Good Hospitality In Malaysia; We're Not Quite There Yet, Aren't We?

Last night I was Bangsar Village with my mum and my sister. After strolling along the retail outlets, we headed to have dinner (if you happen to check my Twitter, you know where are we dining). Anyway, we had our dinner and all (great food, ambiance was not bad at all, a cute chick was dining with her friend at the table beside, cehh sempat lagi usha tuh). We're about to leave the premise and there it strikes me, no 'thank you, please come again, have a pleasant evening' or any of that sorts of phrases you usually hear. From there onwards my mind starts to wonder. This is not the first time I have encountered this sort of acts in Malaysia, whether it's an entering a retail outlet, dining, even going for a haircut.

Back in the UK, I truly admire on how they treated their customers. They treated each and everyone with utmost respect, warmth together with a welcoming smile. While shopping, the salesperson will not follow you as if they are stalking you, but somehow their behaviour translates into the words 'I'll be here if you need any help'. They'll let you roam around their huge (or narrow) space. Upon payment, they'll ask you 'will that be all?' and they'll say thinks like 'thank you, please come again'. Honestly I'm saying, even if you're not buying anything that day, the treatment that you got makes you want to buy at least something, or perhaps enter the shop the next time. Even when I'm getting a haircut, they'll treat you like your favourite customer, asking if the water temperature is warm enough, if you'd like a scalp massage. I tell you, it is worth every ringgit and sen spent (in this case, pounds and pences).

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Malaysians are a brute when it comes to being hospitable. Heck, Malaysians are renowned as being a very welcoming and very warm people. But sometimes this sort of small gestures makes you wonder if Malaysians are actually warm in personality. If you ask me, if he/she does all of this small things, it's either his/her upbringing is delightful, or he/she have been trained well in hospitality.

In my observation, you will get these 'extra' treatments if you are 1) a very seasoned, regular customer. 2) a well known somebody. 3) you happen to know the owner (or someone influential) of that establishment. Oh not to mention 4) How you present yourself (I've heard that the typical apek in pagoda shirts and flip flops did not receive a fair treatment even though he's got two Benz and a BMW back home). Yes, it's not about whether you know people, it's about whether people know you. The element of 'double standard' is still there, and I think it's gonna take a while before it vanishes once and for all. Sometimes if you're lucky you can even see the hideous faces of the promoters having a bad day. The negative energy is scattered all over the place, the first thing you want to is to leave the place.

So, that is what I have to say about this topic. I say, everyone deserves a fair treatment, be it a window shopper, or a fashion diva; whether he orders only a teh o limau suam, or treats a table of 10. Any comments are welcomed!