There were two other people in the line ahead of me – a white lady and a Malay lady with her daughter (about six years old?).

Now obviously the right way to line up for the toilets is that everyone forms one line, and as each toilet stall frees up, the next person in line goes.  So that’s how it was.

I was scrolling through my phone when suddenly I noticed two women in airline ground staff uniforms stroll in, and just enter the stalls when the occupants exited.

I was a little confused so I asked the Malay lady in front of me, did they cut the line?? She looked a little upset and nodded yes.

So I wasn’t in the best of moods when another woman, this time in a Malindo Air uniform strode in to the restroom, walked to the front of the line and  started pushing on toilet doors.

She pushed on a door with a cleaning sign in front and it opened. So I said, excuse me, the line is back here.

She looked back at me and said: “I need to go first first, need to go back to work quickly.”

And the conversation went like this.

Me: “We also need to go check in quickly what! How can you cut line like this!”

Malindo (feigning innocence, also changing the topic): But why this stall empty you all not using?

Me: “Cos there’s a no entry sign in front.  How are we to know it’s free?”

Malindo: “I’m just checking the stalls see which is free.”

Me (feeling annoyed cos she’s clearly just making up excuses): “If that’s the case, let this auntie go first la. She’s been waiting here so long and she has a little girl with her.”

Malindo: “If she wants to go, she go la! I never say she cannot!” (but still unmoving away from the toilet stall)

Me: “Auntie, you go first!  Take that stall.”

Auntie at this point is scared like anything. Another toilet stall opened and she hurriedly dove in with her kid.

Malindo (triumphant): “See! Got another toilet for her what.”  (makes as though she’s going to enter her stall)

Me: “Okay then this toilet should be for me then since you cut line.”

Malindo: “Take la! Take la!”

 Luckily for her another stall opened up next to her so I stomped there and said she could take her toilet la then. Forgot about the poor folks lining behind me. Should have told her to let the one behind me take that toilet since she cut her too.

After I finished in the toilet, I came out and she was standing at the sink, staring daggers at me in the mirror.

Wtf? Wrong already still cock stare me? Glared back at her while washing my hands wtf.

You know what happened then?  She continued giving me angry creepy looks, doing it very obviously, like she’d sweep her eyes away in contempt then fix them back on me in the mirror while simultaneously glaring.  She kept doing it so I finally lost my temper and said:

 “Kurang ajar.”

 The literal meaning is no manners or not enough education. But in Malay I think it’s a pretty harsh thing to say, isn’t it?  But I was so angry my Malay was stuck and I felt like the most accurate thing to say.

Cos she really no manners la! What shitty example is she setting especially for the little girl? Will she grow up thinking it’s okay to cut queues?

Plus she’s a Malindo ground staff, in an international airport. What impression of Malaysia is she giving tourists? Fuck her la.

 Anyway she predictably got offended I called her kurang ajar cos she can’t take the truth and started berating me.

Malindo: “So what if I’m kurang ajar! What’s your problem with that?”

Seriously? Can you believe the intelligence? She should have been a lawyer. Her reasoning skills are clearly amazing.

Me: “My problem is that you’re kurang ajar la and cut line la!! What kind of question is that? What kind of example are you setting? No wonder Malaysians are known for being rude, cos of people like you!”

 Malindo: “Whatever!” (complete with hand signal, walking away)

Wow her linguistics skills. They really blow me away.

But at that point I also raging already. Die also cannot let her have the last word so I said “With your attitude I hope you get fired!!!” then I stomped away.

Ok la low blow but really damn angry. So mad I nearly followed her back to her counter so I can complain to her boss. I really think I should have.  After all, she’s representing Malindo in her uniform so shouldn’t her employer know of her disgraceful behavior towards passengers?

That was Incident 1.

Incident #2

We really mad suay.  Today at the Kuching airport, we were again lining up, this time to board the plane.

There was a chain barrier strung along the line so people could line up within it.  Fatty and I were at the end of the barrier and out of nowhere, this man of African descent came and stood next to Fatty, and discreetly tried to push his roll on suitcase into the line to secure a spot in front of us.

