07 August 2005

Budi Bahasa, Budaya kita

Came back from KL this weekend with an itchy throat. I think it was caused by too much walking in malls + sitting in open air mamak restaurants + KL's polluted air + Smoke from Sumatra. In case, you didn’t know, large parts of Malaysia are still covered with haze due to open burning in Sumatra. Yeah! Even though we are seperated by man made boundaries, we share the same atmosphere and nothing is stopping the winds from blowing their smoke our way. It is not that bad in Kedah and I am thankful for that.

Anyway, while traveling in the LRT, I realized one thing. The Government’s ‘Budi Bahasa, Budaya kita’ (good manners, our culture ) campaign is apparently working (at least on the LRTs). I noticed several people giving up their seats to pregnant ladies, elderly citizens, disabled and even guys with children.

I guess we have to thank Yasmin Ahmed for her TV ad (which was also debated in the Parliament). I guess it made a lot of people NOT want to be that like the guy in the ad.

Yesterday, I was on my way to Pudu Raya on the Putra LRT and some people got up at the KL Sentral station. I noticed this lady whom I thought was pregnant. I looked at two other ladies sitting next to me and it was kind of funny, all of us got up at the same time and give her our seat. The lady sat down while her companion took another. Te guys around asked to take the remaining seat. Looking at the lady next to me, she didn’t look pregnant after all. However, she was wearing a shirt that pregnant women wear, so I am not really sure.

Reminds me of another incident (again on the LRT). Once, I was dozing and woke up suddenly to find a lady’s big belly jutting into my face. ‘Pregnant lady, Pregnant lady’ warning signal went up. I jumped up and tried to give the seat to her but she refused. Actually she was not pregnant. Just another case of big bones.

6 comments:

Jack Golf Addix said...

Last week during one of those official trips to KL , I was amazed at how the public behave at Putra LRT Station at KL Sentral. ON my way up the escalator , I saw the public are queing in two lines at each entry point. Hey ! this is new. However , it was only at KL Sentral. How I wish the rest of the stations follows.

aarrgghhh...me flying again tomolo early morning...

lainieyeoh said...

Yes I've noticed more courtesy after the ads came out too, though it's been waning lately....Kinda hoping they'd screen the ad more

Lrong Lim said...

Interesting episodes, Adam... how nice would bolehland be if we are just a bit more courteous to one another, eh...

mama23beas said...

I look small for a 61/2 month pregnant lady but now with maternity clothes people should know. I was with my 11/2 year-old toddler and we took a ride to KLCC. We stood for about 5 minutes till a guy behind me got my attention that he was giving up his seat. It was obviously that the ones sitting in front of me was trying hard not to notice me and my girl. That was not bad but another gut was actually holding his baby in one hand but no one offered a seat;(

lucia said...

well to me courtesy on lrt/bus is not that good yet. i would give it only a 50%.

in penang where i takes the mini bus often, i still see many youth not bothering to give up seats for pregnant ladies or old people.

mama22beas gives an example there. yes many passengers will pretend not to notice.

i have to say if on bus, i happen to sit inside (window's seat, not lorong seat), i will not get up to offer seats because i feel 'troublesome' getting up and out pass the person who sit at the lorong seat. it is the person at the lorong seat who should give up her/his seat! (of course if i am seated at the lorong seat, i will always get up to give my seat to pregnant ladies/old people).

Traveller who enjoys everything in life said...

Interesting piece of observation. I think even the chinese radio stations are covering the story as well. I bet it's our courtesy that should be put into practice. Way to go Adam!

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