SEPANG, Sun. - Two Datuks and their bodyguard allegedly verbally and physically abused an AirAsia employee on duty at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport yesterday.
Azman Zanoo, 37, who lodged a police report against the three, was allegedly attacked due to a misunderstanding over a check-in process.
A police spokesman said Azman was at the KLIA's AirAsia counter about 2pm when he was approached by a man claiming to be a Datuk.
He said Azman claimed in his report the Datuk asked him why one of the check-in …
Monday, 25 April 2011
AirAsia, Datuk & me
Datuks who behave high-handedly should be stripped of their titles
Shamsul Akmar
Aug 30: THREE men, two of whom were identified as Datuks and another as a
bodyguard, verbally and physically abused an AirAsia employee last week.
The two Datuks were reportedly upset with the treatment they received or did
not get from the AirAsia employee when they wanted to check in for a flight
to Penang.
The employee, who was slapped and kicked by one of the Datuks and the
bodyguard, lodged a police report.
The matter seemed to be headed for an amicable end when the two Datuks met
the airline staff at the police station the next day.
According to the employee, Azman Zanoo, he met the two Datuks after news of
the assault appeared in the New Straits Times.
Following that, after much discussion, Azman decided to withdraw the report.
He said he would write to the deputy public prosecutor to request for the
report to be withdrawn.
Emotional outbursts and assaults are pretty common but what made the news of
the assault front-page news of the NST was the fact that the incident
involved two Datuks.
Sources revealed that Azman was prepared to withdraw his report after the
two Datuks apologised to him for their unbecoming behaviour.
Whether Azman was compensated or otherwise, no one is telling.
However, much as Azman may seem forgiving, the fact remained, such behaviour
from the two Datuks should not be something that should have been easily
forgiven.
In fact, they seemed remorseful for what they did only after the story
appeared in the NST.
The question is how could two, not one, Datuks lose their temper and to
demean someone who is of "lesser" standing.
Their action smacked of behaviour prevalent during an era when aristocrats
and royalty had complete say and right over the working class.
But Malaysia has, since Independence, grown from strength to strength in
terms of dealing with class conflicts.
The 1993 constitutional crisis which was sparked off by the slapping of a
commoner by a Ruler saw public outrage towards excesses of the Malay
monarchs.
It saw the setting up of a special court to try rulers who committed
criminal acts and intimidation.
The incident made Malaysians realise that they are, by and large, protected,
even from the monarchs. Since then, there were not much report of excesses
among the monarchs.
The monarchs too seem to have learnt that much as Malaysians may still want
them to continue to be the symbol of the nation, the citizenry is not
prepared to take their abuses.
It has now become a two-way thing, a relationship of mutual respect. In
short, the citizenry enjoys seeing the regality of the monarchs as symbols
of their nation and they want it to remain that way.
If the Rulers are not careful, it may spell the beginning of the end of the
monarchy in Malaysia.
While the monarchs and their families are observing the constitutional
requirements, the two Datuks came along.
There have been other Datuks and titled dignitaries who had committed
misdemeanours. Some were involved in corrupt practices, misappropriation and
other offences.
However, when it comes to beating up others, much as the common folk were
also guilty of committing them, it gives a different turn when committed by
Datuks and other dignitaries.
To some, it is a reflection of how elitists feel that they can throw their
weight around.
For others, they may feel that the common people are for them to demean and
abuse.
Such thoughts cannot be dismissed and will continue to exist.
But what will be worse is when the common folk start to feel that there is
nothing they can do to protect themselves if they have been abused by the
elites.
Datuks and others who had been conferred titles are expected to be exemplary
and there are many who do become models for society.
However, due to the excessive numbers of Datuks in the country, the
oft-repeated remark - "throw a stone in a Malaysian crowd, chances are a
Datuk will be hit" - reflect the high number of such title holders.
For one, it takes away the quality of the honorific. Secondly, such titles
seem to be given to just about anyone who has access either to the political
elites or the monarchs.
Given the fact that each State, be it that with a monarch or a governor,
besides the King, has its own investiture ceremonies, imagine the number of
Datuks that is annually produced in Malaysia.
With so many Datuks walking around, it is only to be expected that there are
bound to be those who may feel that the title will give them the right to
behave like in the olden days Dukes and Lords who had total right over their
subjects.
