There is a paradoxical situation staring in the face of Asian countries. They have been touted to have inherited good moral values but sadly, this has now become a thing of 'all talk, no action. Be it Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai or Singapore, there is one common element that binds them together and that is their peoples inability to display common courtesy and politeness, according to a recent survey done by the Reader's Digest magazine.

The survey, aimed at analysing urban behaviour in 35 cities, included nine Asian capitals - Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Manila, Bangkok, Seoul, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Mumbai and Taipei. The survey rated Kuala Lumpur as the third-worst city in terms of courteousness.

While the survey finally brought to light what has been happening all along in Malaysia, the results naturally put the 'powers-that-be' to shame with Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak quickly retorting that the survey results had tarnished the image of the country, especially since it was screened several times on television by CNN.

And even more so since Malaysia is going all out to woo tourists as next year has been declared Visit Malaysia Year 2007. Any negative publicity cannot be afforded, and the survey results have smacked Malaysia on her face.

The truth, no matter how painful to 'digest', is that Malaysians no longer see courtesy as a way of life. Malaysians seem so caught up in the materialistic and competitive world that the last thing they have on their mind is anything concerning courtesy.

It is said that a big number of Malaysians have forgotten of the need to make courtesy a way of life. To be blamed for this poor show of courtesy by Malaysians are the politicians, be they ministers or members of parliament. The immature rebuttals and personal attacks made during Parliament proceedings reflect how far behind the country is in terms of courtesy and good mannerisms.

No wonder then it is that those down the line, refuse to practice what the governments is preaching because the latter itself has failed to lead by a good example.

It is no exaggeration to say that gone are the days when Malaysians would greet one another with a warm smile or a 'thank you'. Unlike today, getting transactions done was no chore then, especially since 'service with a smile' was in the true sense a way of life for the people.

Government strategies

The Reader's Digest survey encompassed three tests. One was seeing whether someone said 'thank you' after a small purchase, the other was whether people helped to pick up dropped papers and lastly whether they held a door open for the person behind. Shamefully, Malaysia flopped in all three tests.

Retrospection will indicate that Malaysians seem to have no qualms about not being polite and on the contrary think that this is the attitude for their busy and compressed life. What an irony.

The many road bully cases Malaysia has seen over the past few years is a real reflection of just how ill-mannered Malaysians have become. There is no remorse in calling the next person names or gesturing rudely. Is this is the Malaysia our grandparents would have wanted us to inhabit?

What is really ailing Malaysians that they cannot even spare a minute to practice courtesy, be it in the trains or at a store? Instead of blindly rebutting the survey's results as Najib recently did, it would help to ask why have Malaysians become rude to the point that the nation has yet again become the talk of the world and for the wrong reason.

Najib's later admission that Malaysians were not courteous enough as revealed by the many Courtesy Campaign that had to be held makes one wonder what strategies the government had in mind to improve the nation's courtesy standards.

Obviously, if the Reader's Digest survey had not shown that Malaysians, especially the urban dwellers in Kuala Lumpur, are down right rude, Najib would have perhaps taken longer or maybe never at all admitted that courteousness and Malaysians do not go hand-in-hand.

Malaysia's Cultural, Arts and Heritage Minister Rais Yatim was also displeased with the Reader's Digest survey. Keeping in mind his portfolio, it was no less a default reaction from Rais who argued that the survey was 'inaccurate' and 'unfair'.

The minister lamented that the magazine should not expect everyone to hold open the door and this was not the practice in New York as well. The Big Apple topped the survey list as the city which is most courteous.

What is it so difficult for Rais to accept the survey findings and the fact that Malaysians seem to have a problem with common courtesy? His admission that the government needs to do more to polish Malaysia's image contradicts his displeasure shown over the results.

Too bad that the Courtesy Campaigns initiated by the government have not brought about he desired results, thus forcing these campaigns to be a long-term commitment.

Working together

We will reap what we sow and if it is ill-manners that our children are displaying today then to a large extent it is the fault of the parents, schools and the society at large for allowing it. Why do adults laugh off children's misdemeanours only to regret years later?

If the nation wants to see its people, be they taxi drivers or chief executive officers, exhibiting true love for their motherland by exhibiting courtesy as a way of life, then the onus lies on everyone to work towards making this happen.

There should be no passing the buck, like for instance from teachers to parents and vice-versa. As the Reader's Digest survey has revealed, it is no longer time for rhetoric. Instead, the government must buck up and question its priorities.

The survey has proven what has been long said of the country, that Malaysia is a nation of first- class infrastructure but her people come with a third-class mentality.

Truth is often difficult to swallow. But life's vagaries often show that it is the bitter truth that brings about a change and one which is often for the better. Malaysia should digest the bitter truth that courtesy is no longer an asset of its people. This reality check will help her chart the road to redemption.