The kindness of strangers

Brian YS Wong August 22, 2024 23:35

20 minutes till boarding. 30 people in the queue. 1 exhausted academic tapping frantically away at 1 phone. 4 open counters. 12 closed. 600m worth of walking. 1 connecting bus ride.

I was standing in the immigration queue of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport – an airport that I had frequented many a time, with my mind split into two. One half was trying to figure out how on Earth I had managed to be so, uncharacteristically and unjudiciously, late in arriving at the airport (“perhaps the Grab driver should not have taken THAT turn, and should have stuck with THIS road instead”); the other half was seeking to find a way that would get me through to the CX flight, which had already been delayed due to the inclement weather in Hong Kong. In any case, what’s to be done?

Then a quote rang out in my head – it was a line from A Streetcar Named Desire, by Tennessee Williams. In Scene Eleven, the tragic heroine (well, that’s debatable) Blanche said to the doctor in the distance, “Whoever you are—I have always depended on the kindness of strangers”. And so I took her advice without replicating the ethos of the line, or, indeed, her life story.
I rehearsed precisely what I would say: “I am very, very sorry. I am currently due for a flight that is scheduled to depart in 20 minutes. At the current rate, I would most certainly struggle to make it… would it be possible, if you wouldn’t mind, for you to grant me the privilege of skipping you in the queue…”

I opened my mouth. The words started dripping out. The audience, however, did not comprehend. As it turned out, I had the perfect speech, but the completely “wrong” audience for what I had to say – I was preaching to a choir of folks who did not speak much English. Mea culpa – completely my fault, and a further sign of how flustered I was on the day given the hectic dash for the airport. And yet, apparently body language transcends verbal language – the spry elderly gentleman right next to me smiled, and said, “Go!”

And with that command, the fellow gentlemen in the queue made way for this harried traveler from Hong Kong – it was a most eccentric and almost electric feeling: the feeling of gratitude. In 40 seconds I found myself at the head of the queue, turning back to thank the wondrous folks who had made my life so much easier. The kindness of strangers truly is incredible.

This story, in my view, epitomises the friendliness, generosity, and genuine warmth exuded by the Malaysian people. As a country, Malaysia has endured a lot – from deep, ethnic divides, to challenges posed by conflicting religious ideals and approaches; from systemic corruption in the past, to developmental bottlenecks as the economy is confronted by a Middle Income Trap of its own. Yet irrespective of these obstacles and calamities, what one can’t help but be impressed by, is the sophisticated optimism and sanguine pragmatism that power the 34 million inhabiting the country. One may accuse me of generalising here, but I would assure you that the generalisation is with good reason: in face of the adversities and atrocities that had characterised the country’s suffering under colonial powers, as well as its post-independence political intrigue and vicissitudes, the Malaysian people have cultivated a collective spirit of flexible perseverance – to fight where possible, to endure where necessary, and to push for a better tomorrow through collective action.

Many have asked me what draws me so much to Kuala Lumpur. Good question. I suppose I’ll start with its incredible cultural eclecticism and plurality – there are few places in Asia where you can see Chinese culture so seamlessly integrated into and fused with Bumiputera or Indian cultures, where you can hear Tamil spoken side-by-side to English and Hokkien, and that are as affordable as Kuala Lumpur. Whether it be a walk through Merdeka Square (highly recommended – but for wet monsoon afternoons, i.e. 4-5pm) or a stroll along the hyper-modern bridge connecting Bukit Bintang with Suria KLCC, there is much to love and embrace about this cosmopolitan city.

Yet it’s not just about KL. Langkawi offers its idyllic charm, whilst Penang would always be the treasured jewel of rustic elegance – one that fuses near-contemporary Chinese culture with dulcet, tropical tones. Malacca is steeped in history, which it ensures that you can never forget. Johor, on the other hand, is rapidly evolving into one of the most exciting trade and logistical hotspots in Southeast Asia.

Each Malaysian state carries with it a unique flavour, personality, and story to tell. Understanding Malaysia requires us to not only spot the commonalities that undergird its people’s ways of life and outlooks, but also embrace and cherish the complex, dynamic varieties that comprise it.

Brian YS Wong

Assistant Professor, HKU