Malaysians Are Rude, ‘Ruder’ and ‘Rudest’
This made it into my Malaysia Boleh category, a showcase of uniquely Malaysian traits and unspoken realities.
Malaysia is ranked third least courteous country in the world, according to Reader’s Digest. Yes… I know I’m not the first to report this (thanks for the info Sheila) but I’m a “reporter” type of blogger anyways. I’m more towards voicing my opinions on issues I feel strongly about 
Malaysians are rude. I wonder why it took people so long to realize that but the truth is now out. Of course we can’t beat Mumbai, the rudest country in the world. I know - I worked for a year with people from that region when I was an exec in Telekom Malaysia. Those guys deserve the undisputed number one spot.
Thailand being on that list though, suprised me. From my experience they are 10 times more courteous and friendly than Malaysians in general. Or maybe it’s just because you’re a tourist with cash?
Here are some quotes from Readers Digest:
The region that most lacked courtesy: Asia. Eight out of nine cities in the region finished in the bottom 11.
…in Mumbai, they’ll step over a person who has fallen in the street.
In my eperience, people from Mumbai only treat you with courtesy if they think you’re “on par” with them socially.
… “It’s a quiet day. I’m in no mood to be courteous” - A young cashier in Kuala Lumpur has no interest in being helpful.
Nothing new. How many cashiers in Giant / Tesco / The Store / Carrefour even smile at all? Obviously they don’t think it’s part of their job.
Malaysians in General >>
Others may have different views, but here’s what I’ve observed in 26 years dealing with Malaysians (not to be confused with Singaporeans who look alike but are much worse in courtesy):
- If you drive a BMW / Merc then you’ll get more courtesy
- Ralated to cars, we are at our worst on the roads. I myself am a total jerk on the road
- People in rural areas tend to be more courteous than urbanites (especially in Penang or KL)
- People tend to be afraid of showing / receiving courtesy from strangers, probably becasue we were told as kids that strangers are bad news.
- Everyone parks in the spots allocated for the diabled. Why waste a good parking spot?
- People pretend to be busy or asleep when a pregnant woman is standing in front of them in an LRT. Why give up your seat, eh? There’s exceptions of course.
- Some of the pregnant women when actually offered a seat fal to even smile or say thatnks..
- They don’t have time for courtesy since they only have 24 hours a day and most outlets in Mid-Valley closes at 10. Besides you’re not paying them to be courteous, so why bother?
- They like to falsh their headlights without reason and speed on the highways but don’t pay the tickets (wait… this sounds more like Singaporeans)
Taking It Deeper >>
Chinese A: In my experience (sorry to say this) the Chinese-educated group tend to be the least courteous. I mean those who studied in private or semi-private Chinese schools. Becasue they only grew up with other Chinese-dialect-speaking friends, they also tend to mix less with the other races.
They basically live in their own world here in Malaysia, and perhaps if you speak Chinese dialects then you’d get a friendlier response. I speak Mandarin, and trust me it makes a world of a difference when dealing with people from this group.
I have opened a few doors, picked-up stuff they dropped and even helped with directions. I hardly got a “Thank You”. How do I know they belong to this group instead of the one below? Well, after 26 years in Malaysia most of the time you can tell…
Chinese B: The other group of Chinese (those who were shcooled in Kebangsaan / International institutions) are a whole different story. They tend to have a better mix of friends, and they understand other cultures better. Although they are not super-friendly they do communicate better when spoken to and in my experience, just as courteous as any other Malaysian. Some of my best friends belong to this group…
Indian: Then comes the Indian group who can be rather snobbish. Don’t worry - they are only snobbish to other Indians
The most irritating this about this group is that they like to stare (at other Indians only I guess) and don’t seem to realize that it’s impolite. Most of them speak good english and Bahasa Malaysia and when spoken to they are more likely to acknowledge.
For example if you just purchased something from them (at their store) they are more likely to say “Thank You” as compared to the first Chinese group. As a customer they are also more likely to say “You’re Welcome”.
