I HAVE been living in Malaysia for almost a month now and I enjoy it very much.

The hospitality and friendliness of the locals remind me of my country, Brazil. We usually call it calor humano, which means “human warmth”, and Brazilians are famous for that.

What I refer to is the ability of total strangers to chat and make easy friendships while waiting for a bus at a bus stop, queuing at the cashier in the supermarket line or at a cafe.

However, after using the public transport here, I would like to confess that I was deeply disappointed to encounter the same old problem that Brazil is also notorious for. And that is the absence of basic manners and social education in certain situations.

I may not be the first nor the last to speak out on this matter, but the behaviour I have witnessed here flies in the face of common sense.

What I am talking about is how some people “attack” trains at KL Sentral during the rush hour, not even allowing disembarking passengers to leave the carriage and forcing them to fight their way out.

Then, once they enter the carriage, some people seem not to bother about fellow commuters behind them who are still trying to get in. They just stand near the doors instead of moving inside so that others can get in, too.

Recently, I was using the lift in the block of flats where I live. Five other people were inside. As soon as the lift doors opened on the ground floor and before we had the chance to get out, a group of teens rushed in.

Their behaviour implied that we should have waited for them to enter first before leaving the lift. It shocked me and made me want to tell them to mind their manners.

But come to think of it, how can they mind something that’s missing in them?

JOSE GAMMARIA, Subang Jaya

Source: NST – April 30, 2008