Where Did All The Good Manners Go? / Mana hilangnya Budi Bahasa Kita?

Sila scroll ke bawah untuk Bahasa Melayu.

Hello dear readers,

I was given an appointment  to have my eyes checked at one local government clinic one morning (9th. May). Time was not stated in the appointment. Since we, that is Sara and me, didn't know the location of the clinic, we left home at about 09:50am and get ready our GPS to look for the clinic. It wasn't the same clinic that I regulate monthly. This clinic was situated about 10km away from my home and  located far inside the housing area. After a couple of stoppings to ask the passersby of the where about of the clinic, we finally found it at about 11.20am. (My phone GPS didn't help much)

We went inside and I went straight to the information counter and showed them the appointment slip I was given by the other clinic. The nurse took one look at it and asked me to walk over to Room 12, if the person in-charge was not there, go to Room 8, she went on without smiling. We walked over to both rooms and the person in-charge was nowhere to be seen. I walked back to the counter and told the nurse the M.O wasn't in either. She didn't look too happy to attend to me. I ignored the look.
You will have to wait then, she said. There's a death case they are attending. We went to wait near Room 8. A few minutes later a nurse emerged from another room. I handed her my slip. She took a look at it and said, "You are here for eye check, at this time of hour?" It's late. You should have been here earlier." I calmly said I am new at this place and the slip didn't mention any specific time on it. By the way, what time does the eye clinic closed, I asked? She said 12 o'clock and she turned to the wall to take a look at the time. It showed 11:30am. This time she said, It's eleven thirty now but the M.O is busy attending to a death case. You can either wait here but it will take a long time or you can go back to the previous clinic and tell them that you were late, ask them to make a new appointment. Can you do that? She asked me again. This time I quietly told her, Yes I can do that but I don't know if I want to come back here again. The nurses here are scary.
She got my message and touched my arm lightly and said she didn't mean that way but I must understand that they were busy at that moment. Oh I understand all right but do they understand me?
Two things I was not happy with. One, I wasn't late. They still got half an hour to run a check on my eye.
Two, Instead of apologizing, she indirectly put the blame on me. How can she ask me to go back to the other clinic and inform the nurses there I didn't get my eyes checked because I was late (that's her exact words).  I was late or they were too busy to attend to me?

Just a general information for you guys, every time we visit a Government clinic, we only had to pay RM1.00 equivalent to about USD0.30 for a check up and RM5.00 (USD 1.60) if we were to see a specialist. Overall, the services at these clinics and hospitals had improved tremendously since ten years or so, except for a few hitches caused by these type of people.

Last week, we went to have dinner at a diner/restaurant at one of the malls in town.The restaurant name is Nando's. I don't know about other countries but here in Malaysia it was quite pricey. Ariff, my son was here with us for a week and he was going back to Langkawi the next day. We arrived quite late (about 2030hrs) and there was not too many people dining at that moment. The waiter came and we placed our order. He didn't smile, not one bit. After about ten minutes we got our order. He placed it on the table and left. No "enjoy your dinner" or a smile on his face. I whispered to Sophie, don't they know how to smile around here? She said she's been to their two other branches with her friends before and the services were all the same. The table in front of us which was empty earlier was taken by a family. A waitress came and took their order. Also, I didn't see any smile on this face as well.
Oh never mind. I am hungry. I am not the supervisor anyway. The chicken was surprisingly good. I loved the garlic bread, crunchy and soft at the same time. I especially loved their burger. The ciabatta was aromatic and had a real taste in it.
We finished our dinner, signaled for the waiter to bring our bill. Waiting, 2 minutes, no sign of anybody bringing our bill. Waiting 5 minutes, still nobody came. We signaled again. A different one saw us. The waitress who took order from the table in front of us just now. She nodded an acknowledgement to my signal. Waiting again, 2, 3,4 minutes still no show. I was already not happy with their services and now I have to wait even when I am about to pay? Mind you, we had to pay for their services as well. The service tax was included. For what service? Beats me!
I think, overall we waited for about 10 minutes before I finally got up and walked over to the cashier counter. A soft guy was manning the cashier counter. I asked softly ( no pun intended) how much was the bill. He gestured me to wait a while, while he printed out the bill. I paid him and for the first time, I saw someone at this place smile. Hoorey! He smile, he actually smiled! I took my change back, no intention of leaving any tips to them, and I said to him, "You are the only person in this restaurant who smiled. If you could advise your colleagues to do the same, it would have been better for the restaurant.

