What is New in June 2010?

To make the website better~

Most people ask me to predict the future. Unfortunately even for Zhuge Liang (3 Kingdom), he can only predict 100% accurately in hours/days/months but definitely not years!

However, based on general observation with the news of Prudential-bid for AIA Asia, BP disaster off Louisiana and Germany's impact in European market (not to mention Greek financial tragedy), we are definitely not out of the woods yet since the major money crunch experienced in 2008/2009.

What more - with multiple disasters especially with Iceland volcano's eruption, Louisiana's oil disaster (and on our own backyard, Singapore-Johore oil spill) and lesser felt, Guatemala's Agatha Tropical Storm - created major headaches for the policy-makers and who is to pick up what bills.

Today, as I sit here in the famous red-and-yellow omnipresence McDonald's (what fate is in store for this giant), I read in AFP news, that China's State Council for the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee, that the property woes are more severe than that of US and measures had been taken to prevent the growth of asset bubbles.

So where do we stand tomorrow?

My guess is just as good as yours. After all, Zhuge Liang left us some 1800 years ago.

From Erasmus

Jailed 14 years and fined 600 million yuan for 0.00002% worth of wealth used in Bribery

By Agence France-Presse, Updated: 5/18/2010

Tycoon, once China's richest man, jailed for graft

A Chinese court on Tuesday jailed the founder of home appliance giant GOME -- once the country's richest man -- for 14 years for bribery, insider trading and illegal business dealings, state media said.

Tycoon, once China's richest man, jailed for graft

Huang Guangyu -- a high school dropout who built what is now the country's largest electronics and appliance chain -- was also ordered to pay a fine of 600 million yuan (88 million dollars), Xinhua news agency reported.

Authorities seized another 200 million yuan in assets from Huang, once known as the "Price Butcher" for GOME's low prices.

Huang, in his 40s, was named China's richest man in October 2008 with an estimated net worth of 6.3 billion dollars by the Hurun Report magazine.

He was detained and placed under investigation a month later, and resigned as GOME director and chairman in January 2009. He was held for more than a year without charge, and tried in April in a Beijing court.

He stood accused of bribing five government officials with 4.56 million yuan in cash and properties from 2006 to 2008, Xinhua reported previously.

The bribes were offered in exchange for "improper benefits" for Huang's GOME Electrical Appliances Holdings and Beijing Pengrun Real Estate Development Company, a private equity group which Huang headed, the reports said.

China's Securities Regulatory Commission previously said he was suspected of manipulating trading in two mainland-listed companies.

Before his arrest, Huang was revered in the media as a model entrepreneur who rose from nothing by successfully capitalising on China's decades of economic reforms.

After dropping out of school, he started building his fortune in his teens, running a roadside stall in Beijing where he sold radios and gadgets purchased from factories near his hometown in south China's Guangdong province.

GOME Group is now China's largest electronics and appliance chain with more than 1,200 stores in more than 200 cities.

He previously topped the Hurun Report's rankings of China's richest in 2004 and 2005.

Trading in Hong Kong-listed GOME was suspended in November 2008 after Huang was placed under investigation.

But it resumed in June last year after private equity firm Bain Capital invested at least 417 million US dollars in the form of convertible bonds and shareholdings in GOME in a bid to rescue its business and tarnished reputation.

A string of top business and government leaders have reportedly been implicated in Huang's case, including the sacked former mayor of the southern city of Shenzhen, Xu Zongheng.

Two top police officials, including a former deputy minister of public security, were also detained on suspicion of bribery in connection with the case, reports have said.

One of GOME's wholly owned subsidiaries, GOME Appliance, was charged earlier this year with bribery in connection with the charges against Huang.

GOME said it was "highly concerned" about the case and pledged to "actively defend against the accusation at the subsidiary".

But it said the damage to its operations would be limited, with the worst-case scenario being a fine.

ISO 22000:2005 FAQ (English / Malay)

International Standards for Business, Government and Society

ISO 22000:2005 FOOD SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points)

GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice)

Introduction: ISO 22000 is about Food Safety, HACCP is about ensuring control of important parts of your food factory and GMP is the practice of maintaining clean-lifestyle within your company.

Pengenalan: ISO 22000 adalah mengenai Keselamatan Makanan, HACCP adalah untuk memastikan kawalan dari bahagian-bahagian penting dari kilang makanan dan GMP adalah amalan mempertahankan gaya hidup bersih dalam syarikat anda.

How ISO 22000 benefit society?

