EARLIER this month, I returned to Singapore from the Netherlands.

I was shocked by the attitude of and service provided by salespeople whom I came across within two days of my arrival.

I had returned to sort out the paperwork for some personal affairs, and the phone operator of an organisation I called sounded slightly impatient.

She cut me off before I could finish my sentence, then put me through to her superior, who was too busy to answer my call.

On my second try, when the operator realised it was me on the line again, she shouted at me, asking why I had not called her superior instead.

I asked her why she raised her voice, and she replied after a brief moment of speechlessness that it was due to her boss being busy.

Then, I took the MRT with my sister to the city for lunch. On the escalator, people were standing on both the left and right, blocking those who were in a rush.

Boarding a packed train, we tried to move to the centre of the train, but found it difficult as many people were crowding near the doors.

Young, able-bodied commuters occupied priority seats, while those who were more in need of them were left standing.

As for the restaurant, the waiter and kitchen staff must have been very efficient, as the set meal I ordered was served after a very short wait - the soup, main course, dessert and tea came all at once.

In some countries such as Germany, people have to go to school to be a shoe salesman or waiter.

Perhaps this should be i

ntroduced in Singapore as well. I grew up in Hong Kong in the early 1990s, and many tourists complained then that Hong Kongers were rude to those who did not speak Cantonese.

In Hong Kong today, almost everyone working in the service industry smiles and speaks English, Mandarin and Cantonese.

People riding on the MTR also do not hesitate to give up their seats to the elderly.

In a little over 10 years, Hong Kong's efforts to be an Asian Tiger with grace paid off.

How about Singapore?

Ms Silvia Jiaen Cormont-Ku

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