Star, Tuesday November 16, 2010
PETALING JAYA: It looks like Virgin Group boss Sir Richard Branson will be dressing up as an AirAsia stewardess after all for losing a bet with Lotus Racing team principal Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes over which of their teams would do better in the just-concluded Formula 1 season.
The two men had made a bet at the start of the season in March that the loser must serve as a “stewardess” on the winner’s airline.
Despite both teams failing to score any championship points throughout the season, Malaysian-backed Lotus Racing finished ahead of Virgin Racing in all but two races (in Italy and Singapore).
After the season’s final race at the sensational Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, Lotus finished in 10th spot while Virgin finished last among the 12 teams.
Fernandes said: “It’s time for Richard to start preparing himself for some hard work ... and the likely pain of a pair of high heels!”
The date of the Kuala Lumpur-London AirAsia flight has yet to be set, but seats will be auctioned off and the money given to Branson’s chosen charity.
“We have agreed that we will run an online charity auction for the seats on the route to raise money for a charity of Richard’s choice and give fans of both teams the chance to be on the flight.
“The aim is to raise as much money as we can for a good cause ... So the discomfort Richard will have to go through will be worth as much as it possibly can be.”
The friendly wager aside, Fernandes was delighted to have achieved the team’s primary target to be the best team among the newcomers.
Besides Lotus and Virgin, the other new team on the grid was the Spanish Hispania Racing (HRT) team, which finished 11th.
“I am completely relieved, completely ecstatic, happy and vindicated in making the decision to go into F1,” said Fernandes, who had the support of Malaysian conglomerates like Naza, Proton and Maxis to bring Lotus back into the premier racing fraternity after a 16-year hiatus.
“To complete 19 races and finish in 10th spot, after having just five months to build the car, is something that is truly magical.”
“This is the first chapter of a long career ahead and we will create our own future, destiny and history from here,” said Fernandes.
Kata Pengetua: Satu daripada "crazy" life style orang kaya ialah mengadakan pertandingan begini dan kutipan yang mereka kumpul diberikan kepada charity. Dalam buku "I'm Rich Beyond My Wildest Dreams - How To Get Everything You Want In Life" oleh Thomas L. Pauley dan Penelope J. Pauley menyatakan "Give back to God a portion of what you receive. We call this tithing". "Giving back a portion of what you receive is more than good manners, it's a Universal Law. You owe the Universe 10%". "Ten percent of your income does not belong to you. It is given to you in trust and you get to decide WHERE it goes. But you do not get to decide IF it goes. The tithe is God's money". "You don't tithe after you get rich. The secret is that you tithe and then you get rich". "... the important thing is your intent. If you intent to give 10% and you work toward that end, God will reward you". Kebanyakan orang kata "saya akan memberi apabila saya kaya"; sepatutnya "saya kaya kerana saya memberi".
Saya ingin memaklumkan pelantikan Y.Bhg. Dato’ Dr. Rosli bin Mohamed, Timbalan Ketua Setiausaha (Pengurusan), Kementerian Pelajaran, P.T.D. Gred Utama A sebagai Ketua Setiausaha, Kementerian Pelajaran, P.T.D. Gred Utama Turus III mulai 29 Oktober 2010 bagi menggantikan Y.Bhg. Tan Sri Dr. Zulkurnain bin Haji Awang yang dilantik sebagai Pengerusi Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Pelajaran (SPP) mulai tarikh yang sama. 
