Something I noticed for a long while, but being in Malaysia, I gave it a brush. But it really hit on me the other day when I witnessed the similar annoying scene at the airport. What I am referring to was the lack of sensitivity of those in the service industry in communicating with their customers.
Yes, we are in Malaysia and most of us would understand our National language, Bahasa Malaysia (BM). Even if we may not master it that well, we will still be able to comprehend the basic of it.
However, I find it most disturbing having seen, the other day, at the airport where a crew were communication in BM to a foreignor - to be precise, a Vietnamese. As I was in queue waiting for my bags to be scanned, a Vietnamese visitor who does not comprehend how the scanning system works, walk pass with her mobile phone. The airport crew asked her to go back in queue and place her mobile - talking to her in BM. I find it most humiliating as not only one but few of the crew continues to make fun of her in BM. In short - they have no respect for foreignors, - speaking BM to a Vietnamese??
Likewise for the crew in the service industry, particularly fast food outlets. Each time you go to the counter, they speak to you in BM. If anything at all, they should be speaking the International language, especially so if the outlets are located in the vicinity of the airport. I may look Chinese, but what if I am not a Malaysian Chinese? With my darker skin, I can even be mistaken for a Thai girl. How can they assume that every customer that walks in, is a Malaysian? If anything at all, they should speak in English - afterall, it is indeed an International Language. As much as I have respect for our National Language, I find it to be redundant when I travel to other destination - Mongolia, Vietnam, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Macau and many many more - our National Language is really of no use - no offence. Especially so, when we are promoting Malaysia as a destination to be, we must first of all change our attitude and mentality to be more more sensitive towards those that we serve - particularly those in the service industry.
Yes, we are in Malaysia and most of us would understand our National language, Bahasa Malaysia (BM). Even if we may not master it that well, we will still be able to comprehend the basic of it.
However, I find it most disturbing having seen, the other day, at the airport where a crew were communication in BM to a foreignor - to be precise, a Vietnamese. As I was in queue waiting for my bags to be scanned, a Vietnamese visitor who does not comprehend how the scanning system works, walk pass with her mobile phone. The airport crew asked her to go back in queue and place her mobile - talking to her in BM. I find it most humiliating as not only one but few of the crew continues to make fun of her in BM. In short - they have no respect for foreignors, - speaking BM to a Vietnamese??
Likewise for the crew in the service industry, particularly fast food outlets. Each time you go to the counter, they speak to you in BM. If anything at all, they should be speaking the International language, especially so if the outlets are located in the vicinity of the airport. I may look Chinese, but what if I am not a Malaysian Chinese? With my darker skin, I can even be mistaken for a Thai girl. How can they assume that every customer that walks in, is a Malaysian? If anything at all, they should speak in English - afterall, it is indeed an International Language. As much as I have respect for our National Language, I find it to be redundant when I travel to other destination - Mongolia, Vietnam, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Macau and many many more - our National Language is really of no use - no offence. Especially so, when we are promoting Malaysia as a destination to be, we must first of all change our attitude and mentality to be more more sensitive towards those that we serve - particularly those in the service industry.
