of ascorbic acid during the process of freezing. So save yourself some precious time being with your family during the holidays.


Safe: spinach

Here’s the deal — yes, fresh spinach is lovely in a salad, yet, if you store it at room temperature, it will lose all of its ascorbic acid, a key healthy element. To fix this, simply use frozen spinach in dishes like pasta and cream spinach since when frozen, it only loses 30% of this acid.


Safe: raspberries

On a chemical level, we love our raspberries since they contain a lot of phenolic compounds: an element, that is beneficial to people with chronic illnesses. And when frozen, the delicious berries seem to have more of this particular compound.

Safe: corn

© unknown / imgur © rose22551 / reddit


The queen of many tables across the country is corn! Corn can be a little pricey to purchase fresh. If you love corn though, you’ll be pleased to know that when frozen, it has higher levels of potassium and calcium than its fresh counterpart which is beneficial to a lot of people.





Bonus: the aesthetics of food

We can’t stress enough how unappetizing frozen food defrosted can look — and the looks are only half of the dissatisfaction. So, if you’re gonna go with it, at least dress it up a little.


We hope this little list will help you navigate the frozen food industry with more knowledge. And we are eager to know: which frozen foods are your go-to? And did you find anything particularly surprising on our list? Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments!

source： https://brightside.me/creativity-cooking/5-frozen-foods-to-avoid-and-5-that-are-safe-to-buy-614710/

佳宝九製陈皮 被验出铅超標

不少人从小吃到大的佳宝九製陈皮，在3个月內两度被验出铅超標，其中一次更超標达7倍，遭中国国家市场监管总局列入黑名单中。

国家市场监管总局早前对全国8类食品745批次样品进行抽验，发现5批次不合格样品，其中就包括广东佳宝集团有限公司生產的九製陈皮，铅含量为6.69mg/kg，比国家標准规定高出5.69倍。

铅是一种慢性和积累性毒物，进入人体后，少部分会隨身体代谢排出体外，但大部分会在体內沉积，危害人体健康。

事件爆发后，佳宝集团发表声明称，对於此事件「深感內疚和自责，愧对广东老字號品牌称號」。佳宝集团是中国一家民营企业，专门生產蜜饯、酱腌菜、饮料製品等果蔬加工食品。

source: http://www.orientaldaily.com.my/s/261309#

6品牌沙丁鱼含虫·卫生部指示下架

卫生部说，还有6种不同品牌的罐头沙丁鱼被证实含有线虫而被令下架；6种罐头沙丁鱼的品牌分别是 Cinta、Sea Fresh、HS Brand、King Cup、Bintang 及 TC Boy。

卫生部总监拿督诺希山在文告中说，卫生部已采取行动，涉及公司受指示从市场上召回上述产品；当局也会在所有关卡，就入口罐头鱼进行扣查、检验和放行措施。

他说，卫生部会抽取样本进行检验，分析结果显示不含有线虫及符合卫生后，才会批准有关食品进口。

“卫生部也会检查本地厂商所制造的罐头鱼。”

他强调，食用上述罐头食品对健康的威胁低，这是因为在制作罐头或烹煮过程中，线虫已死亡。

不管怎样，他提醒商家，进口、批发、收藏或销售有毒、损坏或有害健康的食品，将抵触1983年食品法令13条款；一旦罪成，可被判罚款不超过10万令吉或监禁不超过10年，或两者兼施。

公众若有任何有关食品安全的讯息，也可联络州卫生局或县/区卫生局，或通过卫生部官网http://moh.spab.gov.my或卫生部食品安全与品质组脸书 http://www.facebook.com/bkkmhq 进行投报。

ENGLISH version
http://says.com/my/news/moh-removes-8-sardine-brands-from-the-market-because-of-worms

