Sikap Tulen campaign launched July 26, 2007

THE Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry yesterday launched a campaign to cultivate the culture of “going original” in the attempt to weed out computer software piracy.

Its minister, Datuk Mohd Shafie Apdal, said the Sikap Tulen campaign would include a series of activities that would spur businesses and consumers to adopt the culture.

“Through this campaign, we want to reach out to as many people as possible, not only owners of companies and board of directors.

“We will conduct the campaign to spread knowledge and information to the public and talk to students as well,” he told reporters after launching the campaign and unveiling the campaign logo in Cyberjaya yesterday.

Shafie explained that the campaign had six components — Sikap Tulen Professional, Sikap Tulen Director, Sikap Tulen Company, Sikap Tulen Society, Sikap Tulen IT Mall and Ops Tulen.

He said that up to May, the ongoing Ops Tulen enforcement operation had resulted in the confiscation of 81,452 copies of software and 97 pieces of hardware valued at RM2 million in 15 cases.

Business Software Alliance Malaysia committee chairman Rama Tiwari said Vietnam had the highest percentage of software piracy in the world, at 88 per cent.

This was followed by Indonesia (at 85 per cent), China (82 per cent), India (71 per cent), Malaysia (60 per cent), South Korea (43 per cent) and Taiwan (41 per cent), he said.

Harry Potter fans don’t mind paying more July 26, 2007

PRICE war or not, hardcore Harry Potter fan Zaid Ahmad Husni, 23, did not mind paying more for the seventh and final instalment of J. K Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Zaid, a graduate, was spotted buying the most talked-about book at an MPH outlet in the city by The Malay Mail yesterday.

“I don’t mind paying a little more for convenience,” he said.

Zaid, a huge Potter fan, said he had never missed a book from J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter series. Accompanied by his brother, Huzir, Zaid said he was looking forward to getting the book.

MPH Bookstore (M) Sdn Bhd operations manager Zaffri Hassan said yesterday said he was optimistic that sales would pick up in the next few days.

“Since opening our doors this morning, our outlets had received promising response.”

He added that the Harry Potter books sold at their bookstores may now appeal more to the general readers, as opposed to true blue Potter fans.

When asked if there were any regrets over their decision to pull the book off their shelves at the eleventh hour last Saturday, Zaffri said that there were no regrets. He added that the interests of booksellers should be protected.

“Hypermarkets, which are selling the book at RM69.90, are selling it at a loss. We cannot afford to sell below the cost price.”

A similar price war happened in Britain as hypermarkets there had also decided to sell the book at a lower price.

He said this had forced independent bookstores in Britain to stop selling the books.

Controversy erupted here on the eve of the worldwide launch of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows.

A price war over the recommended retail price of the title between three of Malaysia’s largest booksellers and several hypermarkets yielded some surprises.

In an unprecedented move, MPH Bookstores (M) Sdn Bhd, Popular Book Co (M) Sdn Bhd and Times The Bookshop Pte Ltd declared on Friday that the Harry Potter title would not be sold at any of their stores.

The three bookshops had claimed that the title’s local distributor, Penguin Books Malaysia, had placed the recommended price at RM109.90.

On Monday, the three bookstores issued a joint statement that they had resolved the matter with the distributors and were offering a 20 per cent discount on the book to customers who make any other purchase, and 25 per cent of the price for members.

Readers who have paid in full, will get a RM15 book voucher upon collecting their books, while those who have paid half the price will have RM15 deducted from the sale price.

Penguin managing director Eddy Teo confirmed that books sold at RM69.90 were being sold at a loss.

He said the public should understand that bookstores don’t make much profit as their main source of income is only books, unlike hypermarkets.

Honey deal goes sour July 26, 2007

THE next time you think your house is a bit cramped, spare a thought for 68-year-old Lew.

The herbal teahouse owner, from Sungai Buloh, has to share her home with 16 huge barrels, each weighing 50 kg, of pure honey and royal jelly, all because of a business deal gone wrong.

She claims her troubles began after she struck a deal with a man, known as Ajis, who was her honey supplier for the past five years.

She said on June 26, Ajis told her that he wanted to sell honey in bulk to a Singaporean by the name of Steven Yap.

“Ajis said Yap was one of his regular customers and has a factory in Batam, from which he exports honey to Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan.

“Ajis asked for a favour. He said he had no capital to start the business and suggested that I buy honey in bulk from him. I could then sell it to Yap at a higher price,” he said.

Lew agreed to the deal. According to the agreement, she would buy honey from him at RM1,100 per barrel and sell it to Yap at RM2,700 per barrel.

Ajis, she said, had asked for an unspecified amount of commission from the sales.

“It seemed like a good deal so I took the opportunity,” she said.

Four days after she and Ajis entered into an agreement, Yap called her and placed an order for 15 barrels of honey. An additional barrel was thrown in for free.

On July 9, a man by the name of Hidayat, believed to be Ajis’s brother, delivered the huge consignment to Lew.

She then settled the payment of RM16,500.

“I called Yap and told him that the goods were ready for collection. Yap told me he was in Taiwan and would collect it the following day (July 9).

“I became anxious as days turned to weeks. He never showed up,” she said, adding that she was unable to contact him.

To make matters worse, all efforts to contact Ajis failed.

Lew admitted that she had never met Yap and had only dealt with him through the telephone.

As a result, Lew is now left with barrels of honey and no buyer. She sought the help of MCA Public Services and Complaint Department.

Lew has little idea on what to do with her honey consignment.

“I have the goods,” she sighed. “But what am I supposed to do with so much honey?”