You cringe now because you can see this. But most of the time you order your food and hope for its speedy delivery. Like the defeated Menteri Besar we had Semua-nya ok! covers a multitude of sins. If you be a busy-body....just go to where your food is being prepared and you may not want to visit your favorite outlet again. Have you ever made a concerted effort to check on the cleanliness of the outlet, how the mynmarese or indonesian server serves you your bowl of noodles....ever seen his/her fingers sneaking into your bowl? Ever paid any notice to the grooming of your food-provider? Hair, finger-nails and filthy apron? Semua-nya OK....standard practice mah!
BUT STANDARD MALAYSIAN APATHY ALLOWS THESE TO HAPPEN IN THE KOPI TIAMS AND THE MAMAK JOINTS.
BUT CAN WE ALLOW SUCH APATHY TO COME FROM ESTABLISHED FOOD AND BERVERAGE GIANTS?
BUT IT IS HAPPENING.....ONLY THING IS THAT YOU DON'T SEE THE DARKER SIDE OF THESE FACTORY OUTLETS.
THESE PHOTOS WERE TAKEN BY THE PETALING JAYA HEALTH AUTHORITIES WHEN SENIOR CITIZEN EDWARD SKADING COMPLAINED ABOUT A CONTAMINATED TIN OF TEAPOT CONDENSED MILK. THE MANAGEMENT WENT FOR THE KILL AND EVEN RECRUITED THEIR TEAM OF LAWYERS TO SCARE EDWARD.
LOOK INTENTLY AND CLOSELY AT THE PICS.
ALL THE BEST EDWARD.
Food hygiene in Malaysia is rooted in a third-world mould spiked with excessive greed for quick profits.
ReplyDeleteNothing good can come out of it despite having the Petronas Twin Towers, the KLIA or even Putrajaya.
We have run deep into the alley of having breath-taking facades accompanied by filty drainage, filty personal hygeine and a total disregard for well-being.
Just walk through the hundreds of eateries along Tuanku Abdul Rahman - a stone's throw from DBKL. Or how about the many outlets maintained by the various Majlis Perbandaran?
This then is the TRUE Malaysia.
If we were to post the photos of the thousands of eateries on the web, chances are more than three-quarters of the nation's eateires and food factories will be shut down.
How did all these happen?
Aiiyah, ask the authorities lah! They will tell you, "Tak suka migrate lah."
Yet many a politician had screamed that Malaysia is 'world-class'.
Frankly sir, you will agree with me that we had seen better cleanliness in the 60s when there were no spanking buildings and 'great' expressways. La Salle Sentul was just one such fine example.
Zorro...I have seen many a worker in the mamak joint come out of the jamban without washing hands...maybe their pee pee lifts itself out to take a leak and they don't need to wash it...and their hands?
ReplyDeleteAnd Malaysians too are to blame..we lah...I notice people dont blink an eye when buying food at stalls and just shoo away the lalat with their hand and continuing to tapau...
We dont make noise...they dont give a shit...and yes...just take a look at the fingernails of our roti canai makers...tu yang sedap...sama ja...restoran melayu, cina, india, mamak...same MALAYSIAN mentality..that is one thing we are united in...filthyness...heh heh...
22 years of tutelage under the Grand Master of the Facade has taught Malaysians that the glitzy trappings of success and wealth are more important than actual substance. Look at Dayabumi (RM22 million monument, very pretty, but only good to photograph from a distance); KLCC Twin Towers (if not for Petronas being forced to make it their HQ, it would be less than a quarter utilized; and if you've ever walked through the endless subterranean corridors connecting one section with another, you'd think you were in an abandoned mining tunnel, with water dripping and rats scurrying around, walls cracking). That's right, in Bolehland donning a RM6,000 suit will redeem even a common thug!
ReplyDeleteDear Sir,
ReplyDeleteWithout prejudice. I believe F & N must have tried to settle the matter with Edward.
