I have tried to adapt to the attitudes of Sabahan since the day I have decided to come back to Sabah. I was influenced by other kind of attitudes for the past 12 to 13 years and I still remember that I was told by one of my Minister in England that reverse culture is more difficult than adapting a new culture. Well, so having that in mind, I have tried to set aside all my other perceptions about 'better attitudes' and 'worse attitudes'.
Sabahan is a group of people, society who lives in a peaceful, relaxing and comfortable State compare to other part of the country. Just like place like Mauritius, people enjoying their life with all the peacefulness, relaxing and non-hectic life. Which I also consider that as 'better life'. And because of that, people have different attitudes towards things. People do not have to struggle or try harder in order to achieve certain level or things. People just need a little what most of the people said, connection and/or luck. If you happen to be someone's son or someone's daughter, then you are saved. You can do anything and anything you do, will be successful and yes, money is there awaits for your hand. If you happen to be a kampung boy or kampung girl where no one knows your parents, I am so sorry to tell you that you are not going to achieve into any level unless you have the guts to challenge the rest and you have really NOTHING TO LOSE.
People in this State is somehow being 'pempet' too much. They live lives happy go lucky manner. I was trying to be nice to the people in this management office of my apartment. I never complain anything althought I have made reports of someone play fire near the staircase and I saw cats were being fed and dirtied because of that. No one take care of things about that. My car was also suffered from scratches because of all these naughty kids who have nothing to do during their school break. I do not really care because I do realise that besides playing with those thing, they have nothing else to do. But the attitude of the people in the management office and the security are reallly not something that I can give appraise to.
I apply for my car card (for me to go in and out of my apartment easily) on the first day of my arrival and that was 29.05.2006. In about a month time, they called me back and asked me to collect the card. According to their record, I collected my card on 15.07.2006. Well, I forgive them for their slowness because of the Harvest Festival holiday for about a week plus a bit of laziness, etc. etc. From day one after my collection, I tried the card and it's not working. As I just stepped down in Sabah and I just started my law firm then, I did not have the time to go and check with them. Obviously I have done wrong. Besides, the security guard is always there to open door for whoever wants to come in to the apartment compound without asking or checking or doing recording. Until recently, a month or 2 ago that they introduced this new system that you need to put your finger (any of your finger) to a slot, get your finger scanned and then you can enter. See, I do not know how does it help the security except the security guard do not need to stand there and press the button. Because of this new and advance system, every morning, we suffer traffic jam, queing to get out from our apartment compound. You can let your mind wander that the door did not open, the finger is not scanned properly, it takes about 2 to 3 minutes a person and so forth. So, with no avail, I have to bring my car card to check. I hand it to them and this managment officer told me that it cost about RM15 and my card need 'update'. I didn't ask more, I left my business card with them as they promise they will call me when the card it ready. That was about a month ago. I didn't hear from them for 2 weeks, I gave them a call and the conversation is as follow: -
Me: Hello, I would like to know if my car card is ready for collection. Can you check for me?
Officer: Did anyone call you yet?
Me: Not yet and that is why I am calling to check.
Officer: If you did not receive any call that's mean it is not ready. We will call once it is ready.
Me: Oh, OK. Thanks.
So, it ended as such. Today, I received a water charges from the management office. So, I went to the office to do payment and of course to also take the opportunity to ask about my car card. This is what I get: -
Me: Can you check if my car card is ready?
Office: Anyone call you yet?
Me: No. But it has been about a month since I left my card here. I have paid and I want to know the status of it. The security system has caused me too many problems. Can you check?
Officer: Wait. (a few minutes later), sorry we can't find your card. wait. (after a few minutes), oh ... your card ah? Your card need an update and you need to pay for it again la... pay us RM15 and we will get that issued to you.
Me: Why does it need update?
Office: We update all the card every 30th of June.
Me: What? When did I collect this card from you again? Can you check from your system?
Office: hmm... 15.07.2006.
Me: So tell me, why do I need to update since it is issued on 15.07.2006.
Office: But you send in application for the card on 29.05.2006 woh.
Me: If you are issuing a card to me in July, after the update, why can't you give me an updated one?
Office: eh..... But your card need to update lah. otherwise cannot use.
Me: I know, but why I didn't get an updated card in JULY?
Office: This, you have to ask the security.
Me: I do not want to pay for it because of your mistake.
Another office heard what I said and she came forward.
Officer 2: Are you sure your card is not damaged by heat or anything?
Me: That is your duty to check.
Officer 2: If it is damage by you, then you have to pay.
Me: But I cannot use it since the first day I collected it from you.
Officer 2: OK. Why don't you give us time to check this out?
Me: I want the answer NOW. CHECK NOW.
Officer 2: eh....
Me: See, when you issue the card to me in JULY, it should have been an updated one. Why didn't you give me an updated one and ask me to update again?
Office 2: ok. we will issue another card to you within 1 week.
Me: You promise that? Make sure you do it.
I left the office after that. Yes, I know I was harsh, but I was really angry. What is that? Update done every 30th June and I collected my card in July and it is outdated card? And they didn't even bother to give me a call to tell me that I need to pay and keep my card with them? Until when? I paid them RM15 to update and what is that?
A friend told me that I am so easily to be bullied. I started to realise that also. What? The size of my body just telling everyone that I am easy to be bullied? Goodness, I was so angry this morning in the management office. I told myself to cool down but I just couldn't. What sort of attitude is that? Mine, is definately too harsh. Theirs, simply laziness and never think properly. Answer me without checking. Don't get me wrong. I can just pay them and get things done. I just do not like the attitudes. If they really need me to pay for it, can't they give me a call? I do not like the process and the procedure. Not about the result.
May be I was not feeling well this morning or may be I was really disturbed by some other issues that caused me to get my anger into them, but hai.... I don't know. May be I am at fault. Whatever it is. I just feel so 'xian' with life lately. The attitudes of the people in church, the attitudes of the people at work, the attitudes of the people in town, everything... I don't know. May be it is time for me to leave Malaysia for good. I really have a problem adapting!!!!
- attitudes -
