Tag Archives: Online shopping

Marshall Minor III Wireless Earphones Scam Alert!

Please watch out for the Marshall Minor III wireless earphones scam! Take a look at the scam, and find out what the facts really are!

Marshall Minor III Wireless Earphones Scam Alert!

Scammers are running Facebook ads that promote an awesome discount for the Marshall Minor III wireless earphones! Here is one recent example:

😣”Frustrating” 😣I had to queue for 5 hours at IOI City Mall to buy MARSHALL MINOR III wireless headphones for only RM179 (original price RM596), I was surprised because I thought they only sold directly I heard it’s open for sale online in 2 more days https://www.marshall-ash.asia/ms And also get the same discount as buying at the store. Free shipping nationwide.

But the 4 hours of queuing was worth it. As a Marshall fan, I was very excited when I heard the news that the Minor III series was coming out. And don’t waste your time waiting, the design is very beautiful, more stylish than the old version 💯 Great sound quality. Clear bus, fast Bluetooth connection, suitable for all types of devices, super battery life, 5 hours of continuous use and 25 hours with charging box, waterproof. The best thing about these headphones is the close-to-ear design. Comfortable, can play sports without worrying about falling. If you don’t buy it, you will be very disappointed.

I let my colleagues borrow it to play games because it sounded so realistic. There is no delay in movement.
Many people ask me if the store still has promotions? I just saw information that the store has a discount in the next 2 days. Order quickly. At the end of the promotion, the price will return to the original price of RM596. I leave the purchase link here for those who want to buy: https://www.marshall-ash.asia/ms

Recommended : Bantuan Rakyat Malaysia Scam Alert!

Marshall Minor III Offer : Why Is It A Scam?!

This is yet another example of SCAMS circulating on Facebook, and here are there reasons why…

Fact #1 : Marshall Minor III Price Absurdly Low

The first thing about scams involving electronics, is that they often promise ridiculous great deals. If it’s too good to be true, it often is just a scam.

In this particular scam, scammers are offering the Marshall Minor III wireless earphones for just RM179 (US$39). That’s absurd, as the Marshall Minor II wireless earphones has an official retail price of $159 (approximately RM699)!

Marshall is a high-end audiophile brand, and its electronics are never cheap. Even if they offer a discount, it wouldn’t be anything like 70% to 75%. That’s just ridiculous.

For your safety, here are legit purchase options online for the Marshall Minor III earbuds :

Malaysia : Shopee | Shopee | Shopee
Singapore : Shopee
United States : Amazon | Amazon
United Kingdom : Amazon

Fact #2 : Facebook Advertisement Is Fake

The Facebook advertisement appears to be created by a handsome influencer called 𝐀𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐠 瑾.鍾.瑾. with 5.5 million followers.

But that’s what the scammers put in the intro. If you look carefully, this scam page only has 13 followers!

Recommended : Warning – PDRM Parking Fine Scam Alert!

Fact #3 : That Is “Push” Puttichai Kasetsin

The page is not owned by any influencer or digital creator called 𝐀𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐠 瑾.鍾.瑾.

Those are actually photos of Puttichai Kasetsin – a Thai actor, model, DJ and TV host who is also known as “Push”.

Fact #4 : IOI City Mall Does Not Have A Marshall Outlet

The claim by these scammers that Alvinn Chong queued up for 5 hours at the IOI City Mall to buy the Marshall Minor III wireless earphones is easily debunked.

If you check the IOI City Mall tenant listing, you will quickly discover that it does not have a Marshall outlet.

Fact #5 : Queue Photos Are From Vietnam

The two photos which claim to show long queues for the Marshall Minor III wireless earphones were not taken in Malaysia. They were actually taken in Vietnam.

This photo does not show people in IOI City Mall queueing up outside a Marshall outlet. It actually shows people queuing up for the opening of the 15th Pandora store at the Long Bien Aeon Mall, on 28 April 2022.

Incidentally, Pandora is a Danish jewellery brand, and does not sell Marshall audio products…

The second queue photo is also from Vietnam, but taken many years ago on 11 November 2017. It does not show people queuing up to buy any Marshall products either.

They were actually queuing up at Royal City Shopping Center in Hanoi, for the opening ceremony of the second H&M store in Vietnam.

Fact #6 : Scam Website Not Affiliated With ASH Asia

ASH Asia is an authorised distributor of Marshall products in Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.

However, the scam page (https://www.marshall-ash.asia/ms) has nothing to do with ASH Asia, whose official Marshall Minor III page is https://ash-asia.com/ms.

On top of that, ASH Asia does not sell the Marshall Minor III directly (like the scam page). Instead, ASH Asia sells the wireless earphones through Shopee and Lazada.

In fact, if you check the main domain itself, you will get an error message, stating:

Your domain name has been successfully pointed! Please publish a Landing Page with the above domain name to use the service. Thank you!

This not only gives it away as a scam website, it also suggests that the scammers are operating out of Vietnam.

Fact #7 : Scam Website Admits Selling Fake Marshall Minor III

Ironically, the scam website itself has a disclaimer, warning potential buyers that it is not selling genuine Marshall Minor III wireless earphones, but a replica instead…

Most people won’t notice it because if you click to order, the website is designed to skip past this warning.

Fact #8 : Package Apparently Contained “Trash”?

To assure you that this is safe, the scammers say that you only need to pay on delivery. Sounds good, doesn’t it? That guarantees that you will at least receive the item, doesn’t it?

Not quite, as one person who claimed to have purchased from this scam website explained…

I was attracted and clicked in, filling in my address and phone number. Three days later, I got a call saying that my package would arrive through DHL-COD, and asked me to make sure I was home.

I started looking forward to it, but when I thought about it, I became more suspicious. Since when does DHL provide Cash On Delivery service? I can’t believe they would dare to pay for first-class service without any payment from me. I figured it might be a scam!

What’s the scam? You may not have any doubts when you receive the package. When I open it immediately and take a look, then I realized it was full of garbage. [Unfortunately] I had already paid the delivery person, who ran away.

我被吸引点了进去，填了地址电话。跟着三天后有电话来说我的包裹会到，DHL-COD的，确定我在家等。我开始很期待。跟着想，越想越不对。DHL有COD的服务咩？我还没过账他们就这么敢与服务一流到我不敢相信。我猜可能是诈骗！骗什么？当你收到包裹时是不会怀疑，立刻打开来看的。然后才发现里面是垃圾。人跑了钱给了。。。

If true, the scam involves giving you an empty package filled with trash to receive your cash payment. After which, you have no recourse.

Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Did US Send 7000 Insects To Destroy Crops In China?!

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Did the US try to send 7,000 Drosophila insects into China to destroy their crops?!

Take a look at viral claims, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : US Sent 7,000 Insects To Destroy Crops In China!

People are sharing a video of a Chinese news report about Chinese custom officials discovering 66 containers of some 7,000 insects in a parcel shipped from the US.

They allege that this is evidence of American sabotage – that the US sent those insects to destroy crops in China. The video is often shared with such messages :

The video showed China🇨🇳 Port Custom, checked a luggage claimed to contain clothing. But when scanned through & upon suspicion, Custom Officers opened up the bag. They found there were more than 60 bottles containing the larvae of Drosophila, some 7k of it. If these bottles of larvae Drosophila were successfully smuggled into China & the matured Drosophila spread throughout the whole China. It will destroy all the fruits plantation/orchards. The matured ones multiplies & spread very fast. The luggage is from USA🇺🇸. The acts of inhumanity in infecting & destroying China🇨🇳 food chain. Evilness knows no boundries.

Did the US try to send 7,000 fruit flies into China to destroy their crops?! 😲🤔

Here is my fact check : https://t.co/plL00Op2DC #TechARP #China #UnitedStates #Wumao #Propaganda #Controversy #Agriculture #Crops #Food #Safety #Danger #Facts #FactsMatter #FactCheck #FakeNews pic.twitter.com/ue90TcI1mw

— Dr. Adrian Wong (@DrAdrianWong) April 20, 2023

China customs found 7000 insects sent from the USA. Out to destroy crops in China.

