Brit Doesn't Have to Dream Cadbury Dream Anymore

A sweet-toothed Brit who was in transit at KLIA last month, discovered one of the lost gems of the UK confectionery world – the Cadbury Dream. 

For Rebekah Grassby, also known as AnnieIWillKnow on Reddit, the chance discovery of her long-gone beloved treat thousands of miles away from home – led her to snap a pic of the choc bar and blast the happy news on the social news aggregation, web content rating and discussion website. 

“Found in Kuala Lumpur International Airport – you can still buy Cadbury’s Dream bars in Malaysia!” she had written on Reddit – and which promptly sent fellow Britons into a choc-frenzy! 

She even confessed: “It was an outrageous £5 for a bar, but I couldn't resist”. The temptation of the creamy bar must have been too great. I know how it feels!

Anyway, the post was flooded with dozens of comments, with many Redditors desperate to get their hands on one of the bars. 

Better still, Malaysia Airports and Eraman Malaysia decided to send Grassby RM350 worth of Cadbury Dream chocolates. 

“It must be some of the best money I have ever spent on the Dream bar!” she wrote in her thank you note after she received the sweet news. 

A really nice gesture from us! 

FYI, the Dream bar was launched in the UK in 2002 but was taken off the shelves because of poor sales. It has been reported that white chocolate lovers have since called for it to be restocked and some even went as far as starting a petition, UK’s Daily Mail had reported.

For now, at least, Cadbury Dream fans in the UK can rest easy knowing that their favourite chocolate bar is only one flight away. 

On Sunday, in Melbourne, Low Wee Wern (right) captured her third title in a row at the Australian Open when she defeated Hana Ramadan 11-6, 11-9, 10-12, 11-6 in what’s becoming a fairy tale comeback for the Penangite. 

“Three out of three wins is something I’ll remember for a long time”, said Low. 

A treble! Wow, wow, wow!!!

Porky Chocolates are Porky No More

The issue about the porky Cadbury chocolates is going to confuse Malay-Muslims even more. 

Yesterday, the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Jamil Khir Baharom who is in charge of Islamic affairs, said tests carried out by the only lab accredited by Malaysia's Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) on 11 samples of Cadbury dairy milk hazelnut and Cadbury dairy milk roast almond showed that they did not have any traces of porcine DNA. 

So, Muslims can now consume Cadbury chocolates without fear. 

One party said there was non-halal DNA in the said products. Ten days later, another party disputed the claim. 

Who to believe? What to believe?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image credit: http://www.theworldofchinese.com/2014/06/bamboo-panda-exhibition-opens-in-shanghai/
 

One hundred panda bears made of recycled bamboo are on display at a Shanghai exhibition called "1st Panda" (June 02-08, 2014) – before proceeding on a nationwide tour of 32 other cities in China.

The purpose is to raise awareness of the decrease in panda numbers as well as the importance of environmental protection. 

Ridhuan Tee Rants Against The "Ultra Kiasu"

The fool has struck again! 

In his Sinar Harian column yesterday, Ridhuan Tee Abdullah (left) had demanded Putrajaya shut down Cadbury following the discovery that two of its products contained porcine DNA. He wanted tough action to be taken against the company to teach a lesson to the "ultra kiasu”. 

"Ultra kiasu" is Ridhuan’s favorite euphemism for those deemed as going against the Malay-Muslims. 

Specifically, he asked for Cadbury’s business license to be revoked. He claimed that Malaysia will not be bankrupt if it shuts down the chocolate factory. 

In the same write-up, Ridhuan also called on Muslims to boycott eateries run by non-Muslims to ensure that they did not end up consuming food which might be contaminated by porcine DNA. 

Ridhuan said based on his previous experience in rearing pigs and eating pork before he converted to Islam, porcine oil was among the "best" ingredients to be turned into seasoning and stabilizers compared with other oils and fats. 

Ridhuan said the best way to avoid any possibility of consuming pork or any of its related products was to just frequent food premises owned by Muslims. He said he couldn’t understand why Muslims are “excited about going to non-Muslim food premises” although they might not display the halal logo. 

He said: “Look for Muslim food that is guaranteed halal. Whether it is delicious or not is a question of putting it in our mouths. When it goes to the stomach, the deliciousness dissipates”. 

In other words, his advice is to eat to sustain oneself, not to enjoy. I think it's best that he insists Malays avoid mixing with non-Muslims in order that the former is not sullied in any way by pork-eating Chinese. Haram lah, these Chinese!

The Cadbury-Kraft Boycott

There is smouldering anger against Cadbury. 

