Getting promoted is supposed to be a big win—you’ve put in the effort, climbed the ladder, and now it’s time to enjoy the perks, maybe even treat your close ones to a nice meal.
But what happens when your friends decide your promotion is their chance to go all out on your dime?
M’sian man stuck with RM3,000 bill after colleagues order Wagyu
This was precisely the experience of an engineer’s friend, as shared by Zainuddin Omar on Facebook. The friend, who was promoted from Grade 54 to Jusa C, found himself having to treat six friends to dinner at a high-end steakhouse.
“When someone gets promoted, their close friends usually pester them for a treat. My friend couldn’t refuse and ended up taking six friends to a popular steakhouse,” Zainuddin shared.
But things took a turn when some of the guests indulged far beyond what was reasonable.
Once the menu arrived, a few of them skipped the regular steaks and went straight for the most expensive dishes. Shamelessly, they ordered Wagyu steaks priced at RM600 each since someone else was paying.
“Two other friends felt embarrassed and ordered more affordable RM60 steaks. But in the end, the bill totalled RM3,000, leaving my friend feeling ‘slaughtered’ by his own friends,” he explained.
“His budget was only RM200 to RM300. He later told me he felt taken advantage of, like his friends were jealous he got promoted first.”
The “mega squid incident”
If you thought that was bad, Zainuddin had his own horror story.
He recalled a time when a friend shamelessly ordered the biggest fish and mega squid at a nasi kandar spot while Zainuddin settled for a humble chicken curry.
I was left gobsmacked when I ended up footing the bill. It’s not about being stingy, but there’s a line between treating yourself and straight-up exploiting someone’s kindness.”
Zainuddin wrapped things up with a much-needed PSA:
“The takeaway here is simple—have some class. Don’t take advantage of a friend’s generosity. . Be considerate when ordering, especially if someone else is paying. A free meal isn’t a free-for-all.”
Netizens share their own wallet trauma
The post struck a chord with netizens, many of whom came out of the woodwork to share their own run-ins with freeloaders.
“My dad always said, if someone’s treating, let them order. And if you order yourself, make sure it’s cheaper than what they would. Never expect a treat unless you’re invited.”
“Honestly, the polite way is to let the host pick what you’ll eat. Put yourself in their shoes—imagine spending lavishly on friends when your own family hasn’t even tasted that kind of luxury. It feels wrong.”
“Been there. I ordered just one dish, but the rest went all out with two dishes and sides. They even called people who weren’t there to come and join. There were seven of us in the end! I wanted to do something nice, but by the time the bill came, I felt nothing but regret. Not sure if I’ll even get any blessings out of that.”
“I had a meal at a mamak shop with a good friend who insisted on treating me. I was too shy to order more, so I just had nasi kandar with chicken. But when he saw my modest order, he added squid and prawns for me. I ate it all but felt embarrassed afterward.”
So the next time someone offers to treat you, remember: Don’t be that friend. Order responsibly, say thank you, and keep your wagyu dreams for another day.