And I suspect Edward has no intentions in settling the matter or is simply asking for too much!
The fact that these pictures appeared showed that Edward must have been on a tour of the factory at the invitation of the management.
What puzzles me were Edward's "detailed findings"? I suspect Edward was at the factory not so much of trying to understand/appreciate the industrial process but to gather further information which may lend credit to his claims or to discredit the company.
Anybody who has been to a food processing plant would conclude his findings were so general.It borders on "revenge".
Or does he expect it to be like a electronics component manufacturing environment. Sterile.
And I can understand why the company has resorted to legal actions.
Dear Zorro. I have dealt with people on product complaints and i believe i do understand the situation.
Thank you
phang
Phang..
ReplyDeleteinstead of hitting at edward, what do you suggest he do?
I have not seen any suggestions
Phang....I only had one line that wished Edward best of luck. I gave the link to Edward's blog to readers to make their own to gather more information and for them to make whatever their stand...in support of Edward or in support of F&N.
ReplyDeleteThose pictures depict a factory where hospital-clean environment is not a priority. As a food processisng organisation CLEANLINESS IS A PRIORITY. You expect a dust-free-hospital-clean and sterile environment as a prerequisite requirement for a food processing plant. I did not produce the photos of the cobwebs and ants evident in the plant. I put up this posting not to defend nor to get support for Edward's campaign. The message in this posting is starkly simple: Cleanliness must not be compromised in food processing organisation.
I am not privy to Edward's claim and as such it begs no mention in my posting. I just wanted my readers to take a good look at those photos and then ask themselves should such transgressions in basic housekeeping be permitted.
Phang, in my consulting work with clients, I urge them to welcome complaints. We improve if we work on complaints. Loyal customers complain because they want you to improve. If you do not address their complaints the competitor is just across the road.
I worked in a tire factory, where the cement floor is polished and vacuumed round the clock. Why? Contamination can cause a defective tire. A defective tire can result in loss of lives. What more a food processing entity.
Hi Zorro.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for this post. You are one sincere person.
Yes, I have made various complaints to two consumers’ NGOs. Dato Dr Jacob George from CASSA on the 7th April 2008 and Ms Yesotha / Ms Ratna from NCCC on the 27th March, 2008. So far I haven’t got any feedbacks from all of them. Probably they are busy with other cases and hopefully they will do something for me soon.
Dear Phang,
ReplyDeletePlease take a tour of my blog http://consumersrighteousness.blogspot.com/ and you will have a clearer understanding about everything. That’s why I posted all the documents in the open so that no one will be misinformed, but now I am being sued for doing so. What a joke.
The pictures about the plant was independently taken by the Petaling District Health Office investigation officers and not me. The certified investigation report (with the pictures) was forwarded by the Pejabat Perdagangan Dalam Negeri Dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna Selangor. You can read it here http://consumersrighteousness.blogspot.com/2008/07/petaling-district-health-office-report.html which is in Bahasa Malaysia. What you are seeing in Zorro blog is a translated English version which was translated by me.
For your info, I have never been to F&N Dairies plant even when they invited me, I rejected. It would have been a waste of time for a common man like me to visit their plant because how would I know if their plant is up to quality cleanness standards when I am not trained for it.
F&N Dairies have not explained anything sincerely and now they are hiding behind their lawyer’s skirt. Why? Because they know they need some professional liars to get them out from trouble. If everything or even anything in my blog is false, I am sure I will be in jail by now. Don’t you think so, after 5 months? I even made various police reports to protect my honour, but I didn’t post them because it would have been wrong to interfere with police investigation.
Even after the release of the independent investigation report, F&N Dairies are totally denying all justifiable facts and now they are taking me to court because they are trying to portray that I am a liar, I made this story up and I got bad intentions towards their organisation. Why civil sue?! Better charge me for criminal act lah!! How can I have bad intentions when I am still a loyal customer of F&N products and had been for many years. The only product I am boycotting now is the Tea Pot brand.
