Just the other day, there was a feature article on Mamak restaurants in the Sunday papers. It narrated how the Mamaks have literally landscaped how, when and what Malaysians eat. They kowtow to all the whims and fancies of their customers, poor or rich, as long as you have money no matter how small your purchase is. All they want is your money (don’t everybody?) and the cheap immigrant workers are there to dance to the tune of the customers all day long (and night as some are 24-hour restaurants) to receive abuses from customers whilst the fat bosses buy more gold for their wives and prosper them. In their zest to meet their customer demand and competition from the newly emerging kopi tiam concept lifestyle shops, the mamaks (mamak restaurants) have been hurled accusations of encouraging unhealthy eating habits, sedentary lifestyle and cultivating lepak (hanging around aimlessly) culture. An example of this is sprouting of wide LCD screen TVs at their premises which can be pre-dated from the time of commencement of 2006 FIFA World Cup games. They now screen European nocturnal (by our time) soccer games in the wee hours of the morning to the delight of insomniac night birds. But wait! People who want to lepak will lepak anywhere. Is it not healthier to gulp non-alcoholic beverages a the mamaks than ye good ol' ale down at Finnegan's?
Since they were at it, they also nailed the mamaks for the reason for societal obesity!
The kopi tiam shops are no different than their competitors. They thrive on their patrons' yearn for the comfort of nostalgia and plucking their childhood memories by serving old traditional Malayan and peranakan food, served by foreign workers who probably do not know that Malaysia has 14 states and they will charge you 4 times more than the mamaks!
Talking about gold earlier, I remember listening to a radio interview recently of a childhood friend of mine, Meer Sadik, and his multi-million company dealing with gold and diamond. Meer Sadik bin Habib Mohamad started Standard 1 in 1970 in Hutchings Primary School in Penang with me. We played and worked together in Hutchings and went to Penang Free School. In 1981/82, he pursued the study of gemology in Indiana, USA presumably to continue his father's business. His father had a small jewellery shop (Habib Jewels) in Ah Quee Street in Penang. Over the years, with Meer's ingenuity, hard work, enterprising skills and business acumen, he managed to bring this small retail business to such dizzying heights that the name Habib Jewels has become synonymous with diamonds in this country.
Going through the interview, we realize that our forefathers have always given a lot of respect to the strength of gold in times of need. When in dire straits, there is always your mother's jewels and the friendly Kedai Pajak Gadai manned by the shrewd Chinaman with thick-rimmed glasses, Pagoda singlet and black shorts to dish out money for you at a reasonable interest rate, instead of having to lose your pride and honour by asking from friends or relatives. Of course, you do not want to be seen hanging (lepakking) around the Pajak Gadai shop just in case you are spotted by your friends! 6 months later, you either redeem or re-pawn your gold, no questions asked as long as you fork out the appropriate money. I know, because it was our local bank before HSBC came around and even afterwards!
The final take-home message is this... The proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is anything but an illusion. It is at the end point of our undying dedication and hard work in the kaleidoscopic ride in the journey of life parched with trials and tribulations. So, strive on... Another gem on Vesak Day! Lord Buddha's day of enlightenment!
My friend's father sold lottery ticket from age 18 till 90 years old in a small town near Ipoh. According to him , in his service no won any prize even 3rd prize. So????
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