A tourist from China shared a video on TikTok lamenting about the poor service that he received from Singapore Chinese service workers, and compared them to the Chinese workers in Malaysia, whom he described as being friendlier.
Rude services
The netizen, known as “Teacher Gogo,” quickly garnered attention by shedding light on the attitudes of service staff in Singapore, a place that he found somewhat wanting in comparison to its neighbour, Malaysia.
In his video, Teacher Gogo pointed out public transport drivers, hawkers, F&B service staff and ice cream sellers as examples of what he deemed “temperamental service staff.”
It was intriguing to see how he felt the need to address this issue publicly, highlighting an apparent disparity in attitudes compared to his homeland.
Teacher Gogo’s observation was particularly focused on Chinese service staff, especially those working in small businesses.
He described their demeanor as short-tempered, and he believed they were often unwilling to engage with customers beyond the bare minimum of interaction.
The contrast he drew between Singapore and Malaysia’s service staff was indeed thought-provoking.
In contrast, Teacher Gogo praised Malaysia’s Chinese service staff for their cheerful and friendlier disposition. He found their attitude more in line with what he expected from the service industry, an interesting juxtaposition considering the geographic proximity of the two countries.
Some say weather hot, make us grumpy
Curiously, Teacher Gogo’s video struck a chord with many netizens. The comments section of his TikTok video quickly filled up with agreements and shared anecdotes of similar experiences. It seemed like he was not alone in feeling this way about service staff in Singapore.
While many shared their grievances, some netizens provided a broader perspective on the situation. They pointed out that the high cost of living and the sweltering tropical climate in Singapore might contribute to the occasionally less-than-enthusiastic service. In a place where life can be hectic and stressful, even the best of us can turn into grumps.
@gogolaoshi 新加坡华人服务态度差？
♬ 原声 – Gogo老师