An evil country on the way down trying to pull others down too with sickening and rather despicable tactics !
🤬🤬🤬

In addition to claiming that these insects are dangerous to crops, some pro-CCP or Chinese-sponsored websites are promoting the claim that these insects had their genes edited to become “more infectious”, like a “super mosquito”.

They also point out that each of these insects can reproduce every 10 days, laying 400 eggs in their lifetime to quickly produce a swarm that will destroy fruits in China, by corrupting them with bacteria and fungi.

Truth : US Did Not Send 7,000 Insects To Destroy Crops In China!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created by the Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛), and shared by pro-CCP netizens and websites, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : The Incident Happened In July 2022

First, let us establish what we know about this case.

Sometime in early July 2022, Qingdao customs officers examined a package sent from the United States. Its declaration form claimed that the parcel contained clothes.

When they opened it up, they found two pieces of clothes inside, with 66 sealed tubes containing eggs, larvae, pupae and adult insects.

After analysing them, Qingdao custom officers estimated that the 66 tubes contained roughly 7,000 fruit flies, specifically of the species Drosophila melanogaster.

Fact #2 : Drosophila megalogaster Is Present Worldwide

Drosophila melanogaster is known as the common fruit fly, which is commonly present across the world. Yes, this fruit fly is already present in China.

Despite originating in Africa – it is now present on all continents across the world, including islands.

Fact #3 : Drosophila megalogaster Can Lay Up To 2,000 Eggs

The Chinese media promoting this story can’t even get their facts right, claiming that these fruit flies lay up to 400 eggs in their lifetime.

Drosophila melanogaster females are far more productive than that – they can lay up to 100 eggs a day, and up to 2,000 eggs in a lifetime.

Fact #4 : Drosophila megalogaster Do Not Cause Fruits To Rot

Drosophila melanogaster is not an economic pest, even though no one welcomes them in their home.

It is often confused with Tephritidae – a different family of insects that are also called fruit flies, some of which are economic pests that destroy fruits.

Unlike Tephritidae fruit flies, Drosophila melanogaster do not destroy fruits. They are attracted to fruit that is already rotting, but do not cause fruits to rot.

The claims that the US sent Drosophila melanogaster fruit flies to destroy crops in China is nonsense.

Fact #5 : Drosophila megalogaster Is Commonly Used For Research

Drosophila melanogaster fruit flies are very popular in scientific research, for many reasons :

they are easy and cheap to care for, requiring little equipment and space
they have a rapid life cycle of 10 days, allowing several generations to be studied in a few weeks
each female can produce many offspring, laying up to 2,000 eggs in its lifetime
they have simple genetics, with only four pairs of chromosomes
their genome was completely sequenced and published in the year 2000

Scientists do not mention this as a reason for using Drosophila melanogaster, but I think it is important to note that it is not a pest, so accidental release of these fruit flies would not pose any danger of any form or kind.

Fact #6 : Drosophila megalogaster Is Commonly Shipped Worldwide

Because it is a model organism for research, Drosophila melanogaster is bred and shipped internationally to researchers worldwide.

The College of Agriculture and Life Science at Cornell University, for example, breeds and sells Drosophila melanogaster fruit flies, which they ship internationally including China.

Fact #7 : 2021 Seized Shipment Was Meant For Chinese Research Institute

This wasn’t the first time China seized live Drosophila melanogaster fruit flies in such tubes.

In June 2021, Chinese custom officials found 58 tubes containing more than 1,000 of these fruit flies in an imported parcel addressed to a Chinese research institute.

They seized the parcel because its contents were not declared, and it lacked an import permit.

Fact #8 : China Requires Quarantine For Live Insects

China forbids live insects from being mailed or carried into the country, without special quarantine or approval.

However, quarantine is a problem for Drosophila melanogaster because it has such a short lifespan of just 50 days.

Hence, it is possible that Chinese researchers are trying to circumvent the quarantine by importing live Drosophila melanogaster fruit flies, without an import permit which would require quarantine.

It is also possible that these fruit flies are being imported as a live food source for people’s pet fish, frogs and other animals.

Fact #9 : Cornell University Warned About Chinese Import Permit

Cornell University specifically warned Chinese researchers trying to purchase these fruit flies that :

As of November 1, 2014, we can only offer free replacements for shipments of live flies to China that were accompanied by an import permit.

That suggests that they lost shipments to China in the past, because they lacked import permits.

Fact #10 : This Is Chinese Propaganda

This is really nothing more than yet another example of Chinese propaganda created by the infamous Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛).

All of the wumao articles that I looked at so far have proven to be false… in every instance. So please watch out for such false claims. Here is just the latest dozen,.

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Pinduoduo App Contains Persistent Spy Malware!

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One of China’s most popular apps – Pinduoduo apparently contains a malware that monitors user activities and is difficult to remove!

Take a look at what CNN and multiple cybersecurity researchers have discovered about Pinduoduo!

Pinduoduo : What Is It?

Pinduoduo is actually a Chinese online retailer. Think of it as China’s Amazon. While Amazon started as an online bookstore, Pinduoduo started as an online agricultural retailer.

Since then, Pinduoduo has become one of China’s most popular online shopping platform, with its app offering its 750 million users access to cheap products in China, by offering steep discounts on group buying orders.

Despite its meteoric rise, Pinduoduo has not been without its controversies. In 2018, the company was criticised for hosting inferior and imitation products, to which it responded by taking down more than 4 million listing and shutting down 1,128 stores.

In 2019, Pinduoduo was hit by hackers who stole discount coupons worth tens of millions of Yuan. And just last month, Google suspended the Pinduoduo app after discovering that versions offered outside its Play Store contained malware.

The Off-Play versions of the e-commerce app that have been found to contain malware have been enforced on via Google Play Protect.

Pinduoduo App Contains Persistent Spy Malware!

Western interest may have been initiated by Google suspending the Pinduoduo app, but cybersecurity experts had already started looking into the app, and what they discovered was very troubling.

Alert First Raised By Chinese Cybersecurity Company

I think we should start by noting that it was a Chinese cybersecurity company called Dark Navy that first raised concerns about malware in the Pinduoduo app in February 2023.

Although Dark Navy did not name Pinduoduo in its report, cybersecurity researchers knew who it was referring to and soon followed up with their own investigations and reports, confirming Dark Navy’s report.

Sophisticated Malware

Half a dozen cybersecurity teams from Asia, Europe and the United States identified sophisticated malware in the Pinduoduo app that were designed to exploit vulnerabilities in the Android operating system used by many smartphones.

The malware allows the Pinduoduo app to bypass Android security features to monitor activities in other apps, check notifications, read private messages, and even change settings. It is also difficult to remove once installed.

Mikko Hyppönen, chief research officer at WithSecure, a Finnish cybersecurity firm, said that:

We haven’t seen a mainstream app like this trying to escalate their privileges to gain access to things that they’re not supposed to gain access to. This is highly unusual, and it is pretty damning for Pinduoduo.

Dedicated Hacking Team To Look For Vulnerabilities

Even more damning, CNN reported that a current employee revealed that Pinduoduo set up a team of about 100 engineers and product managers to look for vulnerabilities in Android smartphones, and find ways to exploit them for profit.

To avoid exposure, the source said that the company targeted users in rural areas and smaller towns, and avoided users in megacities like Beijing and Shanghai.

By collecting expansive data on those users, Pinduoduo was able to create a comprehensive portrait of their habits, interests, and preferences; while improving its machine learning models to personalise push notifications and ads.

Pinduoduo App Gained More Access Than Allowed

Three cybersecurity companies – WithSecure, Check Point Research, and Oversecured conducted independent analysis of version 6.49.0 of the Pinduoduo app that was released in late February 2023, and found code designed to achieve “privilege escalation” – a type of cyberattack that exploits vulnerabilities in the operating system to gain a higher level of access to data that it’s supposed to have.