18款牛油含基因致癌物

香港消委员会测试30款预先包装牛油、人造及相关产品，发现大部份样本标签未有准确显示营养素含量，当中近五成营养标签及声称更属严重不符。

香港消委员会测试30款预先包装牛油、人造及相关产品，发现大部份样本标签未有准确显示营养素含量，当中近五成营养标签及声称更属严重不符。

30款测试样本，包括9款牛油及16款人造牛油及涂抹酱、4款牛油和植物油脂肪混合物涂抺酱，以及1款起酥油。消委会指出，一半测试样本的营养标签数据严重失实，不少样本标示值不符合有关标签技术指引，当中银宝的Lurpak Slightly Salted Organic Spreadable Butter Blended With Vegetable Oil的钠含量为410毫克/100克，较标示的36毫克/100克高10倍。

另外，9款样本检出的反式脂肪酸含量超过标示的20%；4款标示“0”反式脂肪酸的样本，实际含量则超出指引每100克不可含多于0.3克的规定所限；个别样本的包装声称含有多种维他命成份，但营养标签上却没有相关资料。

测试又发现，18款人造牛油含有基因致癌物环氧丙醇，含量由每公斤13至640微克，含量最高的为“Sunny Meadow Spread With Canola Oil”，当中16款亦同时含污染物3-MCPD，每公斤含44至1100微克，最高含量的是“President Ambassador Salted Culinary Fat Blend”。由于环氧丙醇同时具基因毒性和致癌性，消委会提醒市民应尽量减低从食物内摄取。

据欧洲食物安全局报告结果指出，“偏高”环氧丙醇摄入量（每公斤体重摄入0.6至4.9微克），对所有年龄组别消费者健康造成的影响均值得关注，惟对于婴儿、幼儿及儿童的健康，“一般”摄入量（每公斤体重摄入0.3至2.1微克）就已值得关注。

世卫癌症研究国际机构（IARC）将环氧丙醇评为“很可能令人类患癌”的物质（group2A substance），据食安中心资料显示，基因致癌物是透过直接破坏脱氧核糖核酸（DNA）而诱发癌症。这类致癌物没有一个绝对安全的摄入量，即使少量也有可能破坏基因物质，从而增加发生癌症的机会，因此不可能厘定出一个安全参考值。

至于3-MCPD，欧洲食物安全局报告亦指，经实验动物发现，长期摄入过量的3-MCPD会损害肾脏的功能及影响雄性的生殖系统。

消委会表示，已经促请各代理商即时更改失实标签，并促政府立法规管食物中有害物质含量。

测试中含环氧丙醇牛油品牌（#为同时含3-MCPD）
● MeadowLea Original Vegetable Fat Spread
● Olive Grove Classic Mild Tasting 65% Less SaturatedFat Than Butter Edible Oil Spread /Fat Spread(#)
● I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! Light Vegetable Oil spread(#)
● Sainsbury\'s Lighter Butterlicious Made with Butter milk(#)
● 花唛 Flora 轻怡植物牛油酱 Light Spread(#)
● 明治 Meiji なめらかソフト Smooth And Soft(#)
● 雪印 Snow Brand 特级植物牛油 Neo Soft Spread(#)
● 花唛 Flora 软滑植物牛油酱 Original Spread(#)
● M&S Reduced Fat Olive Oil Spread Made Using Olive Oil(#)
● Essential Waitrose Olive Spread- Reduced Fat Spread ( 45%)(#)
● Belle Premium Vegetable Fat Spread Made With Sunflower Oil(#)
● Earth Balance Organic Whipped Buttery Spread(#)
● Tesco Sunflower Spread(#)
● Sunny Meadow Spread With Canola Oil(#)
● 银宝 Lurpak Slightly Salted Organic Spreadable Butter Blended With Vegetable Oil
● President Ambassador Salted Culinary Fat Blend(#)
● Copha Vegetable Shortening Made With Coconut oil(#)
● Tablelands Butter Spread with Plant Sterols(#)

文章来源：星洲网·2018.04.16

Do the EPF 'Nomination' Thing Before It's Too Late

A new policy has been introduced to make the process of nominating beneficiaries easier.

Latest statistics show that there's still a huge chunk of Malaysians that have yet to make EPF nominations

As it stands, about 10.6 million people or 73% of Employees Provident Fund (EPF) members have yet to make a nomination, which means that they have no beneficiary for their accounts and savings in the event of their death.

The EPF Board has yet to make nomination a compulsory matter but all members have been urged to get it done as soon as possible.


Why should a member make a nomination?

