Rude Malaysians

Just recently a local newpaper had a feature article which required readers to vote for what they thought was the rudest behaviour of a Malaysian. Do we really think of ourselves as rude people? It's sad but so, so true. Some of the suggestions of rude behaviour were horrendous driving, talking on the cell phone in the cinema, taking too much from the buffet table etc. Nevertheless, these are all the realities of our Malaysian lifestyle. What would make a foreigner to our country lift up his hands in horror are taken to be "normal" parts of our everyday life. Just yesterday I was driving along a relatively clear stretch of road when suddenly a car from behind started to weave his way in and out of traffic trying to overtake every car on both lanes of the road. Note: An example of horrendous driving. Needless to say, he did not get very far ahead. Also the other day, I was with 3 friends driving along the winding road coming back from Batu Feringghi when a bus suddenly cut directly into my lane causing me to swerve two or three times before getting my car properly back on the road. (Aside to my sis if you are reading this: don't tell mummy and papa!) Note: An example of horrendous and EXTREMELY DANGEROUS driving, forget about being rude!
As mentioned, Malaysians also have the habit of talking loudly and incessantly on their cell phones in public places. It's annoying enough when you are in a noisy coffee shop and the uncle sitting opposite you wants to make himself heard above the noise. Just imagine if it were in a quiet place. Only last night I was at a evangelistic meeting at the Geodesic Dome in Komtar. Even before the meeting began, it was announced for everyone to turn off their cell phones or to put them to silent mode. Some people just don't get it. So at intervals there were all sorts of ringing tones going off across the hall, and it is especially loud when there is a hushed atmosphere all around you. How distracting.
There are certainly many more rude behaviours attributed to Malaysians but it would take too much time to list them all down. So is there really no hope? Are we as bad as all that? Nevertheless, there may be a glimmer of hope yet. Just today I had an encounter with a very pleasant security guard at a shopping mall. As I entered the mall, the security alarms started going off, startling me in the process. I was unsure of whether to proceed into the mall or to try another entrance. Fortunately, a very nice guard came to my rescue and advised me what I should do instead of yelling at me for making his life difficult.
So I guess we should not give up altogether. Malaysians really are nice people deep inside, we just need to dig a little deeper to find it.