I would like to share three items reported in the New Straits Time Saturday 18 September 2010.
The first was headlined “Tycoon: I didn’t threaten airline manager”. It appeared that a group bound for Xiamen and Shanghai had ‘difficulties’ during check-in for the Cathay Pacific Airways flight at the Penang International Airport. Tan Sri Tan Kok Peng, the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce president then had an argument with airline station manager.
The following exchange of words was reported:
Station Manager: “You don’t make me angry. I can use my power to make sure you don’t get onboard (the flight).”
Tan: “If you try to do so I will make sure it will not be easy for you to get a job in Penang. I will write to your headquarters and have you transferred out.”
The news report did not mention what the problem was and whether it was finally resolved, but it interests me that the incident happened in the first place, and that it required the involvement of the station manager. It also interests me why the delegation chose to use a foreign airline.
The second item was headlined “I’m no threat, Zaid tells critics in PKR.” It was a report about Datuk Zaid Ibrahim being upset with the reactions of party members to his decision to contest the deputy presidency of the PKR.
Some of Zaid’s comments:
“If you feel your members cannot think for themselves, then just forget about the elections.”
“If I am that bad, I should not have been allowed into the party at all. I f you think I am not that bad, then allow me a fair chance to contest.”
“Till today I cannot understand why everyone is so worked up and consider me a threat.”
“I am an honest man and my kind of politics is clear-cut and vision-based.”
“I have my own strengths which I believe can help the party.”
The news report did not mention whether Zaid received any support from fellow members. It interests me about this man who firmly believes that he has all the answers and it appeared as if he has no supporters he is bull-headedly pursuing his intentions. Maybe his supporters are the silent majority.
The third item was in the Business section headlined “Customers a top priority”
Esso Malaysia Berhad executive retail business director, Faridah Ali was reported to have said “The customer is always right. We have various business targets, but the most important is increasing the customers’ satisfaction level.”
She is right of course. Such statements have been the credo of all marketing personnel. But how far were they practiced?
The first news item above reported about an airline station manager arguing with his customers and both the manager and his customers try to demonstrate their “powers”.
The second item tells of a man intent on ‘doing good’ for his customers even though indications are that he faces very strong opposition. Does he have the power?
