Boredworkers.com

The Chinese New Year weekend just came and went. Since it coincided with the Muslim New Year and Federal Territory Day, it meant a very long weekend for those working in Kuala Lumpur. That also meant that there was no garbage collection for nearly a week! As expected, the garbage truck rolled by and went house to house on the fifth day of Chinese New Year. However, we were in for some surprise.

Now since it was Chinese New Year, the garbage collectors have made it a habit of calling at every house, expecting to receive an Ang Pau (red packet) from Chinese residents. If they visited my house, my parents (if they were at home) would give them a nominal sum. It was like a small incentive and thank you token from my parents for their services. However, in all those years, I never once thought of it as something that was compulsory.

I was at WL’s place when the garbage truck rolled by. Since her parents weren’t home and I wasn’t familiar with their practice, I didn’t answer the garbage collector’s call when they came to her gate. The sounds of the garbage truck came and I gave it little thought. That is until WL and I went outside. What we found came as a shock.

The week’s rubbish had been left untouched! We checked the neighbours’ bins (both Chinese and non-Chinese households) to see if they had suffered similar fates only to find that their bins were clean as a whistle. Was this an honest mistake or did they do it on purpose because we had failed to give them an Ang Pau?

It is my opinion that they were expecting an Ang Pau and when we failed to present them with one, they had skipped WL’s house out of spite. Call me paranoid but there’s little reason otherwise. That being the case, I think that it is unethical on their part to do so. The practice of giving them an Ang Pau is not a bribe on our part to do their jobs. Yes, they should be appreciated but they must also carry out their duties regardless of receiving the red packet or not. I am disappointed at this blatant unethical display.

The good thing is that the garbage truck rolled by again (officially) on the first working day after the holidays (Friday) and picked up the garbage that was left over. However, by that time, maggots had already started crawling around at the bottom of the bin.

So to all Chinese readers out there, the next time the garbage collector comes ringing at your door on Chinese New Year and you’re tempted to stiff the guy, you better think twice. Especially if they can identify you as a Chinese (e.g. you’ve got one of those prayer houses outside). You might just get a load of leftover rubbish.