A new machine has just stamped its authority in the School of Business. Well, i admit it is unique 'cause it dispenses bottled drinks, more to Coca-Cola drinks actually. But why all the hype about it? people surrounding the machine as if it can read what's going on their minds and kept smiling to themselves whenever they look at it. HAHAHA! they looked as if they're senile. in fact, i'll be seen as one too as i can't help but to smile to myself, looking at other people's reactions when they're facing that new dispensing machine. but hey, perhaps the it's same reaction as when can drinks were first made possible to purchase in those similar machines. then came snack dispensing ones before those which can allow us to purchase Nike soccer balls came into our life, more noticably along Orchard Road. I love that Nike campaign. Nike is always so damn creative. how i wish i can be part of their company....

Okay, now that i've got your attention, i wanna highlight a pathetic issue that Singapore's facing right now - unemployment. yeah, it was so damn serious that when i went to Wheelock Place a few days back, i saw this Mr. Singh being made to open a door for people to go in and out. i supposed he was hired la, can't be voluntary work right? if not, he'll be kicked out in no time already. anyway my point is, is the situation now so desperate that we have to have someone being paid just to open the door?

Sorry Mr. Harban Singh. i respect you for doing a legal job for whatever reasons you may have that made you sign on that dotted line in the contract. but i've just got to talk my heart contents out about this thing here.

so getting on, if his job, which was neither hazardous nor boorish, was not "bad" enough, consider this fact. he was all alone. YES! HE WAS ALL ALONE! so imagine. he was dressed up actually, like those people who welcomed you when you first step out of the taxi in the boulevard of a 5-star hotel. but this poor old guy, had to use his every ounce of energy to pull the door and keep it open by putting one of his foot in front of the door, while he stands behind it. i seriously don't know if he was forced to do the job or not! i mean this is so damn shameful! while he tries most of the time to smile and greet everyone that comes in with his most sincere "hello!", i guess what made a bigger impact was that brief moments by which he looked down and tried to comfort himself into completing the job.

perhaps he was really in need of cash. maybe he was trying sincerely a manner by which he could get hold of some cash to make use of it for something important. i couldn't bring myself to ask him why he did that job. not that it's stupid, but it's simply ridiculous. imagine having a person being given the job of opening every single public door that's available in Singapore, excluding the toilet doors of course. but at least if that scenario did really happen, it will not be discouraging for those who did it 'cause they know they're not alone. but for this poor Mr. Singh, he was by himself, watching people in trendy clothes sashaying in and out of Wheelock Place and dining expensive food a la carte style. who knows he can only afford a cup of teh tarik and 2 slices of sandwiches each day while the rest of his money goes into his pocket for medical reasons perhaps?

i noticed something was amiss when i went out of Borders. Mr. Singh wasn't there. Has his shift ended for the day? I will be relieved if that is so 'cause his presence has created a stir in my mind. But a few brief steps foward later, i saw this reluctant figure heading towards the same door that Mr Singh was at around an hour ago. He was taking short steps towards, what is suppose will be his "destination". I just kept thinking that that figure was not to be Mr. Harban Singh. But i can't defy the odds. his nametag had his name written clearly, if not proudly for someone who wears his responsibility on his heart.

so i turned around and had a final look at his "resemblence" holding the door open for disrespectful and arrogant Singaporeans, who can't even say a small "thank you" to someone doing a small favour gor them. for someone who's so humble, who doesn't need lots of badges for recognition purposes and does a job which most people will give a weird expression to, a small thank you will even bring a smile to his face. i regretted not saying thanks to him when i first entered Wheelock Place, simply 'cause i was astonished to see someone opening the door for me! worse still, i didn't say thanks to him when i went out of that place as i wanted to avoid going through a door that has been opened for me. who am i anyway? i'm just a normal human being, just like Mr Harban Singh, so why the discrimination of status?

i have a sense of regret in me now, a feeling of remorse. but what can i do to twist the situation around? now we aim to have full time councillors in all schools by the near future. and 2 security guards for each institution too. but other than to encourage entrpreneurship, must the government really go to the extent of creating jobs such as the one i saw at Wheelock Place? wait till this current batch of "Year Of Dragon" graduate from their respective institutions. looking at the current conditons, i wonder how we're going to be accommodated.

still, my main point here is not creating sympathy for Mr Harban Singh. Neither do i wanna criticize the government. i just hope that while i try to create a bit of awareness here, my dear readers will say a sincere "thank you" to Mr Singh should you see him doing that small favour to you which you may take for granted. Aren't you ashamed of yourself to be taught social etiquettes here? well you should actually. if he's isn't there, i hope he left on mutual consent, not sacked for not being up to standard. if he's sacked, let me see the person who sacked him do a better job.

better start appreciating small stuffs that make a big difference to your life my readers. as for Mr Harban Singh, i salute you sir. this country need more humble people like you.