Our team has reverse engineered that code and we can confirm that it tries to escalate rights, tries to gain access to things normal apps wouldn’t be able to do on Android phones.

The Pinduoduo app was able to continue running in the background, and prevent itself from being uninstalled. This was apparently done to boost the platform’s statistic for monthly active users.

Pinduoduo App Has Access To User Data Without Consent

Delware-based app security start-up, Oversecured, found that the Pinduoduo app had access to user data like locations, contacts, calendars, notifications, and photo albums, without their consent.

The app was also able to change system settings, and access user social media accounts and chats.

Pinduoduo App Also Snooped On Other Apps

The Pinduoduo app also had the ability to snoop on competing shopping apps, by tracking activity on other shopping apps, and gathering information from them.

Pinduoduo App Able To Secretly Receive Updates

Check Point Research found that Pinduoduo was able to push updates to the app, without first going through an app store review process to detect malicious code.

Pinduoduo App Programmers Attempted To Obscure Malicious Code

Check Point Research also found that some plug-ins used by the Pinduoduo app tried to obscure potentially malicious code by hiding them under legitimate file names, such as Google’s.

Such a technique is widely used by malware developers that inject malicious code into applications that have legitimate functionality.

Pinduoduo Targeted Android Devices

According to Sergey Toshin, founder of Oversecured, Pinduoduo’s malware specifically targeted Android operating systems used by Samsung, HUAWEI, Xiaomi and OPPO.

He also described the app as “the most dangerous malware” ever found in mainstream apps, exploiting about 50 Android system vulnerabilities. Most of these exploits targeted customised OEM code used by smartphone brands to customise their smartphone software.

I’ve never seen anything like this before. It’s like, super expansive.

Pinduoduo Removed Exploit + Canned Hacking Team

After cybersecurity researchers started reporting about the app, Pinduoduo released version 6.50.0 on March 5, which removed the exploits they found. Two days later, Pinduoduo disbanded its Android hacking team, according to the same employee.

The hacking team members found themselves locked out of Pinduoduo’s workspace communication app, called Knock, and lost access to files on the company’s internal network, with their privileges revoked.

Most of the team was later transferred to work at Pinduoduo’s sister app, Temu. A core group of about 20 cybersecurity engineers however remain at Pinduoduo.

In addition, Sergey Toshin of Oversecured noted that while the exploits were removed in the new version of Pinduoduo, the underlying code remained and could be reactivated to carry out attacks.

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Can You Buy China Spy Balloon On Alibaba For $18?!

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Can you buy the infamous spy balloon from China on Alibaba for just RMB 118 / $18?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : You Can Buy China Spy Balloon On Alibaba For $18!

Pro-CCP netizens are trying to push the narrative that the infamous spy balloon from China is really a cheap weather balloon that anyone can buy from Alibaba!

They are sharing a screenshot of an Alibaba store on WhatsApp and social media platforms, claiming that you can buy the same “spy balloon” for just RMB 118 / $18!

You can buy this balloon to scare the US for 118 RMB.. warning fighter jets might be sent to shoot it down..

Truth : You Cannot Buy China Spy Balloon On Alibaba For $18!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created and propagated by the Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛) or pro-CCP netizens, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : Chinese Balloon Was Not A Weather Balloon

First, let us start with a basic fact – the US Air Force shot down a spy balloon from China, not a weather balloon.

Weather balloons are common – thousands are launched daily across the world to collect information on the temperature, wind and moisture in the upper atmosphere.

Weather balloons are not very large – expanding from 6 feet (1.8 metres) to 20 feet (6 metres) in diameter as they rise in altitude. Their payloads are also small, consisting of a small box with a few sensors.

The Chinese spy balloon that the US Air Force shot down was not only much larger at around 90 feet (27.5 metres) wide, it also had a very large payload that included large solar panels, and even propellers to control its movement.

Real weather balloons also do not travel far – they generally go up to a high altitude and stay there. Spy balloons, on the other hand, need to travel long distances. This Chinese balloon travelled thousands of kilometres from China to Alaska to Canada, before reaching the continental United States.

Fact #2 : RMB 118 Weather Balloon Is Small

I traced the viral photo to this Alibaba store selling latex weather balloons. As expected, the RMB 118 / $18 balloon that pro-CCP netizens were promoting is small…

The store offered four sizes, with slightly elevated prices in US dollars (it’s cheaper in Chinese Yuan):

48 inches (4 feet) : $4.80
72 inches (6 feet) : $6.40
96 inches (8 feet) : $17.80
120 inches (10 feet) : $23.60

As I pointed above, the spy balloon that flew from China all the way to the United States was about 90 feet (27.5 metres) wide. It’s roughly 729X larger than the weather balloon sold on Alibaba!

Fact #3 : Viral Photo Was Edited

The viral photo appears to have been edited, by taking a screenshot of the Alibaba store using a mobile phone, and combining it with a photo of the actual spy balloon from China.

The intent appears to make it look like they are both the same balloon, and are being sold on Alibaba for just RMB 118 / $18.

The truth is – the actual Alibaba store does not show any photos of the spy balloon from China, which has a large payload platform and solar panels.

Instead, the Alibaba store only shows this photo of a latex weather balloon being held by a man – a good indication of just how small it is, compared to the real spy balloon. The other photos in the Alibaba store shows the available balloon sizes, and how much they weigh.

Fact #4 : This Is Just Chinese Propaganda

This is just another example of Chinese propaganda created by the infamous Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛), or pro-CCP netizens.

All of the wumao articles and videos that I looked at so far have proven to be false… at every instance. So please watch out for such false claims.

Please help us fight fake news – SHARE this article, and SUPPORT our work!

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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New 10% Sales Tax On Cheap Imports In April 2023!

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The Malaysian government will implement a new 10% sales tax on cheap import, starting 1 April 2023!

Here is what you need to know about the new sales tax on low value goods that are imported into Malaysia!

New 10% Sales Tax On Cheap Imports In April 2023!

From 1 April 2023 onwards, the Royal Malaysia Customs Department (RMCD) will start collecting a new 10% sales tax on all low value goods (LVG) worth less than RM 500 that are sold online, and delivered from overseas to customers in Malaysia, except:

duty-free islands like Labuan, Langkawi, Tioman and Pangkor
designated duty-free zones in airports, etc.

The 10% sales tax will apply only on overseas low-value goods (worth less than RM 500) purchased online from 1 April 2023 onwards. It will not be imposed on delivery charges or insurance paid to import the item.

For example, if you purchase an item that costs RM 450 from an online shopping portal, with a delivery charge of RM 15.

Before 1 April 2023, you will pay only RM 465 (RM 450 for the item + RM 15 for the delivery costs).

From 1 April 2023 onwards, you will need to pay RM 510 (RM 450 for the item + RM 45 for the new 10% sales tax + RM 15 for the delivery costs).

The online shopping portal will add the new sales tax, so you are aware of the final price before purchasing the item from 1 April 2023 onwards.

Even though the sales tax does not apply to delivery charges or insurance fees, you should expect to pay close to 9%-10% extra for imported low-value goods purchased online.

It should also be noted that Malaysia implemented a 6% service tax on delivery services (except for food and beverages) in July 2022.

New 10% Sales Tax On Cheap Imports : Frequently Asked Questions!

Here are the answers to frequently asked questions about the new 10% sales tax on low-value imported goods in Malaysia:

Question : When will the new 10% sales tax on imported low value goods begin?

The new 10% sales tax applies from 1 April 2023 onwards when you make payment, not on delivery of goods.

For example, if you purchase an item on 31 March 2023 and…:

pay on purchase (31 March) : you won’t have to pay the 10% sales tax, even if you eventually receive the item on April 5, 2023
pay on delivery : you will have to pay the 10% sales tax if the item is delivered on or after 1 April 2023.

Question : What goods are affected by the new 10% sales tax on imported low value goods?

