Boycott! Boycott! Boycott!

If consumers feel cheated or dissatisfied with products or services they have the right to take their business elsewhere

COMMENT

A few days ago, a friend shared a post on her Facebook wall which urged the public, especially the Malays to boycott Low Yat Plaza. The page called ‘Tutup Plaza Low Yat Penipu’ was created after the infamous incident at Plaza Low Yat a few weeks ago.

I spent some time browsing and reading the postings and commentaries on the page. In a nutshell, the page urges Malays to stop doing business with Chinese and instead transfer their purchasing power to Bumiputera owned entities.

Although I disagree with their racially slurred statements, I do agree that consumers have powers. If they feel cheated or dissatisfied with services rendered, they have the right to take their business elsewhere.

Frankly speaking, Low Yat Plaza isn’t a place I fancy.

I have been there a few times – most of the time I have ended up getting cheated. I got my son his X-Box from a shop there and paid the price quoted for original parts. A few months later, one of his controllers failed. When I sent it elsewhere for repairs, I found out that it wasn’t an original in the first place. A few of my friends have had similar experiences with handphones purchased from the plaza.

So, should I start boycotting Low Yat?

Maybe. But cheating and blood-sucking traders are everywhere.

For instance a few weeks ago I went to Bazar Ramadan to get some kuih for berbuka. I asked the pakcik if it was sweet enough and narrated how I had often ended up buying tasteless kuih during previous fasting months. He guaranteed it was. But right after berbuka, I ended up throwing them all away– no sugar, no salt, no taste! Not once, not twice. I’ve been cheated by pakciks, makciks, abangs and kakaks over and over again at those bazars.

Should I start boycotting the kuih sellers at Bazar Ramadan?

But then it’s not just them. How about my favourite Nasi Campur and Tomyam Seafood place. They increased their prices a few months ago. On top of the price increase, the portion of the food served has also shrunk.

In my book, these makan place owners are also bloodsucking traders. I tried hopping to other Nasi Campur stalls – they are no better.

So tell me, should I start boycotting Nasi Campur?

Traders at the pasar malam are no different. Once I bought honey from a Pak Haji who was also selling Quran books and minyak attar. He claimed it was pure and was produced by his own brother- in- law. He told me of the goodness of honey and how it was ‘sunnah Nabi’ to consume it every day, urging me to give it a try. I took a bottle and he placed a second bottle into my bag, giving me a 50% discount on the second one. To make a long story short, the honey tasted like caramelised sugar.

I suppose Malay traders are no different from Chinese traders, eh?

And puh-leeze don’t get me started on most of the Malay car workshops – service is lousy, and once kena ketuk, it could burn your pocket. Even my Malay friends make it a point to only visit Chinese mechanics when they have issues with their cars.

The thing is, some traders at Low Yat may be cheats. But so are the pakciks, makciks, abangs and kakaks trading at Bazar Ramadan, Nasi Campur stalls, pasar malams, workshops and God knows everywhere else around the country.

Funny though, I don’t see Facebook pages being created to boycott these pakciks, makciks, abangs and kakaks. I wonder why?

Fighting for your consumer rights is a good thing. But fight against the blood sucking, cheating traders everywhere regardless of their race. There are just as many greedy Malay and Indian traders out there as there are greedy Chinese traders.

So if you plan to boycott the bloodsucking traders at Low Yat, make sure you also boycott all the other bloodsucking traders. Can ah?