The Malaysian Space Program

One day, the Malaysians decided to launch their first space program and to send a man in a rocket out into space. Since they recognised that this was a dangerous journey, they decided to ask their final three candidates, an Indian, a Malay and a Chinese man, how much of a bonus would they need to give them to accept the mission.

They called the Indian man in first, and then asked him how much of a bonus he wanted to join the program. "One thousand dollars!" he declared. When they pressed him for why, the Indian replied that he had a large family to feed, with eleven children, and the money would be needed to care for them.

Next, they called in the Malay man and asked him the same question. "Two thousand dollars!" was the response. When they asked him why, the Malay replied that he had just started a business, and he needed the money for the business to survive without him.

Finally, they called in the Chinese man. When the question was asked, the Chinese man thought for a while, then said "Eleven Thousand."

"Eleven Thousand?!?" the interviewer asked, surprised. "Why so much?"

The Chinese man leant in close, and whispered:

"Five thousand for you, five thousand for me, and one thousand to send the Indian into space."