All through out the 3 weeks I participated in the competition, I had gotten only great co-operation from everybody. I was informed by my good friend Michelle that a lantern Festival Celebration was going to be held at Summit USJ with the co-operation of MCA Subang Jaya. She told me that it would be a great place to be as there'll be a huge crowd. I told them that we should be able to meet up around 7pm.
Upon reaching Summit, the crowd was building up. I quickly took a few photos and even requested the assistance of a few MCA members to introduce me to the press present. I was informed that the Lion Dance Troop from my hometown, Muar, Johore will be performing and my heart swelled with so much pride. You see, these guys are currently the world no.1 champ in the Lion Dance arena. I remembered there was once when I was at 1Utama and Speedy was showing the video of the world competition and I actually stood still for more than 30 minutes watching them in pure amazement. The expression that they portrayed coupled with the body language was so similar to a cheeky lion keen on having a good time at play. I have been a keen admirer of them since young and it started when I first saw them performing during the merdeka parade in Muar when I was 8 years old. So when it was time for the show to start, I got myself a spot right at the front where I could sit on the pavement. In the middle of the show, a guy came to ask me whether I had seek permission to run a campaign for RHB at Summit. I politely told him that it was not a campaign but an individual competition that I'm participating in. I was not approaching anyone to sell anything and actually got so many others who wanted to take a photo together approached me that night.
After the lion dance, I went back to the previous spot near the stage as I had wanted to grab a chance to shake hands with Dato' Lee Hua Beng. Not long after, 2 ladies who claimed to be on the complex management team asked me to leave the place as I had not asked for their permission to run a campaign for both MIX FM and RHB. I told them that I was not there to run a campaign but more towards trying my best to win a competition sponsored by both RHB and organised by Mix FM as I had wanted to share the prize with the underprivileged children as well as a few animal shelters in the vicinity. Still they argued that I should leave the place and seeing that it was quite pointless to prove my point to people who could not appreciate a simple act of sharing and caring, I asked my friend, partner and photographer, Cris, to hold my cut out while I approached Dato' Lee to seek permission to take a photo while shaking his hands. Amazingly Dato' being the great leader that he is, saw the reason behind my explanation and granted me my wish. I quickly asked Cris to take the required photo and together with Julie, Cris, Michelle, Yuin Long, Jessie and Jamie, we were escorted out of the festival by a couple of RELA guys who were very kind and politely apologised for the total misunderstanding. I told them that it was OK and invited them to the berbuka puasa session at RACTAR. I told Julie in the car that it was ironic that I actually got evicted from a place where I live at but never at other places that I had visited outside Subang Jaya.
Nevertheless, I would like to thank everyone especially to Mr Teoh of SJ Echo who pointed me to the right direction during my search for media coverage, the 2 MCA members who were kind enough to assist me during the earlier part of the evening, to the lady in red and white dress who advised me to stick to Dato' Lee like glue if I want to get noticed and to another great tall lady in red/pink who even went up to the press and asked them to talk to me. To Dato' Lee, thank you so much for your kind co-operation as your gesture would help me in achieving my dreams as well as helping the kids at RACTAR and the animals at the shelter. To the residents of Subang Jaya and USJ, do your part in helping the local community. No matter how small our action is to us, it means a lot to the ones in need.
As for me I was taught a lesson too this time around. The next time I embark on another competition of similar nature as ISP, I'll request for a permit to carry the cut out EVERY WHERE I go.
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