On Thursday, the Malaysian Muslim Wholesalers’ and Retailers’ Association (MAWAR) kicked off an official boycott of all products under Kraft Foods Manufacturing Malaysia – a long list of brands that includes Cadbury, Cheezels, Jacob’s, Chacos, Kraft, Ritz, Chipsmore, Tiger, Oreo, Toblerone, Halls, Clorets, Twister and Dentyne – in protest over Cadbury Malaysia’s alleged inaction over the porcine DNA found in its chocolates. They instructed their 800 members to take the products off their shelves and return them to the food manufacturer. These people are determined to punish Cadbury. 

Bazeer Ahmed, a MAWAR member during a news conference on stopping the supply of Cadbury chocolate products to retail shops, in Kuala Lumpur May 29, 2014. Reuters pic 

But things became complicated. On the same day too, the National Fatwa Council declared that it will maintain the 'halal' status of the two affected Cadbury products. It means that the chocolates are safe to be consumed by Muslims. 

Bernama reported National Fatwa Council committee chairperson Prof Emeritus Dr Abdul Shukor Husin’s explanation: "In the case of ready-made products that had been marketed to consumers and produced through processes using clean and halal ingredients and had been confirmed as halal, but later found it had been contaminated with pig DNA in certain batches only, then the committee had decided that it was categorized as 'Umum al-Balwa'.” 

He continued: "The ruling on the product is referred to the original ruling, that is, halal for consumption because the contamination occurred beyond the scope of control and difficult to avoid". 

Huh? Did anybody understand what he was talking about? To me, the issue is simple. If the chocolates are tainted, they are tainted. No two ways about it. 

Unless (a) the samples were compromised and they just found out about it; (b) the test results were incorrect but nobody wants to own up; (c) the tainted products were not from Cadbury; and (4) a political decision was made to save Cadbury.

On another note, I still cannot figure out how the chocolates carried the 'haram' DNA? But if indeed they were there, Cadbury was being very dishonest in not declaring the true ingredients in their products and they had also misused the 'halal' certification to deceive.

Complication begot confusion. After all, the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) had already suspended the products' halal certification. So how? 

Meanwhile, yesterday, chocolate manufacturer Cadbury Malaysia maintained that all of its products are halal, including the two – Cadbury Dairy Milk Hazelnut and Cadbury Dairy Milk Roast Almond which were tested positive with porcine DNA. 

“...we have no reason to believe that there is any porcine or pork-related ingredient in our Cadbury chocolates,” said Cadbury Malaysia head of corporate affairs Raja Zalina Raja Safran. 

“We stand by our halal certification and we have the highest level of product labeling standards,” she added. 

By now, confusion has turned to consternation. Who to believe? What to believe? How to believe!

Brouhaha over Sinful Chocolates

Former Perlis mufti Dr Asri Zainul Abidin (left) expressed disappointment with Malay-Muslims for their overreaction towards Cadbury Malaysia’s ‘haram’ chocolates.

 

In his Facebook page on May 28, 2014, he conveyed his unhappiness that his fellow Muslims were concerned over the consumption of pork, but kept silent over bigger crimes such as corruption.

 

He said: "Unfortunately, we are not making enough noise over things that are clearly ‘haram’.”

 

He added that it was not a sin when followers of Islam accidentally consumed pork, and that Allah would not punish anyone if it was done unknowingly.

 

Besides, Islam does not require reactions which result in difficulty.

 

If only there are more Muslims such as Dr Asri Zainul Abidin.

 

Caterham owner Tony Fernandes denied yesterday that his struggling Formula One team is up for sale, but said it was seeking new investment. What if he cannot get new investment?

 

On Tuesday, I was at Kelab Sukan IJM Cobra in Petaling Jaya. This was the Taman Indrahana Toastmasters meeting and here I delivered my CC speech #5 titled “Love Your Body” – Round 3 of Project 15. I have reached the halfway mark. Lim Thian Seng evaluated me.

 

 

Jihad in Malaysia over Chocolates

Image credit: http://weehingthong.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/v4.jpg?w=640

A routine check on Cadbury chocolate products by the Health Ministry had “tested positive for traces of porcine DNA”.

Following this, the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) immediately suspended the products' ‘halal’ certification – Cadbury Dairy Milk Hazelnut (batch number 200813M01H I2 that expires on November 13, 2014) and Cadbury Dairy Milk Roast Almond (batch number 221013N01R I1, that expires on January 15, 2015) while Cadbury Malaysia scrambled to recall the chocolates from stores.

 

Almost immediately, some Malaysians were aggrieved, shocked and scandalized. More than 20 Malay-Muslim groups that include the Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM), Perkasa, Pertubuhan Kebajikan Darul Islah Malaysia (Perkid), Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) and the Halal Muslim Entrepreneurs' Association (Puhm) banded together and they were baying for blood. They claimed that Cadbury had “crossed the line” by selling its porcine-tainted chocolates, and that quick action was needed.

“They have betrayed us Muslims by putting 'haram' elements through the foods we consume in our body, to weaken us Muslims”, a churlish chorus of ferocious fury was heard.