Such Datuks should be stripped of their titles and subjected to the full
force of the law.
After all, that should be the case since the Datukship carries a bigger
moral responsibility as opposed to the ordinary citizens.
Then, probably, not many would be so keen to obtain the Datukship, to the
extent of lobbying for it and in some cases, of even being prepared to
purchase it.
Apart from giving other bona fide and exemplary ones a bad name, the nation
suffers from a Datuk glut.
From this glut, emerged those who are still shackled in the pre-Independence
mindset, thinking that their titles give them power over others.
And sadly, such Datuks can still strut around in independent Malaysia.
------------------------------------------------------------------
The Berita Malaysia / bmalaysia mailing lists
Shamsul Akmar
Aug 30: THREE men, two of whom were identified as Datuks and another as a
bodyguard, verbally and physically abused an AirAsia employee last week.
The two Datuks were reportedly upset with the treatment they received or did
not get from the AirAsia employee when they wanted to check in for a flight
to Penang.
The employee, who was slapped and kicked by one of the Datuks and the
bodyguard, lodged a police report.
The matter seemed to be headed for an amicable end when the two Datuks met
the airline staff at the police station the next day.
According to the employee, Azman Zanoo, he met the two Datuks after news of
the assault appeared in the New Straits Times.
Following that, after much discussion, Azman decided to withdraw the report.
He said he would write to the deputy public prosecutor to request for the
report to be withdrawn.
Emotional outbursts and assaults are pretty common but what made the news of
the assault front-page news of the NST was the fact that the incident
involved two Datuks.
Sources revealed that Azman was prepared to withdraw his report after the
two Datuks apologised to him for their unbecoming behaviour.
Whether Azman was compensated or otherwise, no one is telling.
However, much as Azman may seem forgiving, the fact remained, such behaviour
from the two Datuks should not be something that should have been easily
forgiven.
In fact, they seemed remorseful for what they did only after the story
appeared in the NST.
The question is how could two, not one, Datuks lose their temper and to
demean someone who is of "lesser" standing.
Their action smacked of behaviour prevalent during an era when aristocrats
and royalty had complete say and right over the working class.
But Malaysia has, since Independence, grown from strength to strength in
terms of dealing with class conflicts.
The 1993 constitutional crisis which was sparked off by the slapping of a
commoner by a Ruler saw public outrage towards excesses of the Malay
monarchs.
It saw the setting up of a special court to try rulers who committed
criminal acts and intimidation.
The incident made Malaysians realise that they are, by and large, protected,
even from the monarchs. Since then, there were not much report of excesses
among the monarchs.
The monarchs too seem to have learnt that much as Malaysians may still want
them to continue to be the symbol of the nation, the citizenry is not
prepared to take their abuses.
It has now become a two-way thing, a relationship of mutual respect. In
short, the citizenry enjoys seeing the regality of the monarchs as symbols
of their nation and they want it to remain that way.
If the Rulers are not careful, it may spell the beginning of the end of the
monarchy in Malaysia.
While the monarchs and their families are observing the constitutional
requirements, the two Datuks came along.
There have been other Datuks and titled dignitaries who had committed
misdemeanours. Some were involved in corrupt practices, misappropriation and
other offences.
However, when it comes to beating up others, much as the common folk were
also guilty of committing them, it gives a different turn when committed by
Datuks and other dignitaries.
To some, it is a reflection of how elitists feel that they can throw their
weight around.
For others, they may feel that the common people are for them to demean and
abuse.
Such thoughts cannot be dismissed and will continue to exist.
But what will be worse is when the common folk start to feel that there is
nothing they can do to protect themselves if they have been abused by the
elites.
Datuks and others who had been conferred titles are expected to be exemplary
and there are many who do become models for society.
However, due to the excessive numbers of Datuks in the country, the
oft-repeated remark - "throw a stone in a Malaysian crowd, chances are a
Datuk will be hit" - reflect the high number of such title holders.
For one, it takes away the quality of the honorific. Secondly, such titles
seem to be given to just about anyone who has access either to the political
elites or the monarchs.
Given the fact that each State, be it that with a monarch or a governor,
besides the King, has its own investiture ceremonies, imagine the number of
Datuks that is annually produced in Malaysia.
