I SYMPATHISE with Nazreen Tajul Arif of Mersing about her experience while dining at a restaurant with her family ("Punished over request" -- NST, Aug 25).

I have also found alien items in my food when eating at a restaurant or mamak stall: a strand of hair in my roti canai, a baby beetle in my nasi goreng ayam, and yes, a fly in my sup ayam.

But when it happens, I do not complain to the staff.

Instead, I will ask for the bill and leave and never go there again. I will also tell friends and relatives not to eat there.

This is because the chef and staff would not respond in a positive manner when you complain about the dishes.
This is what happened to Nazreen and her family when they had a fiery taste of their "substitute fish" and left the restaurant teary-eyed, much to the "delight" of the restaurant manager.

I had a friend who worked as a waiter in a city pub. Whenever patrons complain-ed about his service, he would put saliva or urine into their alcoholic drinks.

None of them noticed the difference as the colour of saliva and urine was easily mixed with the drinks.

Like Nazreen, I would also like to thank Bulbir Singh for his advice ("If you want results, learn how to gripe" -- NST, Aug 20) that we should exercise our rights if we are not satisfied with services rendered.

But we must be wary when it comes to food. It is better not to complain unless you are a regular customer, lest you end up with stomach pains.