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January 26, 2005
The rude Malaysian - I found one
I found one, a rude Malaysian, finally. Well, not really finally, because I was pretty upset, absolutely angry and lost my temper.
The story goes as follows:
This afternoon, I went to the RHB branch at Megamall to open a Current Account. The bank was full with people, all nicely waiting for their number to be called. I was lucky, since I didn't need to go to the normal banking transaction, but to two desks right in the front, at the entrance.
At one desk, a customer was being served by the branch staff, while nobody served the other desk. Before me were two other customers standing, however, both realised after a while that they could get their affairs elsewhere.
So, logically, I waited for either the one desk to be "manned" or that the customer at the other desk had his things completed.
In comes this elderly guy, and stands beside me, and starts straight away to complain that it always takes so long and that there are not enough people that attend to the customers. I said, well, may be there are not enough employees in the bank, and he replied that they should hire more. I responded, that they might not just want to hire the first person to enter the door. So much for the friendly talk.
Suddenly he says to me: "You wait here (pointing to the desk where the customer was being served), while I will wait here."
Off he goes to sit down.
I said, "Excuse me, but I am waiting for either one. That he is finished or that someone attends to this desk".
He brushes it away, saying "I don't have time to wait."
I respond. "Excuse me, but I also don't have much time, and I was waiting here already." He just ignores it. I continue: "If someone is coming to your desk, I am first to be in line. You shouldn't jump line like this."
In between, my wife turns up, who handled something elsewhere, and I tell her the story.
He just kept looking at his account book. Suddenly, a teller comes to serve that desk. I immediately say that he has jumped line. He turns around and says that he was taking this seat since I was waiting in line for the other counter. I tell him off and say that he cut line and that he is one rude Malaysian. That Malaysia is beautiful and has great people but that it is a pity that rude people like him spoil the great image of Malaysia.
I alsoexplain the situation to the teller. I am now visibly upset, and of course, but the teller treats the situation pretty well, by standing besides me and asking, what I want, actually. She than brings me to another room, and attends to us quickly. It is not much that we needed to do. In between, while we fill out forms, they guy gets also served and disappears after he has his completed. I later apologise to the teller for my loud behaviour, by reiterating the situation.
I think she did well, but I was so absolutely upset. I told the guy that his picture should be published in The Star, and that I will post it in my webpage. Well, here he is in a close-up. I hope someone recognises him.
Posted by Andreas at January 26, 2005 05:35 PM
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Comments
Your situation was rather sketchy. Since you were waiting for either one of the desks, and assuming you were standing behind the person that was being served instead of the unmanned counter next to you, your claim that you were in the right and the old man is in the wrong lacks credibility and is invalid. Sure that man sounded rude by saying "I don't have time" (who has less time than others anyway?) but he did have a point when he pointed out that you were not standing in line like you were supposed to, because you were in the other line. You can't simply assume that the unmanned desk is yours only when the teller comes back, that's being selfish. Either you stand there at that desk itself and wait for the teller, or you stand in the other line and let someone else (in this case the old man) take the vacant spot. It's really that simple and I don't know why you are complaining.
In any case, it's no use holding a grudge against anyone and just let it go. At the same time I hope I don't offend you, I'm just stating my honest opinion. Just my 2 cents.
Posted by: Furlong at August 9, 2005 08:52 AM
I agree with fishtail. He could've been ruder and shouted at you instead of ignoring you. Perhaps he thinks you're another Mat Salleh who's new to Malaysia and not used to how things work. Oh well. But really, posting his pics up here? Hahah you pwn.
Posted by: Silencers at January 27, 2005 08:56 PM
It is good that you tried to address the situation instead of shrugging it off. Yes, we should generally be tolerant and nice, but not about such things as it might breed more disrespectful and impolite behaviour.
Posted by: iblogme at January 27, 2005 08:56 PM
Sometimes elderly people can be a pain. My car once kena bumped from the back, driven by an old man. (I was abt 21 yrs old) Instead of apologising to me, he wanted to tiu me pulak. He started a string of Hokkien 4 letter words and I pun hentam back scolding him for being too old on the road. Till today I still feel bad for quarrelling with an old man but at the same time, very mad to kena tiu. (tiu = Hokkien for equivalent of f*ck)
Posted by: lilian at January 27, 2005 03:15 PM
Terrible, man! These people, they thot they have all the rights in the world to do what they did.
Good that u took his photo and posted here! Even better if media like The Star can post photos and stories like this to educate the public.
Posted by: Papi at January 27, 2005 02:56 PM
I have come across 'elderly' people who behave exactly the same way - there was this one old man I saw jumping queue at the supermarket check out and then said to his (probably) daughter who was trying to stop him - 'I am an old man, what can they do??' Talking about setting a bad example for the younger generation!
Posted by: bkworm at January 27, 2005 09:40 AM
now now...*pats andreas's back* he's probably stressed with all of the problems in his life and doesn't know how to cope with it. :)
Posted by: dave at January 27, 2005 08:54 AM
and im glad you're here long enough to know idiots like him don't represent the majority. can't wait to see his picture in the paper.
Posted by: kimberlycun at January 26, 2005 11:13 PM
As a Malaysian I am ashamed and yet I also regret the fact that yours is not an isolated incident, and just after they had the Star's Rude Malaysian contest. Maybe the Star won't be publishing his mug but your blog carries enough weight for readers to look out for the guy. I figured you handled the situation amiably and very professional and courteously, the worst of us would just slug him or scream out profanities.
Posted by: Kervin at January 26, 2005 08:43 PM
Hehe...posting his picture, that's great.
Posted by: Jordan at January 26, 2005 08:35 PM
I'm sorry to hear that, Andreas. For every nice Malaysian you see and meet, there's bound to be some other obnoxious ones.
Law of balance I guess.
Posted by: Ash.ox at January 26, 2005 08:31 PM
I completely sympathize with you. There are people who think that they are the only ones with no time to wait, and that every other person has to adjust to them. You're lucky this guy didn't start a fight with you.
Posted by: fishtail at January 26, 2005 06:32 PM