With so many Datuks walking around, it is only to be expected that there are
bound to be those who may feel that the title will give them the right to
behave like in the olden days Dukes and Lords who had total right over their
subjects.
Such Datuks should be stripped of their titles and subjected to the full
force of the law.
After all, that should be the case since the Datukship carries a bigger
moral responsibility as opposed to the ordinary citizens.
Then, probably, not many would be so keen to obtain the Datukship, to the
extent of lobbying for it and in some cases, of even being prepared to
purchase it.
Apart from giving other bona fide and exemplary ones a bad name, the nation
suffers from a Datuk glut.
From this glut, emerged those who are still shackled in the pre-Independence
mindset, thinking that their titles give them power over others.
And sadly, such Datuks can still strut around in independent Malaysia.
------------------------------------------------------------------
The Berita Malaysia / bmalaysia mailing lists
Travel experience with Firefly- He is bad Manager?
My wife and I was booked on the Aug 20th 9.10am flight to Singapore on that day. After a hassle free checked in- we were informed that the flight has been delayed to 12pm!
Obviously it is very disappointing as I have flew with your airline before and has never experienced some delays (which is more common with Air Asia)
According to Encik Azman Zanoo- the Station Manager- it is due to Engine problem.
My Question to Encik Azman is that – should not this engine problem be sorted out the night before. I mean the plane should have been checked and cleared for flying the night before and NOT on the morning it is suppose to take off. When we were young, we were taught not to postpone to tomorrow what we can do today. Your engineering department should be taught this as well.
I explained to Encik Azman that this delay will mean I will missed my business appointment at 1pm!
Encik Azman –then to his credit took the initiative to arrange for my wife and I to fly on a MAS flight at 11.40am.
He even arranged for a taxi to take us to KLIA.
I salute his initiative to resolved our problem caused by the delay in your flight.
This pro-active action by your station manager-Encik Azman Zanoo should be encouraged and contrary to my earlier disappointment with Firefly- his action has affirmed my faith in your airline.
He has turned a negative experience into something positive for your passengers.
I am pleased to inform you that our return flight on the 21st from Singapore was on time and arrived in Subang on schedule.
» From Soh Chin Teck (sohct58@gmail.com) 16 Sep 2010
Sunday, 24 April 2011
1 Melayu 1 Melayu !
There's something about air travel that brings misery to a whole new level. Last year I was at SZB airport. where I had missed my flight. Not only did the airline personel utterly fail to get me on another flight (THAT's a whole nother saga) but I witnessed the worst customer service I have ever seen!
A man wheeled this elderly lady up to the counter to collect their tickets. I think he was her son or nephew. Anyway, the little old lady, who had to be 80-years-old, had some cases with her with hoses, etc. going out of them to her. Medical equipment. The man behind the counter flipped out and started yanking her bags off the trolley, yelling and screaming at her in English. She was begging him, "EncikI am sick, and telling him she needed to board the flight for Kota Bahru to get to her doctor. He just kept screaming at her and her poor son/nephew got so upset that he began crying. This went on and on in front of my horrified eyes. Finally, this little old lady gets up out of her wheelchair and hobbles over to the guy, begging him to let her get on the flight. Finally he relented and handed her a boarding pass. I was shocked. I had not, and still to this day, seen anyone treated the way he treated this sick little old lady. I promised myself after that I would NEVER fly the airline operated at Subang again and have kept that promise.
So what's your most horrible airline story?
A man wheeled this elderly lady up to the counter to collect their tickets. I think he was her son or nephew. Anyway, the little old lady, who had to be 80-years-old, had some cases with her with hoses, etc. going out of them to her. Medical equipment. The man behind the counter flipped out and started yanking her bags off the trolley, yelling and screaming at her in English. She was begging him, "EncikI am sick, and telling him she needed to board the flight for Kota Bahru to get to her doctor. He just kept screaming at her and her poor son/nephew got so upset that he began crying. This went on and on in front of my horrified eyes. Finally, this little old lady gets up out of her wheelchair and hobbles over to the guy, begging him to let her get on the flight. Finally he relented and handed her a boarding pass. I was shocked. I had not, and still to this day, seen anyone treated the way he treated this sick little old lady. I promised myself after that I would NEVER fly the airline operated at Subang again and have kept that promise.
So what's your most horrible airline story?
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