This story is about a young employee who learned that “team building” isn’t always about teamwork. Sometimes, it is about ego, power, and knowing when to quietly stand your ground.
Fifteen years back, I had just landed my first job as a game artist in a small game studio, based in Subang Jaya. I was young, broke, and honestly just grateful someone was willing to pay me every month.
It didn’t matter that the hours were long and that the pay was only RM2,500 because I was just starting out. Then I found out we had “mandatory” monthly team building: Karting.
The Boss’s Hobby is Company Culture
This wasn’t some HR idea. This was my Boss’ dream. If you walked into his office, you’d see it immediately. Trophies on the shelf. Framed photos of him in racing gear. Posters of cars. Helmets displayed like museum pieces.
The Boss loved kart racing. And once a month, after office hours, it was team building that we had to pay sendiri and attendance was “strongly encouraged.” Everyone knew not going meant you were not a “team player,” except me.
My Personal Life over “Company Loyalty”
I had something else planned that evening. So a few days before, I casually told my supervisor. “I won’t make it for karting this month.”
In my head, very reasonable. Twenty minutes later, I got called to the Boss’ office. The Boss wasn’t smiling. He talked about “team spirit” and “company culture,” and how I needed to “show commitment” to the “core culture.”
I needed the job. I had bills. Rent. Life. So I nodded. “Ok Boss.”
Race Day Arrives
I drove to the track after work, already tired. My colleagues were dressed as usual, in jeans, t-shirts, and sneakers. Then I saw my Boss, looking like he just walked in from a movie: Full racing suit, with boots, gloves and a custom helmet.
Everything clicked: This wasn’t team building. This was his KL Menjerit fantasy. This was him being the kart racing hero, with his employees as the supporting cast.
“Don’t be Scared”
Fifteen of us were racing, and I wasn’t there to compete. I had nothing to prove. I just wanted to finish, go makan, and go home. So I asked if I could start last. No drama. No ego.
Then my Boss overheard. In front of everyone, he smiled and said, “We are here to race. Not to drive slowly.” His smile became a mocking one, to embarrass. He tugged on his professional racing gloves. “Don’t be scared.”
People watched. Some smiled awkwardly. Most looked away, embarrassed on his behalf. That familiar Malaysian office feeling kicked in. Being corrected publicly, but expected to accept it politely. Inside me, something snapped.
You Want a Race? Let’s Race
I deliberately started in last position because I was about to send a message. The race was on, and I began to overtake. No rush or panic. Just clean driving. Where there was an opening, I took it. Slowly I moved up the pack until I was right behind my Boss. He saw me and upped his game, driving hard, blocking properly and so I waited.
Then, at a fast corner, I went wide and overtook him on the outside. If you know racing, you know what that means. It’s risky, confident and a statement. “I’m passing you where you think nobody should.”
People noticed. A few laps later, I caught him again and lapped him. When I came up to lap him for the second time, he suddenly turned into the pits. Stopped. Got out. And walked away. I took first place.
The track was quiet.
The Real “Team Building”
After that, I walked to the restaurant area, where the real team building over food and drinks was going to take place. Someone leaned in and whispered, “Bro… Boss left already.”
Then another one: “He never lost before.”
Then another: “He damn angry just now.”
Only then did people start asking. “Eh, you used to race ah?”
That’s when I mentioned, casually, that I used to compete in karting when I was younger. I never talked about it before. Nobody ever asked. You could almost see the light bulb switch on. One colleague laughed. “He thought this was like Kalluri Rascals. Got comeback scene, hero ending.”
Another said, “More like Remp-It 2 in his head. Reality check on track.”
Harsh. But accurate.
A Quiet Change
Monthly kart racing was still a team building event. Invitations became “anyone free can join.” No pressure or speeches about “culture” and “commitment.” I still went but arrived late from the office on purpose. I was there for the food and drinks.
The Boss would still race, and he won most of the time. I didn’t race. I just wanted to maintain professional relationships without drama.
What That Night Taught Me
Looking back, that whole thing taught me a lot about working life in Malaysia. Sometimes “team building” is not about bonding but about feeding someone’s ego. Sometimes “culture” means “follow and don’t question.”
And young workers comply because we’re scared. Scared to lose income. Scared to be labelled “problematic”. Scared to stand out in the wrong way. So we say yes. To keep the peace, and of course, keep our jobs.
Until something exposes the truth, that respect doesn’t come from trophies, real teamwork doesn’t grow under intimidation and real confidence doesn’t need an audience.
It took me one night at a kart track to learn that.
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