The 10% sales tax applies to all low-value goods (worth less than RM500) purchased online, except:

cigarettes and other tobacco products
smoking pipes, including pipe bowls
electronic cigarettes, and similar electric vapourising devices
non-nicotine liquid or gel preparations used for vaping (e-cigarette smoking) devices
intoxicating liquor, and other imported alcohol

Question : If you are a LVG seller, must you register with the RMCD?

The Royal Malaysia Customs Department (RMCD) only requires such sellers to register with them:

sell low value goods (worth less than RM500) online,
that are delivered from overseas,
with more than RM500,000 in total sale value of low-value goods brought into Malaysia in 12 months (defined as the immediate past 12 months before registration, or the current month and the next 11 months)

The RMCD structured it this way so that only large online shops or e-commerce platforms need to register with it, to help collect the new sales tax.

If you are selling your low-value goods through an e-commerce platform like Shopee or Lazada, they will handle the sales tax on your behalf.

Question : How does the sales tax system work for sellers?

Sellers who must register with the RMCD, should do so through the MyLVG online system, using the LVG-01 form. Registration is open from 1 January 2023 onwards.

The seller is required to declare the collected sales tax to the RMCD every three months through the MyLVG system using the LVG-02 form, and pay the collected tax to the RMCD by the last day of the next month.

For example, the ABC e-commerce platform collected RM 1 million in sales tax from April to June 2023.

It must submit its LVG-02 form and pay the collected RM 1 million by 31 July 2023.

If the seller makes a mistake and overpaid the collected tax, it can apply for a refund using the LVG-03 form.

The seller can also cancel its registration using the MyLVG system, if it no longer sells low-value goods, or if the total sales value of LVG in 12 months does not exceed RM 500,000.

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Black Friday Origin : Slaves Sale After Thanksgiving?!

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Did the Black Friday shopping phenomenon start with the sale of slaves after the Thanksgiving holiday?

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the FACTS really are!

Black Friday Origins : Selling Of Slaves After Thanksgiving?

Photos of slaves being sold in the United States are circulating on WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter as evidence that the term “Black Friday” originated with the practice of selling slaves after the Thanksgiving holiday.

The term “Black Friday” originated with the practice of selling off [sic] slaves on the day after Thanksgiving.

Now, do we really need to embrace this kind of torture? Or we are such foolish, that we don’t even research what is this so-called Black Friday and we become so exciting on something like this?

Truth : Black Friday Nothing To Do With Sale Of Slaves

The truth is – this is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on social media and messaging apps like WhatsApp.

Fact #1 : Black Friday Term Was First Used In 1950s

The earliest known use of the term Black Friday to refer to a particular day after the American Thanksgiving holiday can be traced back to the November 1951 edition of the journal, Factory Management and Maintenance, which referred to the practice of workers calling in sick on the day after Thanksgiving, to get a four-day weekend.

Around the same time (in the 1950s), Philadelphia and Rochester police were also using the terms Black Friday and Black Saturday to describe crowds and traffic congestion at the start of the Christmas shopping season.

Fact #2 : Black Friday Refers To Busiest Shopping Day In America

The term did not catch on until The New York Times referred to Black Friday as “the busiest shopping and traffic day of the year” on 29 November 1975.

It became more popular in the early 1980s, and The Philadelphia Inquirer explained Black Friday in 1981 as the day when retailers would no longer be “in the red”, and would finally start making money.

Since 2005, Black Friday has been the busiest shopping day of the year in the United States.

Fact #3 : Black Friday Had Nothing To Do With Sale Of Slaves

It may seem silly but we have to say it – the term Black Friday has nothing to do with the sale of slaves after Thanksgiving. It doesn’t even make sense!

America’s history with slaves is long and tortured, and extensively covered. Slaves were bought and sold throughout the year, and not on a particular Friday after the Thanksgiving holiday.

Just in case you are wondering – no, there was no discount on slaves being sold right after the Thanksgiving holiday.

Note : We added the FALSE overlay to prevent the pictures from being further abused.

Fact #4 : Slavery Ended In The US In 1865

President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on 1 January, 1863 – effectively making all slaves legally free.

However, it took the end of the American Civil War in 1865, to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation throughout the entire United States of America.

On 6 December 1865, Federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to enforce the emancipation. That day is now celebrated as a national holiday in 2021 – the Juneteenth National Independence Day.

Therefore, the poster showing slaves being sold in 1904 at a Black Friday sale in America is categorically false.

Share this fact check with your friends, and help us fight fake news!

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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Parent Company Of Shopee Slashes Costs + Salaries!

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Sea Limited – the parent company of Shopee – appears to be in dire straits, pulling out of markets, slashing costs and salaries!

Parent Company Of Shopee Slashes Costs + Salaries!

Singapore-based Sea Limited – Shopee’s parent company – appears to be in dire straits, pulling out of markets, slashing costs and salaries!

In March 2022, Shopee shut down its France operations less than 6 months after kicking off its “European conquest” in October 2021.

Then in early September 2022, Shopee exited Argentina, and shut down its local operations in Chile, Colombia and Mexico. Sea Limited’s Garena gaming unit also laid off hundreds of employees in Shanghai.

Today (September 15, 2022), Bloomberg reported that Sea Limited’s top management staff will forgo their salaries, and the company will tighten its expenses.

In a 1,000-word internal memo to Sea Limited staff, CEO Forrest Li said that the leadership team will not take any cash compensation “until the company reaches self-sufficiency”, as well as these additional measures :

business travel is restricted to economy class flights,
travel meal expenses are limited to US$30 a day,
hotel stays for business trips are limited to US$150 a night
reimbursements for meals and entertainment bills will be removed

Sea Limited + Shopee Have Been Struggling In 2022

Li noted that Sea Limited has been struggling against rising interest rates, accelerating inflation, and a volatile market – conditions that he foresees will likely persist into the medium term.

He stressed that the company’s primary objective for the next 12-18 months will be to achieve positive cashflow as soon as possible.

With investors fleeing for ‘safe haven’ investments, we do not anticipate being able to raise funds in the market.

The only way for us to free ourselves from relying on external capital is to become self-sufficient, generating enough cash for all our own needs and projects.

Li’s comments mirrors the “tough times” concerns recently expressed by HUAWEI CEO Ren Zhengfe.

Sea Limited saw its market value soar to more than US$200 billion in October 2021, but its share prices tumbled 85%, reducing its market value to just US$27 billion.

Last month, Sea announced that its net loss in the second quarter of 2022 widened to US$931.20 million from US$433.7 million last year. Its total adjusted loss before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation for that quarter also jumped to US$506.3 minion from US$24.1 million.

This was despite a 29% increase in total revenue to US$2.9 billion, from US$2.3 billion in the second quarter of last year.

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New Taxes On Small Online Purchases + Delivery In Malaysia!

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There will soon be new taxes on small online purchases and delivery in Malaysia! Here is what you need to know…

New Taxes On Small Online Purchases + Delivery In Malaysia!

There will be soon new taxes on low-value purchases from overseas, and delivery services in Malaysia!

These taxes were announced in Budget 2022, but you may not be aware of it.

6% Service Tax On Delivery Services

From 1 July 2022 onwards, delivery services are subject to 6% service tax, for delivering goods other than food and beverages, and logistics delivery services.

This 6% service tax applies to e-commerce platforms as well, so expect the cost to be passed to you – the customer.

10% Sales Tax On Low Value Imports

Currently, goods imported from overseas that are delivered via courier services through specific international airports in Malaysia are not subject to the 10% sales. tax, if the value of each consignment (parcel) does not exceed RM 500.

Budget 2022 removed that exemption, which means all imported goods will be taxed, regardless of value.

From 1 January 2023 onwards, online sellers of low value imported goods delivered by air courier worth less than RM 500 per consignment must charge their customers a 10% sales tax. Otherwise, the purchaser will be subject to an import tax.

This sales tax applies to both local and foreign merchants. But the government has yet to reveal the mechanism by which foreign merchants will register, process and forward the collected sales tax.

Why New Taxes On Small Online Purchases + Delivery?!