In the case of a Muslim member, the person(s) named in the EPF Nomination will receive the savings of the deceased member as administrator (Wasi), who will bear the responsibility to distribute the savings in accordance with the Faraid Law. Faraid Law refers to the Islamic laws concerning inheritance and distribution.

Meanwhile, a nomination would allow Non-Muslim members to name the actual rightful beneficiary or beneficiaries of their savings.

Members are encouraged to make a nomination to facilitate and expedite the process of transferring the EPF savings to the nominee upon the death of an EPF member. If a member fails to make a nomination for his or her EPF savings, the beneficiary will have to go through a lengthy and tedious process of claiming the savings from EPF.

According to EPF, the savings of a deceased will still be kept under the deceased member's name until a next-of-kin claims the savings through the current Death Withdrawal and 'No Nomination' process and procedures.

If a deceased member fails to make a nomination, the family members may need to fork out a large sum of money just to claim the hard-earned savings

It is still possible to apply for a Death Withdrawal if a deceased member did not make a nomination, but, the EPF Board would require the next-of-kin to produce supporting documents such as legal papers which could be costly and time-consuming.

"I have come across cases where EPF nominations were not made and it became a nightmare for their families who had to undergo a lengthy legal process to get the money out," Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations secretary-general Datuk Paul Selvaraj was quoted as saying by The Star Online.


According to the EPF Act 1991, leaving a written will by naming the beneficiary of a member's EPF savings will not be taken into consideration

Only an official nomination submitted to the EPF branch will be taken into account and processed accordingly to be kept in EPF's records.

To make matters easier, the EPF board has introduced a new procedure to allow members to make a nomination without the need of a witness. Previously, a member needed a witness present with them at the EPF branch to submit a nomination.

Starting from 1 January 2017, a member will only need to provide the required documentation as proof to make a nomination instead of having a witness with them.



EFP also offers a one-off death benefit worth RM2,500 to a deceased member's next-of-kin

As a gesture of compassion, the EPF Board offers RM2,500 to any of the deceased member's dependents (widow, widower, children or mother/father).

Here are some conditions to take note of when applying for the death benefit:

1. The member must be a Malaysian citizen (including Permanent Resident) OR Non-Malaysian members who registered with the EPF before 1 August 1998
2. The member passed away before reaching the age of 55
3. Application must be made within six (6) months of the member's date of death 
4. The member still has savings when the withdrawal application is made

Back in 2015, it was revealed that money allocated, which comes from EPF's investment earnings, would be kept for annual dividend distribution to all members in the event that a next-of-kin is not qualified to claim the death benefit.





How do you make a nomination?

A nomination can be made in two simple steps:

1. Fill in the KWSP 4 Form accordingly.
2. Submit the form personally to the nearest EPF office. 

or just go to the nearest KWSP / EPF office and get the form there and fill up on the spot

What you need to bring:

1. A copy of your own MyKAD **a must, no photostat copy needed
2. A copy of identification document for each nominee such as MyKad, or Birth Certificate.
3. The completed Nomination Application Form (KWSP 4). 

just fill up the nomination column (FULL NAME and ID NUMBERS, PERCENTAGE) & make sure there's no error

If you've already made a nomination, make sure that the details are accurate and updated by checking at:

1. The counter at any EPF branch
2. The EPF's website using your EPF i-Akaun

For more information, visit the EPF website to learn more about Nomination and Death Withdrawal.


If you've not made a nomination yet, do it immediately! Don't forget to share this with your family and friends.


Learn more about what you can do with your EPF savings here:
Settling PTPTN Debts And 6 Other Things You Can Do With Your EPF Money

This is how you can make pre-retirement withdrawals as an EPF member.

If You Are Using This Toothpaste… Throw It Away Immediately!

The FDA has just issued a warning this week noting that they will be putting a ban on triclosan—a common antibacterial agent used in soaps, detergents, toys, cosmetics, and toothpaste. Apparently, the chemical poses a high-degree of health risks and side effects.

Colgate Total is just one of many products that list triclosan as an active ingredient.

“Based on scientific evidence, the balance of benefit and risk is favorable for these products,” Andrea Fischer, an FDA Spokesperson, said of the announcement.

