Tina: Increasing overall politeness in daily interactions can be achieved by shaping educational curricula to instil courtesy from a young age.
UNITY is a key pillar in a diverse country like Malaysia, but without courtesy in our daily lives, it may not hold strong.
Recently, while on a ship to an island in Perth, Australia, I experienced severe seasickness and vomited before I could vacate my seat.
Expecting to be shunned, I was surprised when the locals offered towels and helped clean up the mess. A lady sitting beside me even tucked my soiled bangs behind my ear.
These small acts of kindness deeply touched me and made me wonder: what kind of reactions would I have received back home?
A lack of public accountability is evident in Malaysia. Just ask yourself: have you noticed greasy waste left on restaurant tables, even where bins are provided and signs remind customers to clean up after themselves? And have you seen plastic bags floating near the roads?
This lack of civic responsibility extends to behaviours such as running red lights, double parking, spitting, smoking in prohibited areas, industrial pollution, discrimination, bullying, low voter turnout, and corruption.
Civic duties require responsibility, integrity, and a commitment to ethical conduct at all levels of society. Indirectly but surely, these courtesy-based values can enhance public safety and foster trust within communities.
Similarly, mutual respect strengthens social cohesion. Only with these interrelated factors can unity be truly forged and national identity maintained.
Increasing overall politeness in daily interactions can be achieved by shaping educational curricula to instil courtesy from a young age.
Other strategies include community initiatives, such as organising cultural events and workshops, promoting corporate social responsibility, and conducting public awareness campaigns through media and informational announcements.
While practising courtesy, one must also be cautious of falling prey to criminal activities like scams and kidnappings.
In fact, such incidents have made people hesitant to extend help. To mitigate this, it is crucial to stay informed about the latest tactics used by predators, recognise common danger signs, and remain aware of our surroundings while assessing situations.
These criminal activities further underscore the need to revive the “Budi Bahasa Budaya Kita” (Courtesy is Our Culture) campaign, which was first launched in 2005 and revived in 2022, to remind Malaysians of the importance of values such as civic responsibility.
By reinvigorating this campaign, negative behaviour can be deterred, fostering a more united Malaysia with its melting pot of cultures.
Tina, 14, a student in Johor, is a participant of the BRATs Young Journalist Programme run by The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) team.
For updates on the BRATs programme, go to facebook.com/niebrats.
With the theme of the article in mind, carry out the following English language activities.
1 How can students practise courtesy in their daily lives? Use words and images from the newspaper to create an infographic with examples.
2 Are there areas in your life where you feel your behaviour lacks courtesy? Make a pledge to improve by stating your specific goal and how you will achieve it.
The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) programme promotes the use of English language in primary and secondary schools nationwide.
For Star-NiE enquiries, email starnie@thestar.com.my.