Taxing low cost value goods purchased overseas is a way to level the playing field between local and foreign manufacturers.

Malaysian products are already subject to a 5% or 10% sales tax, which places them at a disadvantage when competing with low value imports that are currently tax-free.

That’s why many countries like Australia and New Zealand implement similar taxes, to align with local sales tax.

Even Singapore will be implementing a 7% GST on low value goods (LVG) from 1 January 2023 onwards, increasing it to 9% by 2025.

This sales tax on imported LVG will no doubt raise revenue for the government, but it is inline with what other countries are implementing to level the playing field, and encourage purchases of local products.

The 10% sales tax may seem high, but it does not apply to low value goods imported via sea or land.

This sales tax will not affect the RM1,000 exemption for travellers bringing in goods purchased overseas through the seven designated international airports in Malaysia.

The 6% service tax on delivery services is a new revenue stream for the government, although they have exempted food and beverage deliveries, as well as logistics deliveries.

Whatever the reasons are – expect to pay more for your online purchases!

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Scam Alert : Drip Ear Health For Tinnitus + Deafness!

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You may have seen the advertisements for Drip Ear Health, promising to cure tinnitus and deafness.

Please be warned that it is just a SCAM, and here are the reasons why…

Scam Alert : Drip Ear Health For Tinnitus + Deafness!

You may have seen the advertisements for Drip Ear Health, which claims to be a cure for tinnitus and deafness that has been endorsed by ENT specialists.

Take a look at some of the claims… which appear to have been translated from the original Chinese language using Google Translate.

Recently, a magical secret recipe “Drip Ear Health” has been spread wildly on the Internet. I heard that the treatment effect is very significant and will not cause any impact. Highly recommends it!

Communicate normally, tinnitus and deafness can be saved, the symptoms such as ear swelling, tinnitus, and noise disappear within 7 days, and the ear nerves can be repaired in 1 month, so that you can hear clearly without wearing a hearing aid, and your hearing returns to normal.

As long as you insist on using it, no matter how many years of neurological, senile, drug-induced, mixed deafness and tinnitus, you can quickly get cured, and recover from ear diseases!

Why Drip Ear Health Is Just A Scam!

Drip Ear Health is yet another Internet health scam, like the Ziverdo Kit for COVID-19, and the Herbal Visual Tea for Glaucoma or Cataract, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : Featured Doctors NOT Involved With Scam

The scammers creates localised versions of the advertisement page, featuring local doctors who appear to be endorsing their Drip Ear Health product.

In our example, they featured Dr. Muthu Kumar Murugesan and Dr. Puvan Arul a/l Arumugam.

On 3 November 2021, Dr. Muthu Kumar denounced the advertisement as fake news.

This fake news has been circulating. We are not only fighting against the Covid-19 virus but the increased occurrence of fake news.

Dr. Puvan Arul is not active on Facebook, but the scammers misappropriated his photo from 10 February 2020.

Fact #2 : Drip Ear Health Is Just Ear Wax Wash

Drip Ear Health are actually Chinese TCM ear drops from 久木堂 (Jiumutang) meant to relieve itchy ears and soften or wash out ear wax.

It contains herbs like Coptis chinensis, Radix sophorae flavescentis, Borneol, Golden cypress, mint and Folium artemisia argyi.

Sounds fancy, but they are common herbs used in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) – none of which can cure tinnitus or deafness.

Fact #3 : Drip Ear Health Price Is A Scam!

The scammers are selling Drip Ear Health ear drops at absurd prices :

2 bottles for RM190 (about US$45 / £33.50 / A$63 / S$61.50)
4 bottles for RM263 (about US$62 / £46.50 / A$87 / S$85)
6 bottles for RM278 (about US$65.50 / £49 / A$92.50 / S$90)

The price tiers are designed to “force” you to purchase the 6 bottle deal. You may feel like you got a great deal, but you just got scammed.

The Drip Ear Health is sold in Taobao – the Chinese version of Amazon – for just 25 yuan, approximately RM16 / S$5 / A$5.50 / US$4 / £3.

If you fell for it, you were just scammed into paying 3X to 6X more for bottles of expensive Chinese TCM ear drops that won’t cure tinnitus or deafness.

Please STAY CLEAR of Drip Ear Health, and SHARE this fact check with your friends!

If these ear drops work, their creators would have won the Nobel Prize for Medicine, and become BILLIONAIRES.

They wouldn’t need to sell you their ear drops on Internet websites.

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DHL eCommerce Central Hub Temporarily Suspended!

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DHL eCommerce had to close their Central Hub in Selangor, and it remains suspended today!

Find out what’s going on, and the impact on your parcel deliveries!

DHL eCommerce Central Hub Temporarily Suspended!

On 13 August 2021, DHL eCommerce announced that they were ordered by the Malaysia Ministry of Health (KKM) to temporarily close their Central Hub in Selangor.

They did not disclose whether it had anything to do with rumours of COVID-19 cases involving their delivery or sorting personnel, only that it was for “further assessment & discussion“, following “precautionary checks done by KKM in the area“.

As of Monday, 16 August 2021, the DHL eCommerce has not announced when their Central Hub in Selangor, which remains closed, will reopen.

Impact Of DHL eCommerce Central Hub Closure

DHL suspended collection of new parcels since 14 August 2021, but said that existing parcels in their network will be delivered.

However, it is unknown if they are also referring to parcels at their Central Hub (which is now closed), or merely parcels already distributed to their regional hubs.

This is reminiscent of when the Shopee warehouse was similarly closed “to implement new SOPs“.

At that time, the Shopee warehouse was closed for 10 days – the minimum days required for a home quarantine of confirmed or suspect COVID-19 cases.

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Was Shopee Warehouse Closed After 50 COVID-19 Cases?

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Did the Ministry of Health shut down the Shopee warehouse after 50 employees were infected with COVID-19?

Take a look at the COVID-19 rumour that went viral, and find out what happened!

Claim : Shopee Warehouse Closed After 50 COVID-19 Cases!

This short warning, which came with two photos, went viral on WhatsApp.

It suggested that the Shopee warehouse was shut down by the Ministry of Health, after 50 employees tested positive for COVID-19!

50 Shopee’s employees infected. Please spray your parcels with disinfectant when you receive them.

Shopee Warehouse Closed, Not Because Of COVID-19 Cases?

The notice of closure by the Malaysia Ministry of Health (KKM) is genuine, but Shopee claims that they are unrelated to the allegations of COVID-19 cases.

Here is what we know so far…

Fact #1 : Shopee Denies Warehouse Closure Due To COVID-19 Cases

On 10 July 2021, Shopee claimed that the closure of their warehouse has “nothing to do with the alleged COVID-19 cases“.

They did not confirm or deny the alleged COVID-19 cases, or whether any of their employees recently tested positive for COVID-19.

Fact #2 : Pictures Of Police From Earlier Inspection

The pictures that were shared with the rumour was not from 9 July 2021, but a week earlier.

On 3 July 2021, Shah Alam district police officers inspected the Shopee warehouse to check for EMCO SOP compliance.

During that inspection, they identified an issue at the Shopee warehouse involving the registration of daily part-time workers in the COVID Intelligent Management System (CIMS).

Due to a misunderstanding of the SOP, Shopee was fined RM10,000.

The 9 July 2021 closure of the Shopee warehouse was unrelated to this 3 July incident.

Fact #3 : Shopee Warehouse Closed To Implement New SOPs

According to Shopee, they received guidance on additional SOP from KKM to implement in their Shah Alam warehouse, because Shah Alam is under EMCO restrictions.

They claimed that the guidance was very helpful, and thus their “warehouse will be closed temporarily to implement these added SOPs as quickly as possible“.

Fact #4 : KKM Ordered Shopee Warehouse Closure

However, the KKM notice tells a different story. It is an official Notis Perintah Tutup Premis (Notice of Premise Closure Order).

That was not a suggestion or guidance by KKM. It was an order to close the Shopee warehouse at the Mapletree Logistics Hub, from 9 July until 16 July 2021.

