One this, one that, who so like that one? — Mohsin Abdullah
OCT 24 — I may be wrong but if I’m not mistaken it all started with a shopping complex. The first or at least among the first to use the number 1 to name their brands was the shopping complex in Bandar Utama in Petaling Jaya. It was named 1 or (one) Utama. This was what, way back in the early 90s? Anyway now simply many call it 1U.
When 1Utama became somewhat famous, the “1” thing caught on with a number of folks. Typically Malaysian. Remember “Wisma”? It started with the government naming the foreign affairs ministry Wisma Putra. It didn’t light an immediate fire but after a while the Wisma bug bit many among us. Hence we have buildings named “Wisma this” and “Wisma that”. Even coffee houses became Wisma Kopi.
Well back to 1 Utama. Like I said earlier, after the success of 1Utama, many premises, residential areas, etcetera started using the “1” prefix. I don’t have to name them as you know what and where these places are. This went on for years. No big deal. No big hoo-haa.
Then, as we all know, when Datuk Seri Najib Razak became PM he introduced the noble concept of 1 Malaysia. Suddenly the “1” bug started biting all over again, all over the place. If it’s because of support for the concept then we all should feel proud and good. A round of applause for Najib. If it’s just to be in the good books of the PM, then “ok lah”. That’s “understandable.” Can tolerate.
But some folks are using it for commercial purposes. Tying the number “1” to their products. Banks and other big establishment are doing it. Even to the extent of displaying logos similar to that of the 1 Malaysia symbol.
Putting aside the “copyright” issue (if there is one) I still take my songkok off to them for their “ingenuity” even if it’s not “original”. But, hey, you can’t blame people for cashing in or trying to cash in on a highly publicised thing like the 1 Malaysia concept. Right?
Politicians, as usual can never resist the temptation of jumping into a bandwagon. Never a bunch to let opportunity for publicity to go to waste, many politicians are adopting the “1” concept to “champion causes.” So we hear of 1 Indian, 1 Umno. 1 MCA and a string of other 1s. All for a “good cause”?
But many are taking it a bit too far. Even stretching it to a “ridiculous level”.
The icing up till now surely goes to the suggestion by a big-wigs at the Terengganu education authorities. By now, all of us know of the suggestion. Yes, the 1 Toilet concept where teachers and school children share the same toilet when easing themselves.
No more one special toilet for teachers and one toilet for school children. Just one toilet. It’s about oneness, togetherness and sense of belonging. A bond. Echoing Najib all the way. I wonder if the PM is embarrassed by it, as it’s like putting the PM’s philosophy on the same platform of fighting for a common toilet? Hmmm...
Anyway we can rest assured that more is to come. We will hear and see more “1-ness” emerge. Ridiculous, crazy, absurd or otherwise. Let’s brace ourselves for 1 (one ) this, 1 ( one) that. As for me, it has always been, ONE — oops sorry — WAN Zaleha Radzi. Then and now.
For younger readers who are not familiar with the name, Wan Zeleha was a top news presenter-cum-TV host at TV3 in the late 1980s. When she made her screen debut, she took the country by storm. Don’t believe me? Ask the older folks… — mysinchew.com
OCT 24 — I may be wrong but if I’m not mistaken it all started with a shopping complex. The first or at least among the first to use the number 1 to name their brands was the shopping complex in Bandar Utama in Petaling Jaya. It was named 1 or (one) Utama. This was what, way back in the early 90s? Anyway now simply many call it 1U.
When 1Utama became somewhat famous, the “1” thing caught on with a number of folks. Typically Malaysian. Remember “Wisma”? It started with the government naming the foreign affairs ministry Wisma Putra. It didn’t light an immediate fire but after a while the Wisma bug bit many among us. Hence we have buildings named “Wisma this” and “Wisma that”. Even coffee houses became Wisma Kopi.
Well back to 1 Utama. Like I said earlier, after the success of 1Utama, many premises, residential areas, etcetera started using the “1” prefix. I don’t have to name them as you know what and where these places are. This went on for years. No big deal. No big hoo-haa.
Then, as we all know, when Datuk Seri Najib Razak became PM he introduced the noble concept of 1 Malaysia. Suddenly the “1” bug started biting all over again, all over the place. If it’s because of support for the concept then we all should feel proud and good. A round of applause for Najib. If it’s just to be in the good books of the PM, then “ok lah”. That’s “understandable.” Can tolerate.
But some folks are using it for commercial purposes. Tying the number “1” to their products. Banks and other big establishment are doing it. Even to the extent of displaying logos similar to that of the 1 Malaysia symbol.
Putting aside the “copyright” issue (if there is one) I still take my songkok off to them for their “ingenuity” even if it’s not “original”. But, hey, you can’t blame people for cashing in or trying to cash in on a highly publicised thing like the 1 Malaysia concept. Right?
Politicians, as usual can never resist the temptation of jumping into a bandwagon. Never a bunch to let opportunity for publicity to go to waste, many politicians are adopting the “1” concept to “champion causes.” So we hear of 1 Indian, 1 Umno. 1 MCA and a string of other 1s. All for a “good cause”?
But many are taking it a bit too far. Even stretching it to a “ridiculous level”.
The icing up till now surely goes to the suggestion by a big-wigs at the Terengganu education authorities. By now, all of us know of the suggestion. Yes, the 1 Toilet concept where teachers and school children share the same toilet when easing themselves.
No more one special toilet for teachers and one toilet for school children. Just one toilet. It’s about oneness, togetherness and sense of belonging. A bond. Echoing Najib all the way. I wonder if the PM is embarrassed by it, as it’s like putting the PM’s philosophy on the same platform of fighting for a common toilet? Hmmm...
Anyway we can rest assured that more is to come. We will hear and see more “1-ness” emerge. Ridiculous, crazy, absurd or otherwise. Let’s brace ourselves for 1 (one ) this, 1 ( one) that. As for me, it has always been, ONE — oops sorry — WAN Zaleha Radzi. Then and now.
For younger readers who are not familiar with the name, Wan Zeleha was a top news presenter-cum-TV host at TV3 in the late 1980s. When she made her screen debut, she took the country by storm. Don’t believe me? Ask the older folks… — mysinchew.com
- baca juga 1Dirty Malaysian
No comments:
Post a Comment