“The dangers of triclosan (and a related antibacterial chemical, triclocarban) are many,” the Natural Resource Defense Council said in a statement. “For starters, it’s an endocrine disruptor, meaning it interferes with important hormone functions, which can directly affect the brain in addition to our immune and reproductive systems.”

“Specifically, the chemical disturbs thyroid, testosterone, and estrogen regulation, which can create a host of issues including early puberty, poor sperm quality, infertility, obesity, and cancer,” the statement continues. “Studies have also shown it can lead to impaired learning and memory, exacerbate allergies, and weaken muscle function. The impacts of prolonged exposure during fetal development, infancy, and childhood can be particularly severe, resulting in permanent damage.”

Please pass this information on and be sure to go through your toiletries.

source: http://womandailytips.com/breaking-if-you-are-using-this-toothpaste-throw-it-away-immediately/

中東穆斯林難民，4個妻子23個孩子《逃難》到歐洲，翹腳不必工作享受德國政府免費提供4間房屋加36萬美元的社會福利補貼金！

他是中東穆斯林難民，他帶著4個妻子23個孩子《逃難》到歐洲，享受德國政府免費提供4間房屋，外加每年36萬美元的社會福利補貼金！翹腳不必工作當大爺了！

這個來自敘利亞，名字叫做加西亞的49歲穆斯林難民說，他完全不需要工作，西方提供的援助福利太好了，每年36萬美元的援助金用都用不完，他都樂不思蜀，不想返回敘利亞的家園了。

加西亞的幸福難民故事經過媒體報導後，讓歐洲各國人民氣炸了！尤其目前歐洲面對穆斯林恐怖份子不斷製造人肉炸彈恐襲，每天都不得安寧，對穆斯林恨得牙癢癢，痛斥他們恩將仇報，好心收留他們卻沒有好報，因而掀起驅逐穆斯林難民的怒火之際，加西亞帶著4個老婆23個孩子充當《大種難民》到歐洲騙吃騙喝當土皇帝賴死不走的故事，引來歐洲各國輿論撻伐。

雖然根據德國政府規定，加西亞不能夠擁有多過一個老婆；但是法律總有太多漏洞，加西亞把大老婆登基為《正宮配偶》，而把另外三個老婆當成《同居女友》，這樣一來，德國政府按照規定還得免費提供4個住宅單位安頓《4頭家》！並且按照人口比例每週發放可觀的福利援助金！根據估算，加西亞一家將近30口人，每個月可以領取多達3萬美元援助金，一年下來就高達36萬美元了！

每個月不用做工就有3萬美元福利金，就算在生活水準最高的先進大城市，生活都不成問題啦！難怪加西亞坦言他不想工作了，這麼豐厚的援助金不但解決了衣食住行問題，他還有大把錢帶全家去遊山玩水咧。

雖然大家都說不是所有穆斯林都是恐怖份子；不過大家也都公認所有恐怖份子都是穆斯林。歐洲人收留中東穆斯林難民，給他們吃住，送錢糧給他們揮霍，他們不但不感恩，還不斷騷擾社會，給治安帶來巨大麻煩！如今歐洲各國後悔莫及，紛紛決定要將騙吃騙喝擾亂歐洲的中東穆斯林趕回中東了，就不知道加西亞的歐洲天堂生活什麼時候到了頭？

MUSLIM 『REFUGEE』 Comes Over With 23 KIDS & 4 WIVES – How Much WELFARE HE GETS Is INFURIATING …

The man named only as Ghazia A fled Syria with his huge family last year and has since settled in Germany.

He doesn't work and instead lives off the huge benefit bung, according to a financial manager who worked out what the state is liable to fork out.

There is official confirmation of the £320,000 ($358,000 USD) figure.

Under Islamic law a man can marry up to four wives as long as he is able to give them financial support.

However, German law does not recognize polygamous marriages.

But instead of the marriages being ignored, the refugee was given special leeway to choose his 「main wife」.

The other three women were then categorised as 「friends」 in an arrangement a local official described as an 「exemption」, German daily Rhein-Zeitung reports.

