… According to a source who took the photo, the membership price list came from a copy of KGNS\u2019s official newsletter, Berita Subang,<\/strong><\/span> printed for the October to December 2011 period.<\/p>\n The source told FMT that he found it very \u201cpeculiar\u201d that KGNS would practice racial policies in admitting members to the club.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is hard to believe that the club, being established by an Act of Parliament still practices somewhat offensive racial discriminatory policies in admitting members. This admission policy somewhat offends my ideology of what Malaysia is.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI would like to stress that I have no malice towards the club when posting the picture,\u201d he told FMT.<\/p>\n Predictably the photo caused an outcry over Facebook, with many reacting in disappointment and anger over the racially-charged prices.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere goes the 1Malaysia concept (Where has the 1Malaysia concept gone)?\u201d said a Md Farhad Rahman.<\/p>\n Another, only known as PuiSee Ch, said: \u201cWhat\u2019s in the minds of these pepps (people)? Now \u2018race\u2019 can be purchased? They gotta be kidding.\u201d<\/p>\n Other comments were tinged with sarcasm. One Calvin Wong said: \u201cWow. I never knew Chinese and Indian (were) worth so much more.\u201d<\/p>\n Aiman Baharum said: \u201cAhh, so good to be the cheapest one lol.\u201d<\/p>\n Janson Chen said: \u201cOne day petrol is going to be like that too lol.\u201d<\/p>\n Balancing the racial imbalance<\/strong><\/p>\n One Facebook user claiming to be a KGNS club member said that the price list had little to do with racism, and more to do with the racial mix in the club.<\/p>\n \u201cThis isn\u2019t racism. They\u2019re trying to balance the number of races (there). Currently, there\u2019s lots of Chinese and Indians but very little Malay club members. I know (this) because I\u2019m a club member myself,\u201d said Norman Zakaria.<\/p>\n \u201cSo in order to balance it, they charge higher for the Chinese and Indians so not many will apply, and charge less for Malays in order to promote membership to the Malays and increase the number of Malay club members.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the names listed on the photo \u2013 who requested to be anonymous- told FMT that the membership payment was part of a United Overseas Bank (UOB) move to finance loans for potential KGNS members.<\/p>\n According to her, UOB had nothing to do with the price list.<\/p>\n \u201cThe price was fixed by KGNS according to their quota<\/span><\/strong>. We are not selling this (the membership) on their behalf \u2026 As a bank, we are running a campaign for the payment,\u201d she said, refusing to elaborate further.<\/p>\n When contacted, KGNS refused to comment.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n source:\u00a0http:\/\/www.freemalaysiatoday.com\/2012\/01\/31\/racial-tint-to-golf-club-membership\/<\/a><\/p>\n My initial post:<\/p>\n I first got news of this via Twitter (refer:\u00a0https:\/\/twitter.com\/#!\/inbarajs\/status\/163875141623885825\/photo\/1<\/a>) yesterday. Today’s TMI article gets some response from KGNS president (refer excerpts from thel article below).<\/p>\n In my opinion, its hard to justify why there should be difference prices as its totally not related to the quota. You had already put a limit based on racial composition, so the price should be the same. However, \u00a0since the limited places available, then you can find the demand is pushed up for those under limited quota. \u00a0The selling of memberships (even if facilitated by 3rd party) based on racial lines is considered a racial discrimination (wonder if it will be illegal under the proposed Race Relations Act). Its just like hiring people (and paying them differently) or renting out houses (and charging them different rental amount) based on race.<\/p>\n And to claim that its put up by others and not related to the club is flimsy indeed. How can such transfers\/sales happen without the club management’s knowledge? How can a finance company offer to facilitate loan\/easy-payment scheme without club’s knowledge?<\/p>\n Yes, supply and demand can play a role in determining prices, but here it looks like the company is setting the price. One can google “easi-cash” and identify which bank is involved.<\/p>\n To be fair to KGNS, refer to their membership fees at website (http:\/\/www.subanggolf.com\/content\/fees+mode+of+payments-117.aspx<\/a>):<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The ordinary membership is RM25k. Ordinary membership is closed except for government servants, but its possible to get a membership transferred (willing seller-willing buyer basis). And there’s a Membership Dept to help facilitiate this transfer. So, don’t tell me they don’t know about such “pricing”.<\/p>\n The club should ask the finance company to remove such notices before its image is spoilt further.<\/p>\n BTW, one can go through the whole website, and there’s not a single reference to any racial quota for membership. I wonder why. If you are proud of your multi-racial membership, then surely you would highlight how its achieved right?<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/poobalan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/kgns-fees-226x300.png\" "\\"kgns-fees\\"")
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