ISO provides a standard way of making products per your customer order or wants. This standard is accepted within your food industry. ISO 22000 also allows companies to compete as equals all around the world.

Bagaimana ISO 22000 boleh memanfaat masyarakat umum?

ISO adalah satu-satu cara untuk membuat produk mengikut tempahan atau apa yang hanya dikehendaki oleh pelanggan-pelanggan anda mengikut piawaian rasmi antarabangsa “Standard”. Standard ini diterima secara seluruh dalam industri makanan sedunia. ISO 22000 juga membolehkan syarikat untuk bersaing secara sama taraf di seluruh dunia.

How ISO 22000 benefits consumers?

For consumers: - conformity of products and services to International Standards -provides assurance about: -quality -safety –reliability.

Bagaimana manfaat pelanggan ISO 22000:?

Untuk pelanggan - kesesuaian produk dan perkhidmatan mengikut Piawaian Antarabangsa memberikan jaminan tentang:- kualiti- keselamatan-kebolehpercayaan.

CASE #1: HIGH-5 BREAD (EQUIPMENTS AND HANDLING RAW MATERIALS)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/68192126@N00/sets/72157594269553740/

CASE #2: NESTLE in International News (2010)

CHICAGO - Nestle USA will begin using heat-treated flour in its Toll House refrigerated cookie dough, months after the company temporarily pulled the product off of store shelves after the Food and Drug Administration found evidence of E. coli contamination.

The unit of Nestle SA said it will halt production at its Danville, Virginia, plant from Wednesday until January 25 in order convert the plant to use heat-treated flour.

In June, Nestle recalled the cookie dough after the FDA said it was investigating possible E.coli related illnesses that might have been related to the eating of raw cookie dough.

How ISO 22000 benefits authorities?:

Everyone has the same way of doing business – therefore easy for auditors to train and check on food processes are in accordance with Government food acts.

Bagaimana ini boleh manfaat ISO 22000 kerajaan?:

Setiap syarikat mempunyai cara yang sama menjalani perniagaan - adalah mudah bagi juruaudit untuk melatih dan menyemak tentang proses pemakanan samada patuh dengan kehendak Akta-akta kerajaan yang sedia ada mengenai makanan.

How ISO 22000 benefit developing countries like Malaysia?

For developing countries, ISO 22000 allows business people to conduct sales and marketing in developed and other countries in Europe, US and Middle-East which will require solid proofs on your general audit conducted.

Bagaimana ISO 22000 manfaat negara-negara membangun seperti Malaysia?

Bagi peniaga-peniaga dari negara-negara membangun, ISO 22000 membuka peluang untuk pemasaran baru ke negara-negara di Eropah, Amerika dan Timur Tengah yang memerlukan bukti-bukti kukuh yang syarikat anda telah menjalani audit umum.

Conclusions: Minimise future problems. Find ways to do business better. More opportunities to market businesses. Meet Government requirements.

Kesimpulan: Mengurangkan masalah di masa depan. Mendatangkan hasil perniagaan melalui cara-cara terbaik. Lebih banyak peluang untuk perniagaan pemasaran. Memenuhi kehendak Kerajaan.

New Year 2010

Morning Breakfast

I was at a coffeeshop when I noticed a table of Indian men seated where a well-dressed looking good in MU T-shirt aged 50ish, leading a talk (could be business, MLM or social) to the group of 3 stout men of mid-30s. To his immediate right, was a young male who looked to be in his early to mid-20s.

What was apparent that the early morning breakfast discussion was of value and great interest. The young man perhaps was either disinterest or there was a message on his phone for him.

At one point, after the young man put away his phone, he chipped in the conversation. The elderly man not short of interested listeners said this, "Boy, ...........". The "boy" was taken aback, I was taken aback.

The manner was said by this stylish elder man and the body language provided me that we are still very Asian in the task we do each day. The boy - can be anybody you know in public.

Bill Gates - 1st company at the age of 13. Microsoft at the age of 20.

Larry Page (25) and Sergey Brin (24) started Google Inc. in 1998.

Suhas Gopinath (14) started Global Inc. and recognised as the world youngest successful entrepreneur.

There are of course plenty more....

It doesn't matter who is the boy, its how you say it and you never know who is on the other end of the stick. Boy, what a big slip to start your 2010.

Evening Dinner

I went to a recommended bistro (one and only) at the New World Park, Penang. I got to know the proprietor a long time back when I approached him for business. So this was kind of our first meeting after a year's absence. Met him with a handshake and a new year greeting. The establishment was in full swing and I managed to get a small tidy table for myself.

