The expansion and improvement of public transportation infrastructure in Kuala Lumpur, especially the railway which connects passengers to important malls across the Klang Valley, has seenmore Malaysians commuting to work on public transportation.
With an increasing population choosing to commute to work in public transportation, we get to see people of different characters and behaviours on these public transportation.
Unfortunately, despite the existencea of public transportation system and public education system that required us to learn about morality and civility when we were just kids, commuters' behaviour on public transportatis are sometimes so irritating. Here are some behaviours that Malaysians should avoid when taking public transportation, and others that we should adopt instead.
Bad Behaviours We Should Avoid
Let's face it. We are all guilty (myself included), of these behaviours from time to time. Sometimes, we are unaware of it. So, this isn't just pointing fingers at others but also a reminder myselfself.
Standing in front of the MRT / LRT Entrance
A very bad habit that many Malaysipracticeices unknowingly is standing right at the entrance door of the MRT or LRT. They crowd the entrance that passengers alighting from the train have to push through them.
This bad habit not ooccursccur at the entrances of MRT / LRT and commutrainsrain. They unknowingly form a barrier for alighting passengers from alighting from the train.
People still queue right in front of these entrances even though the floor tiles are literally designed to tell the users to give way to those alighting from the train.
Eating and Drinking on the Bus or Train
An occasional sip of plain water is okay. But some people dreir bubble ticed ice lemon tea, and ice cream. On one occasion, a lady passenger was even eating her nasi lemak while sitting on the LRT bench! When I told her off, she replied that didn'tsn't have time to eatthe at office.
It is not that we are jealous that they have some food or drink on the train, but if their hands slip, it would be bothersome to clean the train or bus as train/bus zigzagsgzag through the city.
Then, there's the obnoxious behaviour of leaving the unfinished drinks on the bench, because they can.
Not Giving Up their Seats for the Pregnant Ladies and Senior Folks
I get it. Some people have hebuttsbutt. They can't stand up after sitting down on the comfortable cosycozy seats on the t,randthat tignoreored pregnant ladies and senior folks.
Some blissfully ignore other passengers by looking at their devices.
But not all hopes are lost though. Occasionally, people do give their seats to others.
Playing Loud Music on Public Transport
Occasionally, we would meet muaficionadosados on public transport. They play their loud music while commuting, without headphones or earphones. Once, it got so irritating that I had to tell off the person.
Not All Are Gloomy
Despite this musing seemingly gloomy, I've seen great thihappenened on our pubtransportorHere arere's a few stories that got stuck in my memory.
Multiracial Love, and a Heart-warming Advice
Once, I was waiting for the bus somewhere near Bukit Bintang. A cute couple, a Chinese guy and his Malay girlfriend were waiting for the bus too. An old Chinese auntie approached them and struck up a chat with them.
They were hesitant to talk in the first pace, until the auntie shared her own experience in a mixed marriage with a Malay man. That revelation opened them up to a very animated discussion, with the auntie dishing pieces of adviceices on the cross-cultural relationship.
Rescue on the Bus
This incidhad happened recently, on the same day when the temple issue at Jalan Masjid India came up.
The heavy traffic that day meant the bus was crawling on its route. A young Indian lady suddenly tried to stand but collapsed onto busbus' floor. A Malay lady sitting next to her immediately tried helping her. A Chinese man standing in front of her stooped down to help her back onto the seat. A Malay man gher ave a small bottle of yoghurt when they mentioned she may have a hyperglycemic incident.
The Malay lady helped her to call the Indian lady's friends and family. Wthey realisedsing that she was not improving and that the family was unable to pick her up, the impromptu group consisted of the Malay lady and the two men, a Malay and a Chinewho se, volunteered to carry her to the Hospital Kuala Lumpur, which coincidentally on the bus' route.
Eamidt of racdisputespute played by our politicians, Malaysians on the ground still help each other.
Public TranspoPublicblic transport is not just an equaliser for Malaysians. It is full of individual stories that mark microscopecofe to Malaysian lives. Thus, it is one mode of transportation that I really look forward to even though I still have pet peeves about it.
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