The almost serene atmosphere in the KLCC Park was interrupted by a loud and all too familiar sound. The kind that is never nice, and a big pet peeve of mine. It was the sound of some guy trying to suction phlegm out of his lungs. Not once but several times. It was the exact sound that greeted my husband and me, each morning, at our previous condominium. At least, our ex-neighbour, confined his morning theatrics within the four walls of his bathroom, which, unfortunately for us, was not sound-proof.

I know a thing or two about phlegm, having been diagnosed with bronchietasis not long ago. No one wants to suffer from coughs and colds. But most people would try to be quieter and address whatever nose, throat or lung problem they may have in a more sanitary manner, especially in public. The person in the park did not care to close his nose or mouth, and was oblivious to the unsavoury attention he was drawing.

My other peeve is spiting indiscriminately in public places – on the ground, floor and bins. Really? Yes. Public holidays attract hordes of people to KLCC as the iconic tourist attraction has a well-represented shopping mall with top designer brands and a lovely park to walk in (until non-community spirited persons spoil it).  Spitting is a dirty habit, anti-social and unhygienic. Imagine, unknowingly, stepping on spit, red splotches or phlegm and taking that into your home. Or, equally gross, transferring these fluids onto park benches or chairs that we, you and I, unsuspectingly sit on. Under the Malaysian Minor Offences Act of 1955, it is illegal to spit willy-nilly, and spitters are liable to be fined up to RM100.  Places that are off limits include eateries, schools, public transport, public places and roads[1], which is pretty much everywhere. I wonder if the general populace is even aware of this fine (I wasn’t) and how strictly this law is enforced, and by whom. No-spitting rules should be publicised widely and signs with corresponding fines should be placed prominently in all public areas to deter would-be spitters.

Invasion of my private space is another pet peeve of mine. I am not asking for much, just an arm’s length of space away from me. But, people with no concept of private space don’t get it. They sidle up to you, speak loudly, breath down your neck and suck up all the oxygen in the room. This usually happens in lifts, queues and check-ins.

My other niggle is queue jumpers. I play fair. First cum first serve is my motto. Where there is a queue, invariably there will be one or two people, who will try to push in front unfairly. Rule-abiding people wait their turn in an orderly fashion not because they enjoy standing in a long line. Some years ago, I got into an argument with an older person, who stealthily inched his way ahead of my husband and me, in a queue (what else?) to buy train tickets. It was his loud insistence that he was there long before us that made me call him out. If he had asked nicely, I would have allowed him to cut in front of us

Littering also irks me. I cannot understand the audacity of people who throw things out of their moving cars.  They eat, drink and smoke whilst driving, and nonchalantly throw out the packaging onto the roads so that they can preserve their cars in a neat and tidy condition. This is unforgiveable and reckless behaviour. Rubbish thrown on roads and heaped at junctions is enough evidence that we are a nation of uncaring litterbugs. Some 23,000 tons of waste, which is about a quarter of the total weight of KL Tower, is produced in Malaysia every day.  Sadly, most of the rubbish ends up on our roads, rivers and waters.  The National Geographic in its study cited Malaysia as one of the top eight countries generating the oceans public waste[2]. Sigh.

As a nation, we really need to be more civic-minded beyond our front doors and gates. Moral education that builds individual character, respect for others and knowing right from wrong – practiced at home and reinforced at school and work must be continuously encouraged. A wholly committed and stronger enforcement program is needed (more CCTV cameras to monitor illegal and random dumping of rubbish and waste, bigger fines plus jail terms, and naming and shaming repeat offenders) if we are serious about making our country, our home – clean again.

I do believe that if we consciously do unto others as we would have them do unto us, we might be better able to understand and treat people, animals and the environment with more empathy and compassion. And, maybe make this country and world a nicer, happier and cleaner place to live in.