Gazia, 49, lives with his 「main」 wife Twasif and their five children in the Rhineland-Palatinate town and visits his other families that live in the surrounding area every few days.

He said he used to run a garage and car hire service in Syria before the country’s descent into civil war, allowing him to provide for his family.

However he has not worked since the move to Europe last year on the back of Chancellor Angela Merkel's open door policy.

He told German daily Bild he was committed to his families: 「In our religion it is my duty to visit every family and to be with them.

「I am practically all the time go to with my family to be together – and I would like to find work again.」

A SYRIAN migrant has sparked outrage after allegedly using his four wives and 23 children to rake in over £320,000 a year in benefits.

The Powerful Anti-Terrorism Ad That’s The Hit of Ramadan

The month of Ramadan is a time of peak TV consumption in the Arab world, and in turn, peak TV ad budgets. So the Kuwaiti telecom company Zain decided to make to the most of the holy season with a powerful three-minute musical spot urging Arabs to reject suicide bombings.

Kuwaiti Telecom Company Zain Speaks Out Against Terrorism

The ad begins with a man making a bomb in a dark room, juxtaposed with scenes of joyous everyday life. Simple acts like the kick of a soccer ball, the kiss of a baby's foot, a bride's touch of a wedding table's chair, are highlighted with animated flowers.

Meanwhile, a child writes an essay in school, an open letter to suicide bombers: "I will tell God everything, that you've filled the cemeteries with our children and emptied our school desks, that you've sparked unrest and turned our streets into darkness. And that you've lied. God has full knowledge of the secrets of all hearts."

By the end of the essay, the bomber has left his home and gets on a bus. With his suicide vest exposed, he us faced with past victims of attacks. He dourly sings, "I bear witness that there is no God but Allah." A passenger holding a child stands up to confront him with warmth, singing in response: "You, who comes in the name of death. "He is the creator of life."

The bomber turns his gaze to a boy who resembles the five-year old who escaped an airstrike in Aleppo, Syria. The boy holds up the famous image of himself, and sings to bomber of a compassionate God, "The forgiving and forbearing who hurts not those who hurt him."

'Worship Your God With Love, Not Terror' 

The bomber is then seen outside the bus, surrounded by carnage and repeatedly challenged by fellow Arabs who explain who "God is greater" than. To one bloodied suit-clad man, God is greater "than those who hide what doesn't show." To a schoolteacher it's "those who obey without contemplation." The crowd swells, another man sings God is greater "than those lurking to betray us." One man looks at the camera silently, but is identified as an actual survivor of a Kuwaiti terrorist attack.

The bomber feels cornered as the crowd surrounds him and the music becomes more upbeat. "Worship your God with love, not terror. Be tender in your faith, tender not harsh. Confront your enemy with peace, not war. Persuade others with leniency, not force" the leader of the pack sings, holding out his hand to the bomber who had fallen. A white man is seen listening attentively to a cleric, in front of a sign that reads, "Let there be no compulsion in religion."

The music stops. The bomber falls to his knees, and appears to be ready to detonate his vest.

But instead of violence, we see fireworks. "Let us bomb violence with mercy" the singers resume. The wedding from the opening shots commences, and the actual surviving bride from a 2005 terrorist attack on her wedding reception is shown smiling at the newly married couple.

The final frame declares, "we will counter their attacks of hatred with songs of love. From now until happiness."

So far, three million YouTube viewers are sharing that message.

MH Awards Dynamically Priced & Partner Awards Changes
Malaysia Airlines has today announced changes to its Enrich frequent flier programs effective June 10, 2017.

Malaysia Airlines awards are priced dynamically entirely based on the ticket price. Partner and Oneworld award charts have been changed too making those much more expensive.

You can access Malaysia Airlines here.

Here’s examples that MH used on the email:


Just checked and you can get KUL-LGK business class ticket on Malaysia Airlines for $116. The base fare is $104 (no fuel surcharges). Would you pay this or 34K+ miles?

KUL-HKG business class return for the same dates in July was just $397 (seems to be rather low price) of which the base fare is $336.92. Would you rather pay 107K miles for this?

KUL-LHR for the same dates is $3,321.40 of which the base fare is $3055.39. The example price using miles is 240K+.

