The Barber in New York

This is a story from my mailbox...

The Barber in New York
There was once a very good barber in NEW YORK, he gives Free Haircut to everybody who comes into his shop to have their haircuts. One day a florist goes to him for a haircut. After the cut, he goes to pay the barber and the barber replies: 'I am sorry. I cannot accept money from you. I am doing community service.' The Florist is happy and leaves the shop. The next morning when the barber goes to open his shop, there is a thank you card and a dozen roses waiting at his door.

A policeman goes for a haircut and he also goes to pay the barber after the cut. But the barber replies: 'I am sorry. I cannot accept money from you. I am doing community service.' The cop is happy and leaves the shop. The next morning the barber goes to open his shop, there is a thank you card and a dozen donuts waiting at his door.

A Malaysian software engineer goes for a haircut and he also goes to pay the barber after the cut. But the barber replies: 'I am sorry. I cannot accept money from you. I am doing community service.' The Malaysian software engineer is very happy and leaves. The next morning when the barber goes to open his shop, guess what he finds there....... Can you guess? Come on, think like a Malaysian... . have you got the answer ........... ????? come on ............ . guess guess guess.......

a dozen Malaysians waiting for a free haircut!!!!!


In my study here in NSW, I've conducted some interviews among a free meals' clients. Free lunches were provided by this community service centre from Mondays to Thursdays every week. Everybody are welcomed. However, not even 100 people turned up in any particular day, despite the low socio-economic status of that area. From my observation, there's not a single kid came by and took the free sandwiches and other foods during that time. The interviewees told that some people around the area would just go without food rather than coming to the centre and have a free lunch. They were too proud to come to the community centre, as most didn't like to be associated with charity. I would love to write more about the findings but it is still an 'in-progress' thing , so kind of bound with the rules and regulations.

Well, back to the track. I was thinking do we have this kind of service in Malaysia? I wonder how it will be like to have this kind of service in our place...

Note: Yes it was just a joke. However, does this applies to all Malaysian? Will all Malaysian think that way? Do we always be labeled like that? Tang mana ada makan free, service free, wayang free, segala mak nenek yang free, kitalah yang nombor satu sekali pi. Hmm, betoi ka? When this attitude will change? Mungkinkah satu hari nanti kita boleh dikenali sebagai 'masyarakat pemberi'? Ini belum lagi ulas pasal biasiswa atau bantuan pelajaran dsb, yang mana kadang2 kita lihat mereka yang layak dapat tapi ketinggalan, yang kaya 'meliana' tiba-tiba dapat segala bantuan dan kemudahan? Pakai 'cable' ka? Hmm...