Malays: The friendliest race in Malaysia, in my humble opinion, are the Malays. I think it’s in their nature to be polite and show courtesy. You’re guaranteed to get at least a smile when you speak to them, or say “Thank You”. They are also the most approachable among everyone else.
My 3 Scenarios >>
Scenario 1: If I was in a car accident, and there were a Chinese guy, an Indian and a Malay guy standing across the street, who will I approach?
My answer: The Malay chap, if he hasn’t already rushed to help.
Senario 2: If I am lost and I (finally) decide to ask for directions, who will I approach?
My answer: The Malay chap again. He’s most likely to help. The Indian guy would too, but generally Indians tend to exaggerate when giving directions - everything is “just 5 minutes away” according to them.
Scenario 3: If both my hands are full, and I need to open the door to 7-11. Who will help me?
My answer: I’ll have to kick the door open becasue I don’t remember being so fortunate as to have someone help me open it. Might be different if you’re a woman
As a member of the least courteous country in the world, I would like to say “Thank you for visiting my blog.”
Now get back to work you lazy bum
(Just kidding)
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Hi,
Quite an interesting subject I must say. Often talked about now that it had been highlighted for the upteenth time. I have a story to share. Might not be on courtesy but more on judgement.
One of my friends was relating an experience she had driving into one of these prestigious golf clubs in KL - get this - with her old beat up 1970’s ford escort, cos her bmw was in the workshop. The guard did not hesitate to give a ‘tak boleh masuk’ hand gesture. Even being a member of that club, she was stopped and almost denied entry. Only after a lot of persuasion, she was let through rather reluctantly.
Well, the next day, she got her bmw back and purposely drove to the club, slowed down at the guard house, rolled down her window. At once, the same guard, gives a salute to let her in, no questions asked - with a big grin. Now, what do you think of that?
I like this “Report” or so you say. In my opinion, the readers digest guy just come not at the right time or maybe at the worst place (KL+Full of Chinese A). And as you said before, if they drove BMW before they do the survey, i think KL will not be the #3 Rudest City, #5 or 6 perhaps
And all of your explaination about the courtesy belonged to races is quite deep and elaborate ( Indians like to stare.. Its TRUE!
). But everything has its own exception right. Not All Chinese A will be rude and Not all indians will stare at you.
I think this is the right time for “Kempen BudiBahasa” to be re-launch widely throught out Malaysia and please concentrate it in KL
ps: but NY is the first? The results is biased because the surveyors belong to them and it is normal we show more courtesy with our own group/races right? Thats explain why Asia Region is the rudest, because the surveyors is strangers.. FOREIGNER strangers and our locals still did not comfortable to speak in english.
just my 2cents
not every one they see and meet…just a survey.. well is not true
ok…the survey consisted of 3 test (quote from RD):
test1:
—–
We walked into public buildings 20 times behind people to see if they would hold the door open for us
test 2:
—–
We bought small items from 20 shops and recorded whether the sales assistants said “Thank You”
test 3:
—–
“We dropped a folder full of papers in 20 busy locations to see if anyone would help pick them up. ”
As you can see from the test, language shouldn’t have been a problem.
The surveyors were all from their own countries (35 different countries to be exact) all conducting the same survey. Half were men, half women
I think the survey is fair enough
Owh… then KL sure is among the “Rudest” city in the world
.
I own a retail boutique and deal with customers from all walks of life. I must say that i agree with your view concerning the different races and how they are. I treat all my customers alike whether you carry a branded bag or not. But somehow the one carrying the branded bag is the least polite of all.
As a sales consultant when you say thank you even when the customer didn’t buy, and to be ignored, somehow makes you feel down. and imagine saying hi and thank you to so many customers a day. The malays are the most polite of all.
hmm well I atotally agree. It takes only an exposed person to give a honest opinion to the topic at hand, there is nothing biased about the survey. American’s are friendly as reported, and example to that claim on their soil is; they greet you on the streets without even knowing you!!
Malaysians for example, ask you, were you are from without even saying hi and introducing themselves first. Should we call that polite? From where I come from, that is extremely rude.