However, this does not mean that the rumours of 50 infected Shopee employees are true. It merely tells us that the closure of the Shopee warehouse was mandatory, not a suggestion.

Fact #5 : Warehouse Parcel Deliveries Will Be Delayed

While Shopee is assuring everyone that their platform is “operating per business as usual”, they admitted that there will be delays “for deliveries via our warehouse”.

They said that buyers whose orders are affected will receive an alert via push notifications in their Shopee account.

This is further evidence that the warehouse closure was not a suggestion, but an order that must be complied with.

Shopee Statement On Warehouse Closure Over COVID-19 Concerns

This is the 10 July 2021 statement by Shopee on their warehouse closure over COVID-19 concerns/

Dear valued Shopee users,

Shopee is cooperating very closely with the authorities who are working hard to fight Covid-19 in the country. On 9 July 2021,we received some guidance from the Ministry of Health (MOH) on additional Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) they suggested for us to implement at our Shah Alam warehouse. This is because Shah Alam has been placed under Enhanced Movement Control Order. It has nothing to do with the alleged Covid-19 cases, and the inspection is separate from the one conducted by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) on 3 July.

The guidance is very helpful and our warehouse will be closed temporarily to implement these added SOPs as quickly as possible.

To clarify, the Shopee platform is operating per business as usual and deliveries made by Shopee Express and all our other delivery partners are not affected. Some delays may occur and only for deliveries via our warehouse, which are a small portion of overall orders. Buyers whose orders are affected will also receive an alert via push notifications in their Shopee account.

Rest assured it does not impact our overall platform operations and we continue to provide Shopee users with all your needs.

We seek your patience and understanding as this is a national matter and we all have a part to play in the fight against Covid-19. Thank you for all your support and we will provide updates on the situation via our official social media accounts.

Thank you.

#ShopeeMY

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Online Shopping Package Wrapped In Pink Underwear!

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We are used to all kinds of packaging for online purchases, but this is the first time we have seen a package wrapped in pink underwear!

Delivery Mystery : Package Wrapped In Pink Underwear!

Online shopping is all the rage during the pandemic, and we are used to all manners of packaging. Everything from cardboard boxes and bubble wrap, to plastic bags and styrofoam boxes.

But this is the first time we have ever seen a cardboard package wrapped in pink underwear!

On 7 February 2021, Mamaayu Admia Ayunormaslinda shared about how her husband received a package from J&T Express. Not only was the box beaten up, it came wrapped in pink underwear!

The J&T Express delivery man was tickled by the odd packaging, but said that he was delivering the package as received.

To be clear, she ordered pencil boxes for her children, not underwear. So it was not a case of a package of underwear being torn, and someone at J&T Express just wrapping an errant underwear over the package, instead of stuffing it back inside.

Package Wrapped In Pink Underwear : Who Did It?

As this case came right after the J&T Express worker controversy, netizens suggested that it may be a case of “protest” or “sabotage” by disgruntled J&T Express workers.

After all, no vendor would actually ship their parcels wrapped in underwear. That’s a sure way to become infamous and possibly lose customers.

This led some netizens to accuse Mamaayu of making up the story.

But this “wrapping” was peculiar enough that someone working at J&T Express noticed it earlier and took a picture of it.

Ain Nurza, posted this picture below, saying that her husband who works at J&T Express found the package already wrapped in the pink underwear earlier.

The box looks to be in good condition and not beaten up, so this must have been early in the delivery process.

With this corroborating picture from a third-party, it is clear that Mamaayu was not making up the story.

It seems most likely that someone at another J&T Express hub wrapped the package with this pink underwear as a prank, or as a form of protest or sabotage in relation to the alleged cuts in commission.

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J&T Express Worker Strike Over Pay Cut Clarified!

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Viral videos have surfaced, allegedly showing J&T Express workers on strike over a pay cut!

Take a look at the videos, and find out what really happened!

J&T Express Worker Strike Over Pay Cut?

Several videos have surfaced, allegedly showing J&T Express workers on strike over a pay cut.

One of them, in particular, showed J&T Express workers shouting, with one worker standing on a conveyor belt throwing parcels.

According to various netizens, the J&T Express workers were angry and on strike, because their commissions were cut.

The other videos showed what appears to be a J&T fulfilment centre full of undelivered parcels with no one in sight. They appear to be genuine, with J&T logo on some of the parcels.

Coincidentally or not, Muhammad Syazwan Samat just received this brand new PC case from J&T Express.

And one family received their package wrapped in pink underwear!

J&T Express confirmed the incident, and clarified that it was a misunderstanding by several workers who did not understand their year-end bonus plan.

J&T Express in Perak then shared a video of seven workers saying that they did not strike, and apologising for abusing the packages.

On the other hand, this internal memo showed that J&T introduced a new, lower commission rate for their delivery dispatchers from 1 February 2021 onwards.

J&T Express On Viral Video Of Worker Strike

On 7 February 2021, J&T Express finally issued a statement about these viral videos :

The recent viral case which has been circulated on social media regarding “J&T Deducts Employee Wages Incident” that caused the dissatisfaction among employees with violent sorting behaviour, which has attracted the attention and discussion of the public, inside and outside the industry.

First of all, we express our deepest apologies to all Malaysians. Everyone’s opinions and suggestions are truly accepted and adopted by the company. In order to ensure the stability of our employees and to give the public a true accountability, we take this opportunity to clarify the truth to the public today.

“Deduction of Employee Wages Incident”:

J&T has been fully committed to localisation development, continuously improving employee compensation and benefits, and promoting the development of Malaysia’s social economy and E-commerce Industry. We have been committed to building a complete compensation and benefits system to increase employee benefits.

J&T has given employees year-end bonuses after comprehensive consideration, in accordance with the bonus rules and regulations, and in accordance with the Malaysian Labour Law, full bonuses are paid to employees who have worked for a year.

For employees who have worked for less than a year, bonuses are paid according to the length of working time without prejudice.

Unfortunately, certain employees are not clear about the bonus payment scheme which led to violent sorting of packages on February 4th, inciting some employees to make collective disturbances, and posting the videos to social media.

Our Perak state management has immediately handled and clarified the incident. On February 5th, the employees had resumed their normal working status and actively sorted and processed the packages of customers.

As for the fact that J&T deducts employee wages, we clarify that J&T will not deduct or owe employees a penny of wages, and hereby declare that we are willing to accept the supervision and inspection by the public and institutions.

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Vettons : New eCommerce Platform For Smarter Shopping!

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Vettons is a new e-commerce platform that promises to make it easier for consumers to buy original products from authorised retailers.

Find out what advantages Vettons offers over their competitors, both to consumer and retailers in Malaysia!

Vettons : New eCommerce Platform For Smarter Shopping!

Launched on 7 July 2020, Vettons is a new e-commerce platform that promises to deliver smarter and safer online shopping.

As Head of Marketplace, Derek Ng, explains, Vettons is focused on guaranteeing a safe shopping experience, and making it easy for companies to sell and deliver their products.

To guarantee that only genuine products are sold on their platform, they vet companies applying to join their platform to ensure that they are authorised to sell those products.

They also work with brands and have a zero-tolerance policy – companies that sell counterfeit products on their platform are banned.

This not only guarantees consumers a safer shopping experience, it also elevates companies selling genuine products, giving them greater visibility.

On top of that, Vettons make it easy for them to deliver their products using geolocation tagging with smart logistics through their three logistic partners.

Vettons : How To Start Shopping?

The Vettons app is available on both Apple App Store and Google Play Store :

App Store Google Play

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Maxis ONEder Parent Celebrates Single Parents!

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All parents are awesome, but single parents are doubly-so, because they have to play dual roles – a challenge that most of us can only imagine. In celebration of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day this year, Maxis is paying tribute to single parents with the new ONEder Parent campaign.

The Maxis ONEder Parent Campaign

Maxis is celebrating Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Parent’s Day by paying tribute to single parents – both mothers and fathers – with their ONEder Parent campaign. Here is an awesome video about a single dad learning to understand his young daughter.

