A job worth doing is worth doing well

TS,Saturday July 2, 2011

I refer to “KLIA limo tells on us” (The Star, June 30) and found the title and conclusion most apt.

The taxi service is indeed an accurate barometer of society. That we have a large number of errant taxi drivers is no coincidence. It reflects the general apathy of the local authorities, operators and the public.

I am all for social engineering and would like to see its benefits filter down to a large population. The lucky few granted the licences and permits must justify their awards by putting in the necessary efforts and not be merely rent seekers.

The writer’s narration of her taxi ride from KLIA is a good indicator of the operator’s poor control over the cleanliness of its vehicles and conduct of drivers. Instead of idling while waiting for their next trip, these drivers could have easily scrubbed clean the interior of their taxis.


Surely, the state of affairs should not surprise anyone, as monopolies naturally produce uncompetitive services.

Interestingly, her conclusion “But I can tell he was proud of his profession and his country” is similar to the standard group pledge for participants attending a training workshop on courtesy.


The last three lines they have to recite are – “We are proud of our profession. We are proud of our organisation. And, and we love Malaysia, because we are proud to be Malaysians.”


Sadly, too many of us are proud of ourselves while doing a lousy job. Some treat their duties lightly while others consider their present job as temporary, a stepping-stone to a higher position.


What they do not realise is that if they cannot do a simple job now, they are unlikely to be capable of handling greater responsibilities in future.


It would serve them well if they pay heed to the lyrics of an old song with a line that says ‘Do what you do, do well.’




YS Chan

Kuala Lumpur