For your info, I don’t blame the whole F&N Group for this incident, but I blame the manufacturing plant, which happens to be owned and managed by F&N Dairies.
So if I am a liar, than the Government agencies who conducted the investigation is also deem as one. Why don’t they sue them for providing false reports? Also, why don’t they sue Berita Harian for exposing another same incident in langkawi. Why? Why? Why?....why me? Because I am powerless and poor, right. So senang makan lah. Probably they dislike that I am vocal and they know I will fight them to the end with no fear.
Come on Phang, do you think I want money? and I am not satisfied because they didn’t pay me. If money was the issue, they would have already paid me long time ago or even exposed my intentions. What I am requesting, they are finding it hard to fulfil. Why? Because they have many hidden skeleton in their closet.
So now, the only way to shut me up, is take me to court and threaten me with whatever sue and injunction they can produce and that’s what their lawyer is being paid for. My only concern is that they don’t use any C4 on me, ha ha ha, but I don’t believe they would.
On top of all this, what do you think about such statement coming from F&N Dairies?
“we are not liable for damaged products in the marketplace.” wrote by the GM Mr Edward Liew.
To me, it clearly shows that they don’t value their customers. They are not concern when you get sick or even die eating their bad products because they have already declared that they got nothing to do with it. Is this their principle? If this is what F&N is all about, I will keep away.
Dear Zorro,
ReplyDeleteSo long as we have people like Phang who find lame excuses to divert the attention from important and urgent matters, people in authority would not do anything to remedy the shortcomings.
Instead of speculating whether Edward was looking for 'revenge' it would be better to just clean up their act and if the situation warrants any compensation, just pay up.
Food and beverage processing plants HAVE NO EXCUSES WHATSOEVER BUT TO KEEP THEIR PREMISES SPOTLESSLY CLEAN AND STERILE.
everytime i hear the word come on "sue me"
ReplyDeletei just can't stop laughing
in tamil it means something like piss on me
Dear Zorro and Edward,
ReplyDeleteAs a milk consumer, this highlight is most appreciative and I am sure other readers as well. Now I know what brand to shy away. Suggest more highlight and photos with names of eateries to forewarn the consumers
Dear Zorro & Edward(my sympathies),
ReplyDeleteGuess by now we all know why no action was taken against the "giant" and all suits where thrown against the little man i.e.Edward !
Of course Edwards complaint would have prompted a file to be opened by the consumers group but a visit by the "authorities"..(read, servants of the government) would have been "sorted-out" by F& N immediately in the form of "greasing-the-hand". Face it Zorro these "big companies" have a way to "kow-thim" problems like these and also with a lot of help from the likes of that machai idiot Phang !
All problems are solved with money...and Phang is probably the bagman for either lawyers or this big company !Semuanya ok !
Let's give this issue as much coverage in all the media available and help one individual get his justice !
erhh...so the lawyers are Skrine ah? hmmmm... !
Dear Zorro
ReplyDeleteYou have highlighted something that I believe most people take for granted or choose not to take notice of.
Believe me I have my fair share of stomach upset after having eaten food from eateries in KL especially.
My most severe encounter happened just over two years ago. I had gone with two other friends for 'banana leaf' curry rice at a well known Indian curry house, opposite the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur. Less than 30 mins later I had to hurry my way to find a toilet. The next two hours I was in and out the toilet for no less than six time. Big sh*t. When you eat Indian Curry (at such eatry) be prepared for the Hurry!
Two months ago I was in Sri Lanka. While I was out sightseeing one morning in a place called Kandy, I noticed some activities going on and decided to check it out. This was what I saw: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bandarsungailong/sets/72157605876332801/
The problem is: most owners, in Malaysia (& elsewhere too, I suppose) think that hygiene is something inconvenient. Their premises would most often be strewn with rubbish here and there. Rats, cockroaches, flies and other rodents can often time be seen around the place. Rat's urine and faeces can do severe damage to a person's health to the extend of being fatal. Yet many do not seem to care.