MEANS CUTTING LA RIGHT.

Fatty was on the phone taking a work call, and I knew exactly what this guy was trying to do.  Fatty looked distracted and I was worried the guy would successfully cut our line wtf.  The auntie in me cannot let this go so I considered asking Fatty to switch places with me so I could stand there and tell him off/stretch my arm out and hold the barrier so he cannot pass wtf.

But I should have known.  This is why we are married.

Fatty suddenly said to the person on the other line, “Hold on.  I need to scold someone.”

Then he turned to the fella and said, “Excuse me. The line is back there. You are cutting the line.”

Line cutter: “Oh but she already accepted my ticket” (referring to the Air Asia staff, who had come down the line to check our boarding passes)

Fatty: “I don’t care if she took your ticket or if she gave you keys to the plane. There is a line and you’re cutting it. So don’t be rude and get to the back of it.”

At this point Fatty complained to the Air Asia staff about him cutting the line and she told him softly to get behind.

When the line cutter ignored, she did nothing. And that pissed us off even more.

Fatty told him once again to get behind and the guy said: “I’m not cutting line. I’m with this guy”. (points to an old uncle right in front of us)

Fatty: “OH REALLY ?” *taps uncle’s shoulder* “excuse me uncle. Is this man with you?”

The uncle looked as nervous as the lady in the toilet with the little girl and shook his head no.

Fatty turned back to the black guy and stared at him.

Finally he said, “Ok fine. I won’t cut. I’ll just stand here until everyone goes in.”

Liar.  He didn’t cut us, but he cut the second guy behind us.  I saw him walking in two people after us.  I don’t even understand why you would cut line for a plane.  You have an assigned seat and the plane isn’t going to take off without you.  What’s the point!?

Two more things.

One, these line cutters are not only rude and selfish, they refuse to back down even after being told off.  Why?  Because they’ll lose face and they don’t want to admit wrong?  They’re also liars.  The black guy wasn’t with the uncle, and he lied blatantly.  Malindo woman wasn’t “just checking the toilets”, she intended to cut everyone in the line.

Two, NOBODY ELSE SUPPORTED US IN TELLING OFF THESE RUDE SCUM.

The auntie in the bathroom was terrified, maybe because she had her child with her.  But if my child was with me, I’d make sure she knows that cutting line is WRONG.  I wouldn’t just stand by and be taken advantage of like that.  What example am I setting to my child then?  That it’s ok to be bullied?

And the people in the line behind me.  Nobody spoke up to help, even when I’m clearly speaking up for everybody in line.

Likewise with the African man.  Nobody else said anything, they all just either stared blatantly or looked at their shoes.

And the Air Asia ground staff?  Thanks for nothing.  You of all people had the power to maintain queue hygiene.  You could have asked him to go to the back of the line and he would have to comply.  Instead you scurried off, relieved he’s not cutting your line.

Well, fine.  Someday somebody will cut your line too.   And it will be sooner rather than later, looking at the state of Malaysian courtesy.

This is what I’m the angriest about.  Why is nobody else speaking up?  Shame on them for letting such behavior go. You are in the right, why would you be afraid?  Afraid of what?  The fella punch you, you can file police report what wtf.

How can you live like this?  With not even rights to your place in line because nobody respects social rules anymore?  Since when did Malaysia turn into a barbaric state?

Please.  If you see behavior that deserves correcting, speak up.  It’s not that difficult.  Nobody is going to punch you.  You are in the right, and they are in the wrong therefore trust me, it’s much easier for you to talk than it is for them.

You may think it’s none of your business and you shouldn’t get involved.  Wrong!  It is entirely your business because everybody has at some point or other gotten their lines cut by selfish people who think their time is more valuable than yours.

And your kids.  What are your kids going to learn?  What are the tourists going to learn about Malaysians?  That we are all disgustingly rude and selfish?  Is that what you want?  Or do you want every time you line up to be a stressful and upsetting affair because people don’t know how to line up?

So please.  Say something.  Shame them into being courteous.  If you fail to do anything, you’re only perpetuating this bad behavior.