Looked around, the head waiter was extremely busy. Not taking orders but white-washing the juniors when I was looking for someone to take my orders. He told me with his palm, to wait, at less than 1m away. So I waited. When he came to take the order, I somehow felt the service was not up to my mark. Again, its the tone of voice, the body action.

Fillet mignon, cooked medium. Excellent stuff and compliments to the chef.

Somehow, the bad waitering kept playing in my mind even though I read my book on Peter Drucker's biography. Midst in my wonderful steak, the head waiter dropped over and quizzed how was my steak. "Delish...". He smiled. Eh... the man actually smile? And poke up a signal of the ol' thumb-up indicating Great.

Now... considering the whole environment, its a New Year, the full-house, waiters here there, I would dare say, I was wrong to early judge the man. In organisational behaviour we call it"Halo Effect". Meaning to say, we meet a lot individuals, we see the good and the bad and we figure we know everything and interpret the positive and negative well enough based on 1 single trait or appearance.

This gentleman, I have seen him many times but never this close-up and never served up by him, I must admit he did his work well.

So if you ever give a thumbs-down to a place, a service - maybe once, perhaps its worth the while to check why people always gave good comments about it when you or I weren't there.

I was there on the 1st day of 2010 and I can tell you, the second time - well-worth more than just a steak.

Happy New Year!

Erasmus Koay

Servicing Your Customers and You

FSC Chain of Custody Consultancy

Dear readers,

Coming 2010, we will be promoting the Green, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)'s Chain of Custody certification process.

Why should I become FSC certified?

Being FSC certified shows that you have complied with the highest social and evironmental standards on the market. As public concern continues to grow about the state of the world's forest and timber resources increases, FSC provides you with a simple solution to complex environemtnal and social issues.

The FSC label is an effective way to get public and consumer recognition of your social responsible practices. This gives you credibility with customers and business partners as well as financial institutions and watchdog organisations.

The FSC certification helps to protect your brand and reputation and it allows you to access to highly environmentally sensitive markets. Increasingly, governments and other organisations specfy FSC certified products in their purchasing policies. And because FSC has the only globally valid standard, it is also the only standard that is no barrier to trade under the Worlld Trade Organisation (WTO).

In related issues as published on 12 December 2009;

The US Luxury Packaging company PAK 2000 has pledged to release a new paper policy giving preferences to FSC certified and recycled products in line with a growing trend embraced by glamorous fashion companies including the Gucci Group, Tiffany's & Co., Hugo Boss, Ferragamo and the H&M Group.

To know more about FSC COC, kindly give us a call or drop us your contact at mienspg@gmail.com.

CEO: Find Opportunities in Times of Crisis

Port of Spain: Going against the grain and finding opportunities in a crisis sitaution are important criteria towards establishing a successful business, Malaysian businessman Datuk Vijay Eswaran told the Commonwealth Business Forum.

The Executive Chairman and CEO of the QJ Group of Companies said a look at the Fortune 500 companies showed that almost half of them began after the first and second World Wars - formed in the midst of destruction and in the midst of havoc and chaos.

He said the real challenge in running a business was that in every opportunity, one has to undergo a crisis.

"So even in innovation there has to be challenges and a price that has to be paid for the process. The first thing we have to learn, is to go against the grain."

"We have been coached, and structured, and our thinking and parameters have been driven into granite, so to speak. Innovation begins in looking in the other way."

The Star, Nation, pg 4.

Malaysia issues China's ICBC local banking licence

Malaysia's finance ministry has issued a commercial banking licence to China's largest bank, the country's central bank announced Friday.

The licence for the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited (ICBC) follows the signing of an arrangement between the China Banking regulatory Commission and Bank Negara agreed to in the early part of the year, it said in a statement.

The issuance of the licence comes a week after both central banks signed a deal to increase cooperation in banking supervision during a state visit to Malaysia by Chinese president Hu Jintao.

In April, Najib announced measures to liberalise the country's banking sector, allowing nine new banking and insurance licences and easing foreign ownership limits for non-commercial banks.

Malaysia has 13 locally incorporated foreign banks, including HSBC and Citibank, and three foreign Islamic banking operators. No new foreign commercial banks have won approval to operate here for more than a decade.

The banking and insurance industry represented 11 percent of Malaysia's GDP in 2008, compared with 9.2 percent in 2000, and employed 140,000 people.

Excerpts from By Agence France-Presse, Updated: 11/20/2009

http://news.malaysia.msn.com/regional/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3712955