Tips

[melah99]

Hi all, not sure if this is the right place to post this question but can't really find any suitable place for it :P


Anyway I was wondering (Been away from malaysia for a long time)

Does Malaysia practice tips giving ?

Eat out?
bell boy?

is it consider as compulsory ?

[gary yap]

Tips? Normally no but I know most will just take the notes and leave the coins behind. Not sure if you consider that tips.
Eat Out? Not that I know of.
Bell Boy? Sometimes but there's no practise.

So far tipping in M'sia is not compulsory, it's up to oneself.

[bslee]

So far tipping in M'sia is not compulsory, it's up to oneself.

Tipping is actually a bad culture. I consider it like a bribe, not so much of pure appreciation. Any employee in the service industry is to give their best, regardless...if NOT? the employee shouldn't agree to the salary and not work there at all. I know local hotels do not encourage tipping at all. There's already service charge to one's bill.
People have rumored that in some Asian cities,..if you don't tip the waiter, bell boy, whoever..you'd likely see some unfriendly facial response.
Please don't make Malaysia worse!.

[gary yap]

True. I only tip when I feel that he/she put in more effort than the usual. The only problem is the mindset of the service industry. They have the thinking that tipping is compulsory, regardless of good service or not. Just like the year end bonus, some get more than 1 month some get none. It's all about performance. I don't agree that tipping is a bad culture but more of an individual preferences. As mentioned, if he/she put in the extra effort, why not? Nowadays parents have been rewarding their kids if they get good grades, they'll get so and so. That, I don't agree.

[bslee]

I don't agree that tipping is a bad culture but more of an individual preferences. As mentioned, if he/she put in the extra effort, why not? Nowadays parents have been rewarding their kids if they get good grades, they'll get so and so. That, I don't agree.

Well Gary, I won't deny there's the good side and also the bad side of it..but I'm quite adamant not to encourage or support "tipping" culture here in this country. I was in the hotel line at one point of time and have witnessed the mindset of employees whom the customers don't see the other side. I'm talking about local mindset and many sorts of dissatisfaction that the tipping culture is a likely source. Loyalty and dedication to one's line of profession is not entirely exempalry here. The lure of money (especially extras one can obtain through various means) is quite apparent and at the back of one's mind. Rank & file staff are not entirely satisfied with the agreed salary whom for any damn reason, still consider it low for the amount of work involved, coupled with monotony (or other work conditions) it can stir up more restless emotion, and its quite natural that "extra money" can be a solution (shorterm or not, left to the individual). Ask any worker, who doesn't want extra money? The answer is very obvious. I've seen tips being divided out and seen the different facial expressions of each staff. During say a "low season"...I see dissatisfaction, smirks, some disgust and so on. Like many would say..Can't you be thankful you've got some extra?.. Nope!.. not all would agree. Instead some can have the gall to tell you in not so many words like its a God given entitlement!.

People here can take things for granted and if its suddenly taken away, we may see and experience disaster and serious drop of performance for no valid reason. I believe Malaysia is one of many countries where workers realize the importance of loyalty, dedication and good attitudes are very neccessary. There's many a time we question or curse a staff who have bad working attitude but still working there?.. why?
Again, that MINDSET!..something of a stigma here that have to change if this country is to go forward (POLITICS disregarded and citizens are just as responsible!)
But then if tipping culture dies away naturally, I think it'll be more beneficial to the industry and Malaysia.

[gary yap]

To certain extent I agree. Very often we are stuck in jobs that may or may not be of our interest but what to do, 'wan sek'. If can get better job with bright prospect and pay package, then what more can we ask for. I was also in the service industry during school holidays as a room serice waiter. That was in S'pore. I gave my best and needless to say my tips are generously given. No I did not put in the tips-box cos, like what you mentioned, tips divided and different expression shown. That's I rather pocket the money cos I seen and know of lazy staff just sit around and do nothing. They don't deserve it. That's why I encourage tipping if neccesary. You're right, about our local mindset. Some happy and some not, what to do? Those not happy about it should reflect and ask themselves how come I don't have a tip or I got less. In my opinion, M'sia service industry is crap, hopefully I'm wrong. If you ask me I'll say abolish the service tax and let the customer/guest/patron decide on the tips.

[bslee]

If you ask me I'll say abolish the service tax and let the customer/guest/patron decide on the tips.

Hah!.. our government are just as much as leeches!. There's the 5% government tax and its often called service tax. Tax here, tax there.. all schemed out to joining the fray to bleed the consumer for no justified reason. (reasons got if you ask them, but we know its more or less unaccountable later).

[gary yap]

Government tax 5%, service tax 10%. From the service tax, government again tax from it. In April, income tax. How the money is spend we don't know. Look at the Matrade, Port Klang, the Naval Port in Setiakawan. Maybe that's where the tips gone to.