At another time, I was at a wet market. Remember, I am a fish person? Ok, ok, so I've reminded you people countless times. I drove all the way to this place called Kuala Selangor once in every two weeks just to get my fresh supplies of fish. It took me about half an hour to get there via expressway.
We reached there about 14:30hrs. The girls were inside the car. They were not as fascinated with the fresh fish as I do. I was going from one stall to another surveying the type of fish I was about to buy. Finally I stopped at the one towards the end. I was picking the fish and needed a container to fill in the selected fish. I asked from the owner of the stall to give me one. He was, at that time, busy talking to a person next to him. He took the little container and literally threw it across to where I was standing. That was totally, out-rightly rude. I glared at him and walked away from his stall. He can keep his fish for all I care. I can see from the corner of my eyes that he wasn't happy that I left without buying.

Today (10th.May), we were at a mall looking for some scarves and Muslim maxi dress. We saw a shop that sells a rather attractive designs of scarves. We walked in. I saw the maxi dress displayed with price written on top of it as RM 60.00. I asked the salesgirl, if we were to buy 2 pieces, will there be a discount? "No, that's the selling price." She said in a high pitch tone. Sophie who was standing next to her tried her luck, "What if we were to buy six pieces? Will you.." Before she could even finish the sentence, the salesgirl said in an annoying voice, "No, that price has been discounted already from it's actual price". Sophie was so mad that she mumbled " Spoil my day with people like this" loudly enough for the salesgirl to hear. Sara and me walked closely behind her and try to calm her down.

I was neither fussy nor a difficult person. I am just being observant. I liked it when people do their works or duties with smile on their faces. That shows that he or she is happy (or at least I think they do) with what they're doing.
We should honour our jobs and carry it out to the best of our abilities. If one is not happy with his/her job, quit the job. Find something that makes them look forward to come to work every day. Leave the jobs they hate to others who might be happy just to have a job.

Rose
12th.May '14

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Assalamualaikum semua,

Baru-baru ni saya di beri appointment untuk membuat pemeriksaan mata di klinik kesihatan Rawang. Masa tidak di tulis di dalam slip appointment tu. Memandangkan saya dan Sara belum pernah ke klinik di Rawang ni, kami bersedia dengan GPS dan keluar rumah dalam pukul 09:50pagi. Rasanya Rawang terletak lebih kurang 10 kilometer dari tempat tinggal saya. Selepas berhenti dua tiga kali untuk bertanya jalan (GPS saya tak dapat mencari tempat ni), kami sampai ke klinik ini lebih kurang pukul 11:20pagi.

Kami masuk ke dalam dan saya terus ke kaunter pertanyaan sambil menunjukkan slip appointment saya. Salah seorang jururawat yang bertugas di situ meneliti slip saya dan tanpa senyuman mengarahkan saya ke Bilik 12, kalau tak ada orang di Bilik 12, pergi terus kebilik 8. Kami pergi ke dua-dua bilik tapi tak ada pegawai bertugas di situ. Saya patah balik ke kaunter pertanyaan tadi. Kali ni jururawat yang sorang lagi beritau, saya harus tunggu. Ada kes kematian.

