Now we have another example of foolishness - alas, this time it is happening in Singapore, not in Malaysia. This one won't escalate into a mess, but it is an example of foolishness nonetheless.
For goodness sakes, Chin Kwang. It's a McDonald's souvenir. It's a free gift. It's just a little pig toy, for kids!ST Forum, Jan 13, 2010
Hard to believe McDonald's promotion was not about the zodiac
I WAS born in the year of the Pig. So, when I first saw the toy collectibles in a McDonald's outlet, I stared at the display for a long while to confirm that I was not mistaken: that McDonald's had omitted my Chinese zodiac sign.
The pig was not one of the 12 collectible designs representing the dozen animals of the Chinese zodiac. Instead McDonald's replaced it with Cupid.
I wrote to McDonald's last week to ask why and to say why it was wrong:
- Cupid is not a Chinese zodiac sign;
- While McDonald's is a halal restaurant, and the reason for replacing the pig is to be sensitive towards the Muslim customers, the exclusion seems to be disrespectful and insensitive to Chinese patrons.
- By replacing the pig, McDonald's is suggesting that the Muslim community is not tolerant enough to accept it as part of the Chinese zodiac.
McDonald's said that as Valentine's Day coincided on the first day of the Chinese New Year, it decided on Cupid.
It also stated that its Doraemon lucky charms promotion was never intended as a zodiac collection.
If the 12 designs were not meant to mimic the 12 zodiac signs, why are customers upset?
Tan Chin Kwang
Okay, there is no pig. You can't get a pig. So go get yourself the tiger, the horse, the bull, the monkey.
What? You're born in the Year of the Pig? And you must have a pig toy? Okay, then go somewhere else and buy it. Die die MUST get a pig toy from McDonald's meh?!!
There are things in life which are worth making a fuss over. And there are things in life which are not. Free gifts from fast food restaurants, in my opinion, belong to the latter category.