How about a simple return to greeting? They seem to lack that simple courtesy, too. Besides thats my “opinion”, As I say before, I do think the survey is not anywhere far from accuracy on what you really experience in Malaysia and other featured countries.
Thanks for your compliments to Malay…..I’m proud to be Malay….he he he…….but…..as a Malaysian….I met good Chinese, bad Chinese…..good Indian, bad Indian…..good Malay, bad Malay…..all exist around us……
I am currently in Bintulu…..sorry to say, if those RD survey was done here……I think we deserve to be number 1…..errr…..the least courteous…….
Before this, I was working in Terengganu, KL & Johor….I’ve been driving the whole Peninsular, Sabah & Sarawak……so I deserve to say…..Bintulu is top 5 worst place in Malaysia…..other 4…..you name yourselves…..
Why I hate this place so much? Just imagine…..people here can urinate everywhere they wish to……just stop their car on the road, piss at the road side…….double parking is a must in Bintulu, eventhough there is empty parking lot beside…….if you want to overtake, take the left lane because the right lane always occupied with slow motion vehicle……many dark tinted vehicle here because polis or JPJ never care…….
Enough? There’s a lot more……just come here and experience yourself……but……some of them really good and polite!
Hi,
Quite interesting ! But what we always read in the newspaper about our nation…. whom their people are so polite & friendly. Sometimes, we always think that we are very proud about our friendly people but now….. we know that we have received the very wrong information our nation especially our people itself. We must accept the fact now.
Thank you.
Thank you! Thank you! for the compliment. I’m very proud to be a malay. But no matter what,..we are malaysian.
I had an experience, six month ago. I was in the lift alone, when the lift reached at level 1, one “mat saleh’ came in. I asked him nicely, ‘what floor’ since I was closer to the lift button. He said level 5, and smile at me. Then suddenly the ‘mat saleh’ say something, ‘are you malaysian’. My answer was. ‘yes..1′m Malaysian.
The ‘mat saleh’ just smile with my answer. I reached level 4 and quit.
I dont know, what’s in his mind. Are Malaysian very courteous or rude. Ok. Gobala, see you later.
doesn’t sound like a fair survey according to the 3 test.
people respond to coutersy differently accross the globe because of the different culture.
what if the test was:
1: respect the elderly
2: family values (courtesy juga kan)
3: [just about any south east asian good values]
kalau macam tu, sure new york jadi paling teruk-
1: kids there do not respect elderly
2: lots of divorce
3: [see… different culture act differently]
also, i’m not going into the effect of the heat in asian countries that by default makes us less courtious. that’s why colder countries, people are more sabar…. check out the stats again and see if I’m wrong.
the same test will produce different result accross the globe because of culture & heat.
gobala, be courtious and belanja me teh tarik!
ha ha
hi Irfan, nice to see you around here again…
never considered the heat factor…maybe you’re right about that
not sure if what is said is true, but at least more things ought to be done if a more accurate results are to be pursuit. am english and has been here for good couple of years, so far so good i’d say..
errr i really dont think ppl who live in hotter countries tend to b more impolite or less courtious …moscow is somewhere in the least courtious list . n the weather in moscow is always cold cold cold .brrrr freezing…so ermm heat has nothing to do with courtesy….n its very unfair to judge some1’s politeness based on their race or background…ive met lots of very different ppl….bad, gd, rude, polite…n they come from all walks of life……and ppl ,do trust me malaysians are a whole lot politer than russians ‘phew’ …but then again that depends on the person itself…..
hehe sry for babbling
enjoy ur day ;)….woot!!woot!!
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Good night
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what a bias article. Malays friendliest?
haha.
bullshit.
Nice post u got here,bro althought it’s kinda late and ‘basi’for me to read already (u posted it since 2006 and i just know about it today!)
anyway, im a malay and im intrigued by ur statement on “courteous by race”. Perhaps the malay still preserved the ’sopan-santun’ and well-manners thing but the Mat Rempit ‘Menace’ can doubtfully support your say.
Anyway, can i post this posting into my blog.i just created mine.specifically about Malaysian attitude.
thanx..
and also,please teach me about home busines!!