Poskod Malaysia

THE 2010/2011 INSPIRED/EXPIRED AWARDS
Category: Least Amount of Plastic In A Paris Hilton Society Photo

Well, it’s obvious, isn’t it? Jho Low can’t have had a face-job. Or he’s got the worst plastic surgeon in the world. Either way, it doesn’t stop this big spender’s face from being expressively smug. Look at him. “Yeah,” he’s thinking. “I gave Lindsay Lohan 23 bottles of Cristal. I spend USD 160,000 a night, partying. I come ‘once in a lifetime’.” Hmm, not so little plastic, after all.

Paris, beside him, goes: “Suck it, Malaysia with a median household income of RM2,830 a month!”

Man of mystery Low Taek Jho is an investment banker who first came to light in 2009 because of his spending habits — which were so outrageous that even the New York high-society night-life scene took notice. Malaysians were both appalled and intrigued. Who was this cat? Why does he have so much disposable income in a recession? Is he using Malaysian-government money to finance his champagne campaign?

More than six months later, The Star puts Jho on its cover, in a huge, fawning interview that basically said: “I was born in a rich family, I went to school with rich kids, that’s why I’m rich now.” (It also, bizarrely and inappropriately, asked Jho whether he was dating Paris. HA HA HA!) Sorry Jho, but your story not very inspiring lah.

A bit tasteless also, considering that sugar and fuel prices went up again. Verdict: EXPIRED. Still, middling business will no doubt continue to see the guy as a hero.

(Zedeck Siew)