by Cherry » Fri Aug 29, 2008 12:21 pm
Char Kway Teow
Three friends went to their usual favorite char kway teow stall in a HDB food centre.
They were Chia Hong Chu (holiday bungalow), Goh Pang Sek (5 room flat) and Sah Pang Sek (3 room flat).
The char kway teow stall was crowded, and there was a long queue.
'Ah Pui! Three plates, hah!' cried Chia Hong Chu.
'Sure, boss! Coming!'
Within the next 2 minutes, the first plate of char kway teow came and was plonked in front of
Chia Hong Chu.
'Where two more?'
'Wait lah! Coming! See long queue!'
Chia Hong Chu tucked in his char kway teow. Half an hour passed, and the second plate came, plonked in front of Goh Pang Sek.
'Where my?' cried Sah Pang Sek.
'Coming lah!' said Ah Pui.
Goh Pang Sek tucked in his plate, and another half an hour passed before the 3rd plate came, plonked right in front of Sah Pang Sek.
'Wah! Got to wait so long ah!' said Sah Pang Sek.
'Don't make noise, Mr Sah. You get same good char kway teow, best in Singapore!'
When they have finished eating and chatting, Chia Hong Chu called out:
'Ah Pui! Collect money, ah!'
Ah Pui came over. 'Sah Pang Sek, $3. Goh Pang Sek, $5. Chia Hong Chu, $10.'
'Wah! Robbery! I always pay $3. Why $10 now?'
'Ai yah, Chia Hong Chu. You don't read newspapers meae? You don't watch TV mare? This is gahmen food centre, heavily subsidised rent.
Last time hah, everyone eat my char kway teow subsidised because cheap rent.
Now upgrade. See new clean tables, new chairs, ceiling fans? Cost money, you know.
And we have means test now. Ah Chia, you live in chia hong chu (holiday bungalow),
and you pay full, no subsidy. $10.
You don't like, don't eat here. You eat in hotel in Orchard Road.'
'But I get the same food!'
'No. You get 5 more harms , and you get served first, no need to wait. 5 harm service1'
'What about me? Why $5 when I pay $3 last time?' cried Mr Goh. 'And I wait half hour!'
'Ah Goh. You also kinna means test. You live in goh pang sek (5 room flat), you wait only 30 minutes, I subsidise 50%. And you get 3 more harms -- 3 harm service.'
'Why I wait 1 hour and no extra harm? So damned hungry I can die waiting ah!
And why no extra harm? Not nice with no extra harm.'
'Won't die lah. We give you same good food. No extra harm. You pay only $3. Heavily subsidised -- 70%.