These prices were from ITA Matrix. At least if the first two examples are any indication, the Enrich to $ value could be around one third of a cent.

Partner Awards:

Partner Award Current

Partner Award New

Oneworld Award Current

Oneworld Award New

Here’s the small print:

Download (PDF, 371KB)

Note that it says that you cannot dynamically price awards on fare classes Q, O, G and Z. The Z is the lowest business class fare class and the others are economy ones. I believe that all my Malaysia Airlines issued have been on these.


Conclusion
Malaysia Airlines Enrich members should really evaluate if this essentially “cashback” program is right for them. The partner and Oneworld award charts have been decimated too.

Malaysia Airlines tries to have it here both ways. Claiming that all its own awards are priced dynamically while at the same time excluding the fare classes where likely most tickets are issued. Just ridiculous. Previously, economy class awards were complete waste of time with this program due to the fuel surcharges charged.

The partner and Oneworld award charts have been “enhanced” too making these awards very expensive using Enrich miles. Many routes now required anywhere from 50% to 100% more miles.

Anyone should take their Enrich miles and redeem before the June 20, 2017, devaluation date and then evaluate which program is right to credit Malaysia Airlines flights to (I credit them to BA).

Bubble Tea War (CHATIME v TEALIVE): La Kaffa’s version

So now you have heard Bryan Loo’s story. What about La Kaffa’s?
http://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2017/02/06/loob-takes-la-kaffa-to-task-over-raw-materials-in-chatime-products/

Since nothing was heard from them, we decided to do some investigative works and voila! We discovered an injunction was filed by La Kaffa in the Malaysian courts this week. We also subsequently discovered that there was an earlier dispute which has resulted in an arbitration matter filed in the Singapore International Arbitration Centre by La Kaffa.

As for the local suit, it was registered as Kuala Lumpur Originating Summons No. WA-24IP-3-02/2017 and an ad interim injunction was heard before the High Court Judge, Justice Wong Kian Kheong (who was the lawyer in Tun Dr Ling’s PKFZ case and also Abdul Razak’ lawyers in the Altantuya’s trial where Abdul Razak Baginda admitted to having an affair with Altantuya.)

No this is no conspiracy theory and let us not digress.

Coming back to the bubble tea war. We were made to understand that the Judge has directed Loob Holding to file an affidavit in reply to the allegations made against them but the High Court Judge did not allow a temporary injunction whilst parties exchange affidavits.

As of today, an affidavit in reply has yet to be filed. But in the interest of time we thought however the F&B community now must be anxious of what was the story behind so we combed through the documents filed in court in particular the affidavit and we found explosive allegations which include documentary and video evidences of alleged breaches.

In fact, the affidavit also goes to show that La Kaffa was accumulating evidence discreetly to an extent capturing extracts of the interview Bryan Loo gave to BFM recently.

Before we begin, let us look at the OS filed by LA Kaffa. In essence, La Kaffa has filed an injunction to:

• restrain Loob Holding and all his konco-konco (including its directors, spouses and immediately faily of its directors, and employees, whether directly or indirectly itself or themselves or through agents) from carrying on, procuring, causing, enabling, authorising and/or permitting any other business identical or similar to the “CHATIME” franchised business; and
• restrain Loob Holding and all his konco-konco as mentioned above to disclose and/or use confidential information of La Kaffa, including the operating mode, franchised concept, technologies, formulations, ingridients, programs and designs.

This is in light of the new found brand “Tealive” introduced by Loob.

So what were the grounds La Kaffa relied on and what are the actual allegations all about?

1. Loob Holding bought raw materials from 3rd party

According to the affidavit, it all started around January 2016 where LA Kaffa suspected something amiss when the order to the raw materials dropped despite an increase of revenue. The allegations were specific referring to milk tea powder, cocoa powder and polypropylene (PP) cups.

When there was no plausible explanation given by Loob, LA Kaffa decided to initiate its own investigation. They sent undercover representatives to various outlets in Malaysia and took evidence. In the course of doing that, they have video evidence showing the outlets were using an alleged CHATIME beverage cup which they labelled it as “fake CHATIME cup”.