It is very sad that not much is being done. It just a matter of time when mass food poisonings and even deaths due to such attitudes will happen frequently.
Thank you ladies and gentleman. No hard feelings.
ReplyDeleteComplaints - Definitely. No Doubts. I would LISTEN to them Zorro.
Am I hitting at Edward? Sincerely NO. I apologize if it sounds as if I am.
I have dealt with many such cases before. I have been threatened many times by consumers who deemed they have got a windfall when they are in possession of some defective products. From butchers to lawyers and pseudo lawyers. ( I have since quit my job many years ago )
I have no suggestions to offer. I have no solutions (ref artchan) It has reached a stage where we got to let the law takes its course.
If it is all about compensations and cleaning up their acts as suggested by anon 10.41 then we will not be reading this post and its comments. The complainant will have no issue to even blog about it! And with so many pressing issues social & political affecting our daily routines there should be more reasons to completely divert our attentions away from this teapot issue.
Finally - I wish Edward all the best in his endeavors (crusade). Good luck.
Phang
shanghaistephen said :
ReplyDelete"machai idiot Phang !All problems are solved with money...and Phang is probably the bagman for either lawyers or this big company."
....hahahahahahha....sips a dram of solera reserve neat........i wish what you said is nothing but the truth .....and my next sip may perhaps be a Glenfiddich 18 yrs.......no ice please! thank you
phang
this is very true in most food establishment, From Upmarket Restaurants in Hotel, to Upmarket Standalone Restaurants to the Hawkers. If you know what is the condition in the kitchen you will not want to eat in most places
ReplyDeleteYo Phang, I like that.....a dram of solera reserve neat...and a Glenfiddich 18 yrs.......no ice please! I like that...but one cube ice please. You need to come fish with us at the Fisherman's Wharf, Tmn Desa. The fishermen there dont always drink like a fish....they sip good malts. Cheers buddy.Do I have to cast my line long to bait you to the Wharf?
ReplyDeleteWhy is Edward indignant? I WOULD BE INDIGNANT!
ReplyDeleteFrom a HUGE company with years and years of operating food processing business??
HELLO??
We should not just EXPECT people like Nestle and F&N to be clean, we demand that it be clean!
We can expect that Tok&Aunty milk might well be contaminated and produced in a foul place but F&N?
The simplest way of making those top clowns working at F&N "pay" is make them
Feed themselves, their toddlers and kids, their mothers & fathers their own produce everyday for a year
Ofcourse they can answer you they will feed their mother in law with this product
HAHAHAHAHA...then you know the answer lah!
Why is it ppl think money is the only reason causes will be championed?
Hi Zorro
ReplyDeleteI appreciate that you highlighted this case. I’m puzzled why an established company like F&N appears to bungle its damage control exercise.
As consumers, we expect errant companies to offer an immediate apology and a strong assurance on remedial measures. Certainly, not sending us a bouquet of legal papers!
On another note, the picture that you used at the top of this post is striking. I still know people who run pavement eateries with questionable hygiene, yet they still get their customers.
I’ll surely visit Mr Skading’s blog for an insight into the case.
Zorro, sad but true, food hygiene here is terrible. Its a matter of compliant, and some owners of factories, restaurants sometimes pretend not to know whats highly important here, consumers health. food-handling, how critical it is to maintain high standard of hygiene.
ReplyDeleteThe ppl in charge(be it the municipal/city council/health authorities) attitudes left much to be desired-just not a matter of close one eye only, its both eyes shut, but both palms open. Thats why the tidak-apa attitude of us consumers (afraid to complain, too tiresome to complain/too lazy) making the big guys swollen-headed, above the law, so to speak, churning/pumping toxins/poison into our bodies. Our consumers association is just like a 52 year old tiger, toothless and can't roar at all.