 

“That is why Muslims are weak, divided,” Perkasa Selangor chief Abu Bakar Yahya explained.

 

Perkid president Ustaz Masridzi Sat added that most social ills and apostasy cases in the country involving Muslims stemmed from them consuming food which was not ‘halal’.

 

“Because the person eats pork it is difficult to guide him to the right path. When the day of judgment comes, that person will be wearing a pig-face because of what he has eaten,” he shot off a warning. This was accompanied by shouts of “Allahuakbar” (God is great!) and a call for a nationwide boycott on all Cadbury products. They promised to wage a holy war against the confectionary giant.

If I follow this logic and I accept that the Malays as painted by this bunch of idiots are really weak and divided, then can I imply that Malays have been secretly eating pork all this while? Isn't this stupid?

Only in Malaysia can we have a jihad because of tainted chocolates! Malaysia Boleh!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Calling all registered voters from the Teluk Intan parliamentary constituency!

The departure time to Teluk Intan will be at at 7 PM, 8 PM and 9 PM on May 30, from the Bukit Jalil LRT and Kelana Jaya LRT stations. Bookings can be made by contacting Chee Fu Yue at 017-2327929 or sending an email to telukintanbyelection2014@gmail.com.

 

SINGAPORE VOTERS: Come back on your own but return to Singapore FREE! The DAP-sponsored buses will return to Singapore on Saturday (May 31) and Sunday (June 01) at 8.30 PM and 9.30 PM. Bookings can be made by calling Siew Lee Wah at 012-5068928 or by email to comehome2vote@gmail.com.

 

Jom, balik undi!

Move over, Naomi

I was the General Evaluator for the TTDI Toastmasters Club meeting this evening.

But what was really special about today's meeting is that it was also a celebration of sorts.

TTDI Toastmasters is eleven years old today (and Taman Indrahana is 26 years old).

Even more remarkable was the fact that so many Toastmasters from so many clubs came to share in the revelry.

I don’t know if I have listed all of them here: Taman Indrahana, MIMKL, Shaklee Dynamic Family, Metropolitan Bilingual, Mantissa, MAICSA, Money Mastery, Phoenix, Summit, D’Utama, Ireka, Speecom, Speaker’s Dream, TAR College, MIA.

This meeting did away with project speeches and instead had a Table Topics marathon with two separate sessions managed by two different Topicsmasters.

The second session saw good-hearted mischief by LG Marketing, Ramdas Nayar when he kindly “volunteered” others as well as I into participating.

Richard Chia who was the Table Topics evaluator for this segment told us that he must raise the bar insofar as his evaluations of us are concerned as we are seasoned Toastmasters.

He couldn’t fault us for delivery but he told us pointedly that we excelled in talking around the topics and not talking about the topics.

I must agree with him on this score but what the heck, it was fun, wasn't it?

Incidentally, I was voted the Best Table Topics speaker and earned a white ribbon for my 2-minute effort.

And overall, I would give this meeting a score of 7 out of 10.

Supermodel Naomi Campbell is incensed that Cadbury used her name in the strap line to promote their new chocolate bar called Bliss, accusing the company of racism. The ad says: "Move over Naomi – there is a new diva in town."

Cadbury, owned by Kraft, refused to pull the ad campaign, which ran in newspapers last week: "I am shocked. It's upsetting to be described as chocolate, not just for me, but for all black women and black people. I do not find any humor in this. It is insulting and hurtful."

A spokesperson for Cadbury insisted that the campaign was "a light-hearted take on the social pretensions of Cadbury Dairy Milk Bliss". From this statement, it tells me that the company did not find this offensive at all. I call this casual racism, is it not?

Lester Holloway wrote in UK’s Guardian on Tuesday that the belief associating chocolate with skin tone is derogatory and it stems from playground hurt, which shouldn't be dismissed lightly – for some it heralded the first realization they were being defined by color, an experience that will continue in various guises for the rest of their lives.

Yet taking offence at insults, real and perceived, may not be the best way to cope with, let alone overcome, other people's prejudices. It suggests a vulnerability – or a "chip on the shoulder" – that is at odds with knowledge of and pride in one's heritage, race and color. An interesting perspective that may not be entirely out-of-place, I thought.

For Cadbury, this was not the first time the company wallowed in controversy. Back in 2007, Cadbury sparked a race row when it launched Trident chewing gum with a Caribbean man dashing about armed with a megaphone blasting out the catchphrase "mastication for the nation". Two years later the same company was accused of racial stereotyping with an advert featuring a giant hovering head that caused African villagers to dance about wildly.

The conspiracy theorist in me – I cannot help it because I am Malaysian wad – wonders whether the latest advert for Bliss chocolate bars was designed to elicit yet another race row, guaranteeing column inches of free advertising to boost awareness of a brand.

I am aware that I am not black and so I genuinely don’t know if it is hurtful.

What do my African students think? I really would like to know!