This story is about how a routine company Chinese New Year party turned into an explosive reckoning, when a long-time insider used her final moments on the microphone to expose the hidden truths behind a seemingly thriving workplace.
I joined the company as an intern, fresh out of university with a degree in Computer Science with a minor in data analytics in January for a six month internship. When I showed up, HR did its official onboarding then handed me over to “Carmen.”
Carmen was the CEO’s Personal Assistant. She was the company’s first employee over a decade ago when it was still a Jaya One start-up up to the present day, with Headquarters in Cyberjaya and branch offices in Bangsar South, and a new second office in Icon City.
She knew everyone and everything and she made the office tour feel like a visit to a familiar place. By the time we reached my desk, I knew three other people, where the pantry, toilets and printer was located, was a provisional member in the company pickleball league, and added to the Friday night table top games whatsapp.
The Chinese New Year Party
Work was good: I was based in HQ, but bounced between the different offices, and it seemed like a good place to work. I was considering pushing for a full time position, until the Company Chinese New Year Party.
You could say they did things a bit different: There was good catered food, bonus letters were handed out, and there was a microphone where the CEO and one or two “C-Level” people made speeches. After that, it became an open mic so people could share blessings, good wishes to each other and the company.
The Polite and Expected Opening
Most people would half-listen to the open mic speakers because everyone was either eating, comparing bonuses or just generally gossiping. When Carmen took to the stage, I was only half paying attention, because I was focused on the free dinner in front of me while checking Slack under the table. I missed the first part of her speech because I assumed it would be more generic well wishes. It wasn’t.
Technically Off the Hook
Then I heard something that didn’t fit, “My system access was cut at 11:43am today, before I could even go for lunch.”
I started paying attention when she said, “Since this party is after office hours, my last day as an employee is over, and I’ve got a lot of cerita and gossip to share.”
Her smile was brittle and cold, not warm like usual, “I’m just a guest with a microphone.”
“Some of you stopped claiming overtime because you were told it “looks” bad. But the work never stopped: All the late night whatsapp and weekend phone calls.”
There was a bit of laughter here and there, and I could agree that this was real. I’ve had a few late nights in the past six weeks. And I was an intern – can’t make claims, not replacement time off. It’s just how it is.
She Shifted to Specifics
Carmen started talking about bonuses, specifically about bonuses from Q4, 2025: “Last quarter, the bonus pool didn’t shrink. It was just… redistributed. Different pockets.” A lot less laughter, but now a lot more attention and focus on her. People stop talking, stop eating.
The only ones who didn’t get it were the new hires and interns like me who weren’t here last year. But the room went that type of quiet whenever everyone else knew that she was saying things better left unsaid.
She clicked the remote in her hand, commandeered the projector screen and slides appeared. They showed Not just Q4 2025 bonuses, but also for Chinese New Year 2026, stating clearly who got how much.
Human Resources Mismanagements Revealed
It began with a promotion that had surprised everyone, and had been privately questioned by almost everyone: “Everyone here knows why “Jayson” got promoted ahead of three stronger candidates.”
I wasn’t the only one looking around, wondering who this was. Then I heard his awkward laughter, a few tables away, echoing in everyone else’s silence. I realized there was something going on here that I didn’t know.
“I’ve sat in on hiring panels and interviews, where the scores were agreed on before the interview. Good candidates were rejected before they had their interview, just to just tick off checkboxes for “diversity and inclusiveness” purposes.”
She had a Slide Deck
She clicked the remote, the slides changed and there were interview score sheets. She named the vacancies, mentions the names of the “hiring panels” and the interviewers. It showed who got rejected for internal promotions. Who got lowballed offers, and raises, and interns tagged for extended probation before they were even sent an offer letter.
Then she went further, “Some managers, ‘Marina,’ and ‘Khairul’ actually submitted honest ratings. Those got changed, so bonuses didn’t have to be paid. Those changes were ordered and approved by Senior Management. You know, your team’s ratings don’t change themselves.”
“Selesai’ed” Issues
“You all ingat those formal complaints from last year? Ada documentation, witnesses. Tapi semau just marked diselesaikan. Nothing happened?”
Everyone knows the incidents in question. I’d heard the rumors and gossip about sexual harassment and racist comments and remarks. But the persons who filed complaints are no longer here.
That made me wonder, if something did happen, something did go wrong… did reporting it even matter? Or would it just get me fired?
Affairs of the Heart
Carmen then suggested, “Let’s get personal, or rather interpersonal.” She talked about interoffice relationships. Not romance. Relationships. All of which violated something in the employee handbook that I had not yet read. She summarized it all, “More than one team lead, or senior is having sex with their team juniors.”
I looked around the room. The number of people blushing, looking away awkward or at the floor while blushing in their seats was astounding. There was at least one person at every table and there were eight tables. I could see who was being… naughty.
Accounting for Fraud
Then financial misconduct, starting with duplicated travel claims, and marketing event meal allowances. “A department of seven, didn’t hire any event crew but claimed 15 lunches for every roadshow event in 2025?”
That was a direct shot fired at the marketing and public relations department. I looked over at their table, and saw that more than one person looked uncomfortable. I was starting to get worried about what kind of company this was? Is this kind of thing… normal?! I didn’t expect anywhere to be squeaky clean but this…
Her Explanation
“In January, I asked for a raise because,” she waved her hand vaguely towards the window, indicating the state of not just Malaysia but the world.
“Instead of negotiations, I was handed a termination letter, six weeks notice. And here we are,” she said calmly, “I felt that everyone deserved to know, and now, you do.”
She smiled, that warm almost maternal smile I’d seen on my first day here, “So, good luck everyone. And good bye.” She actually dropped the mic, and was off the stage and walking out the door as the room exploded into whispers and mutterings.
The Mic Drop
I sat there, wondering what the hell just happened. Then I knew that this was probably not going to be where I want to work, full time when my internship is over. Especially since my name was on the “extended probation list.” I got up and walked to the buffet to get some more buttered prawns and Lou-sang while her slideshow continued to loop.
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