Adakah Anda Berbudi Bahasa?

“Budi bahasa budaya bangsa” – a common phrase that we heard on the radio, tv etc. Do we practice it? I wonder…

My husband just got home from Iran. This is his 2nd trip to Iran. The 1st time, he went with his bosses and he told me that he did not enjoy that much. Yes, he got to visit to places that were not allowed to commoners – but, it was a different kind of enjoyment.

So, subsequent to his return from Iran, he was telling me what he had missed the 1st time during his trip to Tehran. First and foremost, he noticed that the Persians are the friendliest lot! They talked to anyone as though they have known each other for years even though they are actually total strangers. They are also a helpful lot – always help out (without disturbing and harming the situation) where help is required. For example, when he went shopping, a lady fell on the stairs. Almost anyone nearby, came to the rescue of the lady! If it had been in Malaysia, there would be more onlookers, people who are indifferent and could not be bothered at all. Much worse there would be someone laughing instead of helping or trying to assist and enquire the condition of the lady.

Another matter that astonishes my husband was how cultured these Iranian were. They were more civic minded. He mentioned that pedestrians can cross the roads at any point in time and not even using the zebra crossing. If it was in Malaysia, either you will be honked at, run over or thrown blasphemies at. In Tehran, pedestrians can cross any road without fear of being run over. Even motorcyclists can easily reversed, crossed (double lane), crossing over to the opposite lanes or overtaking cars etc easily – without causing any traffic jam. What they just do is to honk i.e to indicate that they are about to ‘maneuver’ a move. There are hardly people honking at each other or throwing blasphemies at each other.

I told him, what did you expect from people who have centuries old of civilization, more than 2500 years? Of course they are most civilized. The civilization of Tanah Melayu is old but Malaysians are not! We are just half a centuries old.

I still have faith that we Malaysians still have the “budi bahasa” within ourselves…’terendam”. It is a matter of time that it will surface once everyone learn that it is not just about tolerance that can make us live peacefully in this country but also respect and be more civic conscious. Then, the country will be a more happier place to live in.