When I was a student in Australia some years ago, the government ran a campaign against littering. The catchphrase was a simple “Do the right thing”. It worked (to a large extent).

For some time now, I have observed that more and more Malaysians do not bother with doing the right thing anymore. It appears more acceptable to do the smart thing, do the convenient thing, or do the “efficient” thing. I guess the philosophers among us would ask the obvious question, like that famous Roman Consul in Jerusalem did so many years ago namely, “but what is the right thing?” My opinion is that if we start with the simplest areas, more and more “right” decisions would prove easier. Following are some very glaring areas, where Malaysians do not, quite clearly, bother with doing the right thing.

Traffic practices – double parking, running the red light, changing lanes at the last minute, going against traffic flows, hogging the right (fast) lane, stopping at road sides irrespective of traffic conditions – you name it, Malaysians excel in it. We do it all; because they are the smart, convenient, or “efficient” thing to do. Never mind they are not the right things to do; they work. In the process of course, traffic congestions build up, accidents happen, traffic flows don’t work. But we all manage, because no one faults the offenders anymore. Indeed these offenders are deemed by come quarters to be the smart ones, those who get what they want.