Kami berjalan semula ke Bilik lapan dan tunggu di luar sana. Selepas seketika, seorang jururawat lalu didepan saya untuk masuk ke bilik 8. Saya bangun dan tunjukkan dia slip appointment saya.
Dia meneliti slip saya dan kata, " Akak datang nak buat pemeriksaan mata? Sekarang dah pukul berapa ni? Kenapa lambat sangat? Kami tak buat kalau dah lambat."
Saya tanya dengan dia pukul berapa sepatutnya pemeriksaan tu di lakukan sebab dalam slip tak ada tulis time. Dia kata dari awal pagi sampai pukul 12 tengahari sambil memandang ke dinding untuk melihat waktu di jam yang tergantung di dinding. "Oh, sekarang pukul 11:30pagi, tapi kami tak sempat buat sebab ada kes kematian. Kalau nak buat jugak akak boleh tunggu, tapi lambat sebab kami nak bereskan kes kematian dulu." Pulak! Tadi dia kata dah lambat tak boleh buat tapi sekarang boleh tunggu pulak.
Kemudian jururawat ni sambung lagi, ataupun akak balik ke Klinik Kuang dan bagitau dia orang akak nak minta appointment di hari lain sebab akak sampai lambat ke sini. "Akak faham tak?" Soal dia.
"Ya, saya faham dan saya boleh buat macam tu cuma saya takut dengan jururawat-jururawat disini. Semuanya garang dan tak tahu senyum." Balas saya.
Dia agak tersentak dengan jawapan saya. Cepat-cepat dia pegang lengan saya dan cakap dia bukan bermaksud macam tu tapi dia orang agak sibuk dengan kes kematian waktu itu dan harap saya harap dengan situasi mereka.
Ya, saya faham ada kes kematian (sebab dia orang ulang benda yang sama berkali-kali) tapi macam mana dengan saya? Kenapa dia orang tak nak faham bila saya cakap saya masih baru di sini dan juga tiada masa di catitkan di slip itu.
Dan saya rasa agak marah bila dia suruh saya balik ke Klinik Kuang beritau petugas disana yang saya datang lewat dan minta appointment baru. Dan yang keduanya, saya tak lambat sebab pemeriksaan mata masih boleh dilakukan sehingga pukul 12 tengahari. Mereka yang sibuk bukan saya yang lambat.

Minggu lepas, kami pergi makan malam kat The Nando's. Boleh tahan jugak la harga dia. Anak sulung saya, Ariff dah nak balik ke Langkawi keesokkan harinya jadi kami nak luangkan masa bersama sebelum dia balik ke sana.
Kami sampai agak lambat, dalam pukul 8.20malam. (Kami di rumah selalu makan lebih awal, lebih kurang pukul 7 begitu.) Pelayan datang dan ambil order kami. Tak ada senyum. Lepas sepuluh minit makanan kami sampai. Dia letakkan diatas meja dan berlalu pergi. Masih tak ada senyuman atau ucapan apa-apa. Cuma letak dan pergi. Tempat ni tak ajar staf dia orang cara mengendali pelanggan ke? Tempat cantik, harga mahal tapi servis...
Meja di depan kami yang tadinya kosong di penuhi dengan satu famili. Pelayan wanita pula yang datang ambil pesanan dia orang. Juga tak reti senyum. Ambik order terus berlalu pergi. Hebat!
Tapi lantaklah. Perut pun dah lapar. Saya bukannya supervisor dia orang. Ayam yang kami order tu sangat sedap. Garlic bread dia pun bagus. Saya paling suka burger dia. Roti ciabatta nya wangi  dan mempunyai rasa yang saya harapkan.

Setelah selesai makan, kami signal kepada pelayan kami tadi minta dibawakan bil. Tunggu, dua, tiga minit tak ada sesiapa bawa. Kali ni kami signal pula kepada pelayan wanita yang ambil order meja depan kami tadi. Dia menganggukkan kepala. Tunggu lagi, tiga, empat minit, masih tak ada sesiapa yang bawa bil kepada kami. Saya dah la tak berapa nak happy dengan pekerja-pekerja yang tak tau nak senyum ni ditambah pulak sekarang nak bayar duit pun dia orang macam acuh tak acuh ja. Bukannya ramai orang pun dalam restaurant tu. Pulak tu bila kita bayar, servis charge dimasukkan sekali dalam bil tu. Servis pun ke laut, nak minta kita bayar lagi.
Selepas lebih kurang sepuluh minit menunggu dan bil tak sampai-sampai juga, saya berjalan ke kaunter juruwang. Saya tanya berapa dan dia berikan resit kepada saya dan saya bayar. Selepas saya bayar, juruwang (lelaki) ni senyum kepada saya dan ucapkan terima kasih. Ada orang dalam restaurant ni yang tau macam mana nak senyum. Hoorey! Ada orang senyum!
Saya ambil balik baki wang saya, (selalunya saya tinggalkan sikit tips buat anak-anak yang bekerja dalam servis industry ni sebab saya pun pernah terlibat didalam servis industry  ini) dan saya cakap kat juruwang ni, "Awak satu-satunya orang yang senyum didalam restaurant ni. Kalau boleh awak bagitau teman-teman yang lain supaya belajar senyum sikit, pelanggan akan lebih happy walaupun hanya dengan senyuman."