The affidavit states that the authentic CHATIME cups should contain either “YM-500” or “YM-700” markings on the base of the cups and these markings are material confirming authenticity sourced through SCPP Ind Co Ltd.

LA KAFFA has then also sent various letters notifying such breach and the letters can be seen below:

Letter dated 12th May 2016

Letter dated 12 May 2016 – page 1

Letter dated 12 May 2016 – page 2

Letter dated 2nd August 2016

Page 1

Page 2

Page 3

Letter dated 3rd August 2016

Page 1

Page 2

Page 3

In the letter dated 20.9.2016, La Kaffa alleged that the sourcing of materials from 3rd party was made within the knowledge of Loob since they replied to La Kaffa and did not deny sourcing it from third party citing reasons “ it was inevitable that some of the key components will require local source from the readily available market in light of the competitive business environment.”

Page 1

La Kaffa alleged that the breach contravenes Article 7 of RERA and we enclose the actual clause below:

Article 7

2. Request to inspect books were denied

Since there was no convincing reason given by Loob, La Kaffa then wanted to exercised its rights to inspect and audit the books of Loob under Article 10(iv) of the Regional Exclusive Representation Agreement. (“RERA”)

However this was similarly delayed and rejected.

Article 10(iv)

3. There is an outstanding royalty due and owing by Loob Holding

Under the RERA, Loob was obliged to make full payment of the purchase of raw materials. From the papers we sighted, the outstanding sum was USD713,273.72 which was also the subject matter of the arbitration filed by La Kaffa in the Singapore International Arbitration Centre. The outstanding amount claimed was then reduced to USD644,536.32.

4. Non-competition

La Kaffa is also concerned with the use of its proprietary information being used by Loob to carry on its new business especially Bryan has openly announced that all 165 outlets will be converted to Tealive which is essentially running a similar business.

La Kaffa in essence relies on:
Section 27 of the Franchise Act 1988 which provides:

S.27 Prohibition against similar business

• A franchisee shall give a written guarantee to a franchisor that the franchisee, including its directors, the spouses and immediately family of the directors, and his employees shall not carry on any other business similar to the franchised business operated by the franchisee during the franchise term and for 2 years after the expiration or earlier termination of the franchise agreement
• The franchisee, including its directors, the spouses and immediate family of the directors, and his employees shall comply with the terms of the written guarantee given under Subsection (1)
• A person who fails to comply with subsection (1) or (2) commits an offence.

It is also interesting that Article 15 of the RERA has similar provision and we have extracted it below for your convenience.

Article 15

La Kaffa also alleged that it has provided various manuals and operation training manual of which these proprietary information is unique which La Kaffa has expended a vast amount of money and effort in developing it. Now that since RERA is terminated, Loob should not be using the confidential and proprietary information procured from La Kaffa.

This was corroborated by the fact that Bryan has in interview claimed that “the same team, the same people, both employees and partners, in place at the same outlets,….” Which La Kaffa finds it commercially improbable.

Article 16

Termination

Due to the breaches above, La Kaffa issued a notice of termination dated 5.1.2017.

All these allegations from La Kaffa surfaced for the first time in public domain and we are equally eager to see what Loob’s reply is. We will keep you posted.

Since the injunction mainly tries to restrain Loob from carrying out business under the non competition clause, we wanted to have a better idea what is it about and whether it is legally allowed.

We then contacted Lai Chee Hoe, who advises Rhombus Group and many other F&B brands and asked his opinion.

He replied that it is a precautionary step to avoid a licensee or franchisee from adopting the proprietary information obtained through the licensor / franchisor and make use of those information to carry out business not permissible under the Agreement. There is an increasing trend of such disputes in light of the bad turnover suffered by a lot of F&B brands. This has led to many licensees and/or franchisees considering to terminate its existing agreement to convert it to a similar business brand. In fact, he has 5 active disputes in hand.

As to what consists of “similar business” would really be a question of fact which includes, colour scheme, ingredients, sauces, food type, logo, food labelling and packaging.

source： http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https://blog.burgielaw.com/2017/02/23/bubble-tea-war-chatime-v-tealive-la-kaffas-version/
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