To whom it may concern,
17th JANUARY 2008
From a teenagers perspective, for the general public,
What’s gone wrong with tolerance? Is patience that expensive to pay? Is a smile nearly impossible to fake? Today I was left to face what I call, one of the worst bus experiences I have ever encountered. Three disgracing encounters involving three rude Rapid KL drivers.
There I was, heading towards a driver to ask him basic directions to Serdang KTM Station, as soon as the bus made its stop at Bangsar. All I asked was what bus number I should take in order to reach Serdang KTM Station. What I got from this specific driver was a 5minutes rude eye to eye stare and a sarcastic answer of How far Serdang is. I asked him again, and he took another moment to reply whilst giving me the cold treatment I didn't deserve. I thanked him and walked away. He couldn't even manage a smile at the least. Till this very moment I am wondering, why did he give me such a cold stare? Was I not supposed to ask the driver for assistance? Was it a mistake?
At the bus hub in K.L, I walked towards the Rapid K.L information counter to verify my route to Serdang. I stopped at a board displaying the routes and managed to track down the bus number the previous driver from Bangsar gave me. To my surprise that specific bus doesn't head to Serdang KTM Station, instead it heads towards KLCC. To reassure myself I asked a correspondent at the Rapid KL information booth and he just abruptly told me the same number, and another person inside told me harshly to check the board before asking. I told him the board was misleading and to my shock he yelled at me, I repeat, he yelled at me, saying "You pergi baca baik-baik"(Go and read it well) .
I just walked away. Thank goodness a kind lady asked about my whereabouts and guided me. She told me they changed the routes and bus numbers and said the information displayed on the board was wrong. Imagine the pain someone in my shoes has to go through? I managed to get into the bus and on my way the bus stopped at a bus stop before Serdang KTM Station. A foreign student asked him in English, how to get to Serdang KTM Station, and the bus driver, unable to answer well in English, just mumbled a few words.
The foreign student asked whether or not the bus stops at Serdang KTM Station again and this time the drive raged for no apparent reason and yelled back at the foreign student, in broken English. To quote exactly what the driver said, “You go pakai you otak, you buta!?” (Use your brain, what are you, blind?!) Apparently there was a board indicating the routes, behind the seat of the fellow passenger, pasted on the window. Who would have guessed? This is sheer insult to the whole hype on Malaysians are friendly people. One wrong ingredient is enough to spoil an entire pot of good soup. These are the minor things that we all should improvise. Ethics, patience, and warmth are indeed crucial in one’s life, and we should come to realization of that.
Rapid K.L should take major steps in order to curb these unfortunate events and inculcate the Malaysian spirit into their recruits. Where a great day starts with a smile and end with a smile. Where patience is a virtue practised at all times, therefore setting a positive example for everyone. I hereby would like to urge the general public to voice out their opinions and the authorities responsible should take a higher step in making an effort in improvising the noble service provided to all Malaysians.
Yours sincerely,
A conscious young Malaysian