Pada masa yang lain pulak, saya ke pasar basah di Kuala Selangor. Saya memandu kesana dua minggu sekali hanya untuk mendapatkan ikan segar walaupun jaraknya agak jauh dari rumah saya. Saya guna Latar Highway, itupun ambil 1/2 jam untuk sampai kesana. Tak palah, janji saya dapat ikan elok.
Kami sampai ke sana dalam pukul 2.30petang. Kedua-dua Sophie dan Sara tunggu dalam kereta, dia orang tak berminat nak tengok ikan macam saya ni.
Saya berjalan dari satu gerai kegerai yang lain menjamu mata nak beli ikan apa. Tiba di satu gerai yang hujung sekali, saya nampak ikan kerisi yang sangat segar. Taukeh kedai tu sedang rancak bersembang dengan orang disebelah dia. Saya minta satu bakul kecil nak isi ikan yang saya nak beli. Agaknya agak kurang senang sebab saya mengganggu perbualan dia, dia ambil satu bakaul biru didepan dia dan lontarkan terus kedepan saya. Berderau darah saya menahan marah. Saya pandang dia dan saya tinggalkan semua ikan-ikan yang saya dah pilih tadi. Saya nampak dengan ekor mata yang dia agak marah saya tak ambil ikan-ikan yang saya pilih tadi. Bagi saya, sangat kurang ajar sikap sebegitu.

Hari ni (10hb.May), kami ke satu kedai wholesaler ni nak cari tudung, jubah dan baju kurung. Ada orang order nak banyak. Jadi dah tentunya saya nak beli pun dalam kuantiti yang agak banyak. Kami nampak satu kedai yang mempunyai corak dan kain yang menarik. Ada satu jubah ni sangat menarik warna dan kainnya. Tertera diatas jubah tu harga RM80.00. Saya tanya pada satu pekerja yang kebetulan tengah mengambil sesuatu di dalam kotak di lantai. Kalau saya nak ambil dua helai, boleh dapat murah lagi ke? Dia jawab dalam nada yang tak menyenangkan, "Tak ada, itu memang harga jualan. Sophie yang berdiri berhampiran dengan gadis tu mencuba nasib lagi, "Kalau nak nak ambil enam helai, boleh..." Dia tak sempat nak habiskan ayat bila penjual ni mencelah dengan nada yang kurang senang. "Tak boleehh, harga tu sama ja tak kira berapa banyak pun yang awak beli". Nampak muka Sophie yang sangat marah. Dia merungut dengan agak kuat, merosakkan hari ja dengan orang yang macam ni.
Kami ke kedai yang lain yang mana pekerjanya lebih sopan dan dapat harga yang lebih baik daripada tadi. Alhamdulillah.

Saya ni bukanlah jenis yang cerewet atau suka complain. Kalau saya masuk ke satu-satu tempat tu dan pekerja-nya nampak happy dan senyum selalu pun dah cukup. Bukan nak minta mereka tatang kita kehulu ke hilir.
Bab budi bahasa dan tata susila ni sangat saya titik beratkan. Sebab tu dah beratus kali say tegur anak-anak, selalu senyum dengan orang walaupun pada mulanya orang tak ingin nak senyum dengan kita. Cakap dengan suara yang lembut dan selalu gunakan pangkat di awal atau pangkal seseorang itu. Umpamanya, kita mulakan dengan " maaf cik atau maaf abang". Bila kita bersopan dengan orang, orang juga akan bersopan dengan kita.
Tapi sekarang ni, sangat payah nak dapat senyuman dari seseorang. Mahal sungguh harga senyuman sekarang ni.
Dari kecil, kita harus asuh anak supaya lebih berbudi bahasa dan bersopan terhadap orang lain. Tak rugi apa-apa pun.

Rose
12th.May '14