Showing Courtesy

TS,Friday 3 June 2011 

I refer to “Say ‘thank you’ freely” (The Star, June 1) and wish to say that courtesy can be used as an effective tool to achieve our national agenda. 

The silent majority have no problem with other Malaysians and foreigners on race, religion and other favourite issues often exploited by politicians and pseudo politicians. 

The local folks go about their daily lives, despite their differences, as they have found common grounds for harmonious living. 

However, a section of society is largely confined to themselves and may continue to avoid interacting with others, seeing only the differences. 

Their emotions can be stoked by fiery speeches or provocative writings. 

Some are quick to condemn others while remaining oblivious to their own shortcomings. 

Such wrongs are also prevalent among their own families and usually start with themselves. 

Too much time has been spent on politicking and too little or nation building. 

Leaders that claim to be religious, virtuous or educated are anything but, when displaying rude behaviour. 

Courtesy or lack of it reflects who they truly are. 

The progress of our economy has been a model of inspiration for many other third world countries. 

Sadly, our level of courtesy has not kept pace but actually regressed. 

To turn the tide, both public and private sector organisations ought to schedule short sessions at least once a week and if possible daily, to discuss and walk the talk on courtesy. 

Such exercises should be extended to families when members gather. 

Arguing who is right or wrong has never ended any quarrel. Showing courtesies has. 

Taking the cue from the New Year wish list of the Tourism Minister that Malaysians be friendlier and the country cleaner, a national travel organisation is conducting a series of workshops on courtesy for tourism personnel in both public and private sectors. 

Participants brainstorm in these workshops and pledge to be ‘Courteous Malaysians’. 

Big corporations can promote courtesy by printing pamphlets and booklets for mass distribution as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). 

As courtesy can also raise productivity, staff should be sent to these workshops for training. 

Merely believing that courtesy is important will not do any good. 

There is no courtesy if it is not seen or displayed. Customers and visitors keenly feel it. 

Customer service without courtesy is not much different from serving food to diners without cooking it. 

YS Chan 

Kuala Lumpur