Free Baskin Robbins Tomorrow!

Datuk Lee Chong Wei may have lost the Olympic men’s badminton final, but the Malaysian public’s dream of scoring free ice-cream is still alive.

Baskin Robbins has clarified that its “free ice-cream for all Malaysians” pledge was not only limited to whether Chong Wei grabs the gold medal in badminton.

A Baskin Robbins’ spokesman said people had assumed that the freebie was being offered only if the national shuttler bagged the gold medal.

“The message sent out was that, if any Malaysian athlete were to return from the Olympics with a gold medal, then we (Baskin Robbins) will be giving out Baskin Robbins ice-cream to Malaysians nationwide,” said a company representative.

“The ice-cream will be distributed on August 8. Lee Chong Wei may not have brought back Malaysia’s first-ever Olympics gold medal but we still have high hopes for the remaining Malaysian athletes and this is just one way of showing our support,” she said.

To celebrate Malaysia’s first Olympics gold medal and to cheer on the Olympics’ heroes, Baskin Robbins had collaborated with Media Prima Bhd’s “Dream of Gold” initiative by pledging to treat Malaysians nationwide with free ice-cream.

Every Malaysian is entitled to one scoop of the ice-cream that would be available on August 8 from 8pm til 10pm at 61 participating Baskin Robbins outlets, excluding kiosks at Pantai Hospital in Bangsar and the Genting Theme Park.

This will also be the first time Baskin Robbins is initiating a mass ice-cream giveaway in Malaysia to commemorate a potentially historic moment of winning a gold medal for Malaysia.

The ice cream pledge by Baskin Robbins and Media Prima had grabbed the attention of Malaysians, with many taking to social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter to express their views on the subject.

Many had jokingly lamented Chong Wei’s loss as a “missed opportunity” for free ice-cream, while others had stressed that a gold medal for by any athlete is the biggest reward any Malaysian could wish for.

e nation’s Olympic hopes are kept alive in the form of divers such as Pandelela Rinong, Bryan Lomas, Yeoh Ken Nee, Traisy Vivien Tukiet; open water swimmer Heidi Gan; as well as cyclists Azizulhasni Awang.

Azizulhasni is tipped to be Malaysia’s next best bet for a medal in his pet event, the keirin.

Pandelela is expected to face a tough fight from the established Chinese divers.

Meanwhile, Baskin Robbins’ bold move had also sparked a response from other corporate players. Nando’s had posted a poster on their Facebook page in support of Chong Wei’s brave performance in the men’s final.

“We don't accept your apology, Datuk Lee Chong Wei. Because you did bring Malaysians a golden moment,” Nando’s proclaimed on their Facebook page.

Malaysians immediately embraced the concept, with many offering messages of support for Chong Wei on the restaurant’s FB wall. Some however, joked that perhaps Nando’s should offer free flame-grilled chicken at their restaurant as well.

Source: Malaysian Readers Digest