Maxis ONEder Parent x Parents Without Partners

As part of the campaign, Maxis is teaming up with Parents without Partners (PWP), a non-profit organisation that supports and empowers low-income single parents towards achieving financial independence. Maxis will help PWP reach more customers online through Maxis’ eCommerce platform.

[adrotate group=”2″]

Since 2007, PWP has been raising funds for its programmes by operating Jumble Station, a store selling pre-loved donated goods ranging from books, toys and household items to garments and accessories, among others.

As part of the partnership, the Maxis eCommerce team will set up an online store for PWP to create more awareness and drive visits from online shoppers. Maxis will also train the PWP team to set up a digital product library, as well to pack and fulfil orders via tracked courier services. In addition, Maxis will sponsor a year of hosting, maintenance and support of PWP’s ecommerce site.

ONEder Parent Jumble Station

Later this month, Maxis volunteers, MSquad, will be taking part in the ONEder Parent campaign by donating pre-loved clothes, accessories and household items to be sold through the Jumble Station e-store. They will also be volunteering their time to help PWP curate and organise their e-store’s new online inventory.

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Lunar New Year Online Shopping Tips From Kaspersky

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Every festive season turns into a shopping frenzy, and the action has moved increasingly online. With the convenience of online payment and in-app purchases, with delivery to your door, comes the very real risk of cybercrime, with you as the target. So here are some online shopping tips from Kaspersky!

Everyone loves a great deal during the Lunar New Year, and throughout the year. For cyber criminals, your frenzied shopping to get all the items you need delivered before the festivities begin is a prime opportunity. This is because in the euphoria and adrenaline rush of shopping, you will be more likely to make basic mistakes that can expose your personal data.

General Manager for Kaspersky Lab Southeast Asia, Sylvia Ng explained that the brand understands festive season shopping is a priority for consumers but reminds that it is also a prime opportunity for cyber criminals.

“Get your shopping done safely. Sipping on an espresso at a local coffee house and doing your Internet shopping does seems convenient. However, you open yourself up to criminal activity by doing so. Public Wi-Fi networks are often less secure than private ones, and you risk the possibility of logging onto a phantom network instead of the real one, opening you up to potential identity theft”.

Everyone needs to be wary of public Wi-Fi when using your smartphones and tablets. If you have to do your shopping on any Wi-Fi network, you first need to ensure that it is secure and a network you can trust. Cyber criminals know consumers are more likely to visit sites with login accounts or financial information during busy shopping times.

They can easily monitor all the information sent across public Wi-Fi networks, which can include your bank account or credit card number. Is that deal really so attractive that you are willing to put your online identity and finances at risk? Probably not.

Lunar New Year Online Shopping Tips

This year, don’t let your last minute shopping frenzy lead you down a path of bad security decisions. Here are some common mistakes, and how you can avoid them.

Check that you are using the authentic website of your bank or payment system – this should be obvious, but it is a common mistake that can be very costly!
Pay attention to the https prefix, which indicates an encrypted connection – makes a world of difference.
Check the spelling of the website – a misspelled address is an obvious sign of a fake phishing page.
Use that virtual keyboards to protect your password from being intercepted by key loggers.

Also, consider the following when shopping online:

Avoid ransomware — don’t open email attachments from unknown shopping sites, and always back up your files.

Be aware of phishing links — don’t click on unexpected links sent via email, SMS, or messengers.

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Create strong passwords — combine letters, number and special characters to make them harder to hack.

Shop at safe sites — browse reviews before trusting online shopping sites with your credit card info.

Avoid shopping on public Wi-Fi — criminals love to snoop for your credentials in unsecured wireless networks.

Turn off Bluetooth, connect via cellular — these simple steps will make your smartphone connection much more secure.

Deny suspicious freeware — these ‘gifts’ might include adware or something even worse.

Avoid forged shipping confirmation emails — it could be a phishers’ bait for a quick click.

“These tips that we share are culled from real-life experiences of people. So, before you click on any deal, make sure that you are going to trusted sites. If you find a deal that seems too good to be true, it probably is,” added Sylvia Ng.

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The Lazada Online Revolution 2017 Shopping Campaign

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8 November 2017 – Lazada Malaysia today launched its biggest shopping event of the year – the Lazada Online Revolution 2017. Running for its sixth year, the month-long online shopping extravaganza will take off on 11 November 2017 until 14 December 2017, and will feature 90 million products with savings of up to 90 per cent.

Lazada Online Revolution 2017 – Shop The Universe

Themed “Shop the Universe”, Lazada Malaysia introduced new sections in 2017 within the Lazada website to provide Malaysians with access to an even wider range of assortments with attractive prices.

These sections include “Digital Goods” that cover Lazada e-vouchers, Petronas Gift Cards and travel packages, “Official Stores” with over 1,000 brands like Estee Lauder, Clarks, Senheng and L’Oréal, and lastly “Taobao Collections” that include curated and products from top Taobao China Sellers.

Besides that, shoppers can also look forward to exciting brand flash sales, items as low as RM1 while brands like Nivea, Durex, Maybelline, Mattel and Laneige will be providing Lazada customers with “Mystery Boxes” for them to enjoy further markdowns.

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Hans-Peter Ressel, CEO of Lazada Malaysia said, “More people are placing greater trust when purchasing online. This shows that the adoption of eCommerce is accelerating and the online environment is flourishing in the Malaysian market. With the Lazada application already downloaded by a third of the country’s population, we’re expecting about 1 out of 5 Malaysians to be on our platform for 11.11. This is a strong testament to our expertise and knowing well ahead what our customers demand – an even wider selection of assortments at any given time.”

The Lazada Online Revolution 2017 will be joined by various marketing partners including Digi and CIMB, and will feature giveaways worth more than RM 60 million, including Club Med holiday packages, Go Pros, iPhone Xs, Perodua Bezzas, a chance to experience Zero-G and many more!

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The 11street Shocking? YES! Sales Campaign Launched!

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Today, 11street is accelerating its cross-border trading growth by launching the ‘Shocking? YES!’ campaign. The campaign encompasses a plethora of local and international products, and aims to spur the growth of the e-commerce industry in the country.

The 11street Shocking? YES! Sales Campaign

By collaborating with thousands of locally established and globally recognised brands, the launch of 11street’s year-end online shopping campaign – ‘Shocking? YES!’ – will introduce 100,000 Lowest Price Guaranteed products and free shipping for purchase above RM29 under the Shocking Deals section beginning 1 November 2017 and ending 31 December 2017, with over thousands of sellers and international brands to shop from.

During the campaign, consumers will enjoy a range of products from global participating brands, namely Globalegrow (a public listed brand on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange with market capitalisation exceeding US$3 billion); Anker and Aukey (top ranking global Amazon sellers leading in the charging category, and consumer electronics and mobile tech accessories respectively, in more than 20 countries including the USA, Japan and Europe); Hada Labo (number 1 face lotion in Japan, with one bottle purchased every two seconds); OLENS (number 1 cosmetic lens supplier in Korea); MamyPoko; and Samsung, to name a few.

Other participating brands include Banggood, Banila Co., Bluelans, Caring Pharmacy, CJ WOW Shop, Courts, Lotte, Mamonde, Nongshim, Skechers, Tesco, UEB Technology, and many others.

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The Cross-Border Trading Scene In Malaysia

Through the campaign, 11street also announces its ambition to achieve at least 50% increase in Gross Merchandising Volume (GMV) and cross-border trading. The online marketplace also revealed that its total order for China products grew by 9 times this year, with 70% of these orders falling under the home improvement and personal care categories. To date, 11street has more than 40,000 sellers on board, with over 13 million listed products on its platform, averaging 16 million monthly visits.

Global products of the highest demand were items such as car camera, cosmetic make-up bag, travel bag and electronic gadgets, so with this information and through their market insights, 11street is en route to execute campaigns that benefits consumers with a wider product variety, yet continues to boost the growth of e-commerce in Malaysia.

