The tsunami of sub-standard attitude has become part of us Malaysians.
Many Malaysians, if anything is not working well, “tidak apa lah”. (It doesn't matter) If someone had not finished their work but it was time to go home, “tidak apa lah”. When something is made sloppy, “tak apa lah”.
We put up with below par standards, attitudes and work because they all still functioned, more or less. So why put in the extra mile to do something properly?
After years of the “tidak apa attitude”, we now have evolved to a catchphrase: “biasa lah”. (that’s normal). And usually it refers to when something goes wrong.
Let me give examples:-
I neighbors house was undergoing some renovations, it was understandable that I've gotto suffer with the sound pollution and dust caused. As the contractors were doing some piping the removed my house rain piping and promised me to put back things in place after. On the note all the piping was done on my side of the house and was not in any way interfering with the neighboring house but then I didn't want to be a pain in the ass to my new next-door. After the renovation was over the rain pipe-line was installed on my pillar broken, dented and my pillar all ruined. When asked about it the contractors replied "biasa lah" things like this happen when there is a renovation going on.
Another example, went to a stall to buy some kuih and saw lotsa flies, when asked the Malay aunty replied, "lalat pun nak makan juga". First was no initiative to give customer hygienic food then the sambil lewa answer.
What all this means is that after years of tidak apa, we have come to a situation where shoddy work is considered normal.
We have become so accustomed to it that we accept standards which are much lowered. People now tell you that they didn't reply your email from two months ago but provide no excuse for it. That’s just the way it is. I really wonder where this is going to lead. Are our standards going to deteriorate further until, despite our fancy buildings, we truly become a Third World country again?
I am afraid that if this “biasa lah” attitude carries on, we will see a real deterioration in all our services and professions. Already, sales people who can’t answer any questions have a tendency to disappear rather than face an irritated customer. Sooner or later, our trains will be even later, roads will go unrepaired and more strange radar blips will be ignored.
Due to the "tidak apa" attitude of AirAsia staff I missed my flight. When clearly something could have been done. The counter staff just called the manager "she claims" said not a word and hang up saying nothing could't be done when clearly the plane is still there and it was just a domestic flight.
The nation needs a serious makeover, let alone the political side but the mentality most importantly. JOM UBAH! Ini kali lah!
Sub-standard work is considered usual and we now accept standards which are much lowered in our daily lives.
