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By Mihar Dias November 2025
Somewhere in the Gardenia boardroom, the CEO is probably popping champagne and whispering:
“Thank you, YB Mansor. We couldn’t have done this without your mouth.”
Because overnight, a loaf of bread got more publicity than every Malaysian education reform proposal combined.
No PR budget.
No influencer.
Just one Kedah Exco with the unstoppable confidence of a man who didn’t realise his mic was on.
And suddenly, Gardenia has become the political barometer of Sabah.
“I APOLOGISE…” – The National Anthem of Politicians in Trouble
Mansor Zakaria’s apology in the Kedah DUN should be copyrighted. It’s a masterclass in crisis survival:
“I apologise… I did not intend to insult the people of Sabah.” https://newswav.com/A2511_M9HBXZ?s=A_uC4ONu4&language=en
Translation:
“I didn’t expect the video to go viral, so here I am pretending I’m sorry.”
Then came the supporting paragraph:
“We made that comparison… so I don’t want to prolong this issue.” https://newswav.com/A2511_M9HBXZ?s=A_uC4ONu4&language=en
Of course he doesn’t.
Nobody wants to prolong the situation where they look like a man who thinks Sabahans are wandering around in a bread-deficient stupor, waiting to be rescued by a loaf.
This is the Malaysian Way:
• Say something dumb.
• Get roasted.
• Apologise with “sincere intentions.”
• Complain people are overreacting.
• Try to walk away before someone asks you to resign.
Sabahans, According to Kedah: Buy Them With Bread
Let’s examine the insult properly.
Sabahans—who have survived political betrayal, inconsistent development, roads resembling geological excavations, and the legendary art of party hopping—
have now been told their loyalty can be purchased for:
One (1) Gardenia loaf.
Not even Gardenia Butterscotch.
Just the basic one you buy when your salary hasn’t come in.
Imagine telling Sabahans—who built an entire identity around resilience—that their political persuasion is roughly equivalent to the price of breakfast at 7-Eleven.
Even Project IC looked more premium than this.
The Grovelling is Delicious
The best part?
Sabahans aren’t voting in Kedah.
Yet Mansor is apologising as if the entire Sandakan electorate is about to descend on Sungai Petani with pitchforks and mouldy bread.
He knows the truth:
Insult Sabahans today, and tomorrow every Sabahan working in Kulim, Alor Setar, Langkawi, and your own constituency will remind you at the ballot box.
This is not guilt.
This is survival instinct.
Politicians always discover their “honest and sincere intentions” when VIRAL hits faster than their press secretary can say “damage control.”
Gardenia: From Breakfast Staple to Political Weapon
Meanwhile, over at Gardenia HQ, the marketing team is planning a staff retreat to Bali.
Why?
Because one careless remark has given the brand the kind of national visibility that agencies charge RM3 million for.
Expect new slogans:
Gardenia – Apparently More Effective Than a Manifesto.
or
Gardenia – The Official Loaf of Malaysian Politics: Soft, White, and Easily Torn (koyak).
At this rate, Gardenia might as well field a candidate in the next Sabah state election.
It has better name recognition than half the politicians anyway.
The Moral of the Story?
If you want to insult a state, at least be creative.
If you want to insult Sabahans, prepare for consequences.
And if you want to apologise, try doing it before your insult becomes the national joke of the week.
But if you want free publicity?
Just say something stupid in a legislative assembly.
Gardenia is living proof.
Mihar Dias (mihardias@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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