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You Can Now Buy AIG Insurance Coverage On Lazada!

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KUALA LUMPUR, August 22 2017 – Lazada Malaysia today announced their partnership with AIG Malaysia, a subsidiary of American International Group, Inc (NYSE:AIG), to provide a more convenient and seamless purchase of AIG insurance on their online shopping platform.

Buy AIG Insurance Coverage On Lazada

Customers who shop on Lazada Malaysia can now purchase Travel, Snatch Theft and Personal Accident (Active Lifestyle Care) coverage via the ‘freestanding’ AIG shop-front. The premiums on these AIG insurance coverages will be priced between RM 8 to RM 115.

Malaysia’s general insurance penetration level, measured in terms of premiums as a share of GDP, stands at less than 2% as compared to 3-4% in more developed markets. Recognising that the population remains largely uninsured, the partnership seeks to continue expanding the reach and penetration of insurance in the country, further generating more awareness among consumers.

“Enabling opportunities in the digital and direct channels for the purchase of insurance will be able to improve transparency and enable easier product comparisons, further ensuring that our customers are well-informed about the right products that suit their needs. We continuously invest to provide services that create a more engaging customer experience, and ultimately, better serve the needs of Malaysians. This collaboration is timely and helps prepare Malaysians to take a better charge of their future,” said Hans-Peter Ressel, Chief Executive Officer of Lazada Malaysia.

According to Antony Lee, AIG Malaysia’s Chief Executive Officer, the partnership is another milestone for AIG Malaysia to reach out to a very underinsured segment of the market that favours the convenience of purchasing on digital platforms. These AIG insurance products are specifically tailored for this market at competitive premium prices.

“Lazada not only presents a compelling retail presence, but also offers a strong online platform that enables AIG Malaysia to offer the relevant products to the right customers at the right time, and for the right reasons. With some 50 per cent of Lazada’s customers aged between 26 and 35 years – well within AIG’s target customer segments – the partnership will provide us with the opportunity to better understand our customers’ needs and to continuously match them with the right insurance solutions.”

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Lazada TV Launched During Riang Ria Raya Campaign

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MALAYSIA, May 18^th 2017 – In conjunction with the Hari Raya celebrations, Lazada today unveiled its very own social commerce channel, Lazada TV, launching live on 19^th May 2017.

Lazada TV

The Lazada TV, is part of Lazada’s initiative to seamlessly integrate online shopping with live social content, providing consumers a seamless and compelling shopping experience on the platform. Lazada TV will feature a series of live videos including make-up tips, Raya recipes, and tech reviews, collaborating with renowned brands such as Bosch, L’Oréal, Softlan, Tefal and Unilever.

Hans-Peter Ressel, CEO of Lazada Malaysia said, “We have witnessed an emerging trend whereby Malaysians are using social media to discover products and brands. The launch of Lazada TV would bridge the gap between brands, Lazada and online shoppers as we provide customers with personalised social content and a strong call-to-action to purchase this product, seamlessly integrating shopping and entertainment in one platform. The introduction of this social platform is a game-changer within the industry. With the upcoming Ramadhan campaign, we hope to continuously evolve to provide consumers an omni-channel shopping experience while shopping on Lazada.”

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The Lazada Riang Ria Raya Campaign

The launch of Lazada TV coincides with Lazada’s Hari Raya campaign themed Riang Ria Raya happening from 19th May to 30th June 2017. Consumers can shop for their favourite brands such as Tefal, Bosch, L’Oréal, Unilever, Tesco, Philips, and Watsons, enjoying discounts up to 90%.

During the campaign, Lazada will also feature promotions from various brand partners – customers will stand a chance to win a Perodua Axia from JBL worth RM 25,000, as well as vouchers from Nestle, Senheng and Kelloggs.

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Last Day To Enjoy The Lazada 5th Birthday Surprise!

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Today is the last day to enjoy the Lazada 5th Birthday Surprise! You will enjoy up to 90% off products from brands like Huawei, JBL, Nestle, Drypers, L’oreal, Microsoft, Watsons, Sports Direct, Bosch, Tesco, Tefal & Levi’s.

Shoppers can also enjoy flash sales from as low as RM1, buy 1 free 1 promos and free shipping for over a million products. The Lazada 5th Birthday Surprise will also feature a chance to win free flights from AirAsia Big, as well as special offers from DiGi, Maxis, Domino’s Malaysia, CIMB, Maybank, HSBC, Coca-Cola and Petronas.

The Lazada 5th Birthday Celebration

Earlier this week, Lazada officially celebrated their 5th birthday with their key partners. They also took the opportunity to reveal their plans to catalyse their e-commerce growth.

Hans-Peter Ressel, Chief Executive Officer of Lazada Malaysia, said, “Our first five years was about building the fundamentals of e-commerce, the next five will be transforming into a self-sustaining platform empowering entrepreneurs to serve the needs of Malaysians better.” He added, “With the increasing sophistication of consumers, Lazada endeavours to provide Malaysian businesses the tools and services required to create a more engaging customer experience, thus, accelerating their business growth.”

As of January 2017, e-commerce has already contributed 5.8% to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and is expected to grow 24% per year by 2022. Growth will be driven by the next generation of shoppers, also known as Generation Z, (those born in the mid to late 1990s) who will represent 40% of consumers by 2020. This savvy, younger group of shoppers expect e-commerce to be fast, intuitive, and engaging.

Hans-Peter added, “To keep up with the needs of these new consumers, Lazada is investing heavily in equipping sellers with world class logistics solutions as well as tools in marketing, content management, end-to-end e-commerce services. This will in return increase personalisation, shipping options and social engagement – exciting and delighting consumers further.”

Lazada expects this investment to translate to the creation of new jobs, and the emergence of many more ecosystem entrepreneurs in the field of logistics, digital marketing, technical development and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) solutions. These “knowledge workers” with new specialised skills will play a pivotal role, creating more opportunities and growth for Malaysians.

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The MaxisONE Club Online Shopping Deals Explained!

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Yesterday, Maxis announced the MaxisONE Club online shopping deals. If you read about it, you would know that there is a slew of different deals, which can get really confusing. Maxis and Tech ARP will help break it down for you in this article.

Maxis Explains The MaxisONE Club Online Shopping Deals

First, let’s watch Arjun Varma, Maxis’ Head of Postpaid, explain the various MaxisONE Club online shopping deals in this video.

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RM20 Sign-Up Gift

MaxisONE Club members who sign up with ShopBack will receive a RM20 gift in their e-wallet!

This RM20 gift also applies to MaxisONE Club members who are already ShopBack users. They just have to register their Maxis mobile number (principal line) with their ShopBack account.

Up To 50% Extra Cashback!

MaxisONE Club members can earn up to 50% more cashback when they purchase online via ShopBack. At launch, the extra cashback can be earned on Lazada, Agoda, Zalora, Booking.com, Groupon and Fashion Valet.

Maxis PayDay Sales

On the 28th – 30th of every month, Lazada will offer exclusive 15% discounts on over 100,000 items in the Maxis PayDay Sales!

MaxisONE Club members will need to first download the voucher code from the MyMaxis app. They will receive the 15% discount when they key in the voucher code when they place their order.

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Exclusive RM1 Flash Deals On Lazada

Lazada will also offer exclusive RM1 Flash Deals on 48″ Samsung TVs, PlayStation 4s, and GoPro Hero 4 action cameras during the Maxis PayDay Sales on the 28th – 30th of every month!

MaxisONE Club members will need to first download the voucher code from the MyMaxis app. They will need to key in the voucher code when they place their order for the RM1 Flash Deal.

MyMaxis In-App Deals

Maxis will also offer MaxisONE Club members exclusive deals via the MyMaxis app on a wide variety of products and services. Their recently added partners include IJM Land, Ted Baker, Mandara Spa, Hilton Worldwide, Hugo Boss, Cerutti 1881, Truefitt & Hill.