Day 074 - 16 Jan 95 - Page 21
1 of the charity to build a gymnasium for Fairfield, I think
2 it is, Fairfield Day Care Centre.
3
4 Q. It may be suggested, Mr. Siddique (and I would like you to
5 comment on this) that all those contributions in their
6 different forms which you are making to the local community
7 in Barnet are just publicity stunts so that you can
8 increase the business of your franchised restaurant
9 environment; is that true or false?
10 A. That is not true because I think working with the
11 community, that is how I have been brought up in
12 McDonald's, that always takes the top priority. Even Paul
13 Preston or Andy or Sid, whoever, they always keep community
14 before the profits and so, myself, it is not a PR
15 exercise. Had I spent that money on advertising, I would
16 have perhaps got better results, financial results, but
17 because community pays for our livelihood, it is our --
18 I think we are under a moral obligation to put something
19 back into the community.
20
21 Q. I expect you would probably agree that it does no harm to
22 the business if you have goodwill in the local community?
23 A. Pardon me?
24
25 Q. I am sorry, that was not very well put. Would you agree
26 with me that it does not do your business any harm if the
27 local community are well disposed towards you?
28 A. Could you kindly rephrase that?
29
30 Q. I cannot go too far; I think perhaps I will leave it there.
31
32 MR. JUSTICE BELL: It is being suggested that, whatever your
33 initial motive in making your contribution, financial
34 contributions, for instance, or being a trustee of the
35 Mayor's charities, that might help your business as well?
36 A. I think it is people's perception, how they look at
37 it. The way I look at my involvement and my wife's
38 involvement is because we do love -- we have come up from a
39 different level. There were times when we did not have
40 money or as such, so basically we know those and remember
41 those days. So, the need to help the needy, I will not,
42 I think, have built my empire on somebody else's
43 disability.
44
45 MR. RAMPTON: Thank you very much, Mr. Siddique. Would you
46 please remain there while you are cross-examined by the
47 Defendants?
48
49 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Shall we have our five minute break there?
50
51 MS. STEEL: Is it possible to have ten minutes?
52
53 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Yes.
54
55 (Short Adjournment)
56
57 Cross-Examined by the Defendants
58
59 MS. STEEL: Mr. Siddique, you said you have worked at McDonald's
60 since January 1978?
