Wow, am I hobnobbing?

Allow me to explain my point of view in response to some badmouthing that I heard about me. 

1. I am not hobnobbing. From childhood I have a tendency to be well-liked by teachers and principals. 

For me it is about relationships, not leveraging on their positions as they are just ordinary people to me, too. 

When my principal the late Yong Chee Seng was in hospital after the tragic accident when his car plunged into the manhole near Sin Chew, it was because of an ongoing relationship that was mutual.

I still invite some primary school teachers who are in touch with us students, already now in our 60s. 

2. Often, jealousy is the reason why badmouthing happens, yet I take it in good stride. Say what you will—I know myself better, and I remain unaffected. 

If others choose to persist in their slander, they will ultimately face the consequences of their own actions.

3. Some say I like to drop names, which I do not. If I do it, there are only two reasons: 

a) to give credit to whom credit is due. I am just an ordinary Malaysian, with no big cables except friends all over, which include even the janitors from a foreign country. That’s me!

b) when dealing with some Little Napoleons, I may drop some big names so that they know they cannot try to bully ordinary Malaysians like me. Often, I prefer to dress down on a casual occasion; therefore, don’t judge a book by its cover. 

I rather let them know that I am in touch with some people who have authority over them so that they would choose to do what is right before I am driven by my own frustrations because of their strong resistance.

I go for the most senior person in an organisation because the junior staff are unable to solve the problem. If the junior staff can solve the problem, there is no reason to disturb the senior people.

This is the only basis why sometimes I do drop some big names; in fact, I prefer not to do that so that I can personally assess the attitude of good civil or corporate person to heap my praises on them if they are good. I can also identify the Little Napoleons and deal with them. 

4. Often, the problems that I highlight are not even mine alone but others telling me their complaints. I am usually very persistent until the problem is solved because often, people suffer daily without even know who to complain to. 

They write to the Public relations officer only to get standard answers.

But of course, as a caveat, I cannot be attending to everyone’s complaint, unless it is something within the scope of my daily activities or I happen to visit the place.