"Zakaria Zainal is with Aqilah Zailan and Azmin Zalnal.
Edit: My friend raised this and it cuts right to the issue. Only in Singapore, people can eat enormous amounts of food and be comfortable with one person (that minority, or someone different than them) in the room not indulging the same way. And sadly, this is the place we live in today.
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So this is what it means to live in cosmopolitan, multiracial Singapore.
“But you can eat it right? Just a little bit is ok right?"
Your face does not give anything away. But everyone looks at you and hope you say yes. And be less of an inconvenience to others.
It‘s just a team lunch you say. But it's something your boss and others are keen to eat. And that one person who can't because of dietary requirements is given an afterthought, a small compensation, a "lucky you still have something to eat" plastic filled rice with a small side of protein and veggies. You dine surrounded by raucous colleagues wolfing down plate after plate of food in that team lunch.
"Sorry you had to watch others eat Haram food."
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This is not the first time. My sister, my father and my father-in-law who work in big, reputable companies but merely become an afterthought when it comes to these team bonding sessions or the dreaded annual dinner and dance. The act of looking alter your employees' dietary preference in a thoughtful manner does not go a long way— it is the bare minimum.
We seemingly celebrate diversity but not when it is inconvenient to do so.
Next time you wanna eat somewhere fancy with your team, let us know so that we can excuse ourselves. We don't need it. But you certainly do.
If you have a painful story of these so-called team lunches or dinners, please comment below.
Caption: My sister's packet meal during a team lunch while at Paradise Group of Restaurants. Even better, signing an indemnity form due to HALALISM."
If one strict vegan works in a team of 20 and a company of 100, all team and company events and meals must be 100% vegan.
Or if it's a Jain, then the food options are even more limited.