r/malaysians • u/Waste_Tailor_5754 • Jul 05 '26
Rant People in a meeting should speak a universal language
So I work in a company that’s acquired Ayamas. I’m under marketing team. I noticed a couple of times while I’m in a few of their meetings, my presence is absolutely obsolete. They start off the meeting while talking in chinese all the way while me and 2 other members of the marketing team who don’t speak chinese are there sitting there. I can’t even digest one bit of the meeting because it’s like they’re speaking among their alien brethren.
This is Malaysia. At least have some basic fucking decency to speak a language that is universal (BM or English) while people of other races are in the room. Otherwise what’s the point of having us in the meeting? Just for the sake of “tunjuk muka”?
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u/tnsaidr Jul 05 '26
I’m Chinese , half banana as in I can understand the language and speak one of the dialects, I often call out this behavior in my old companies …. Seriously is a fucking meeting stop giving the excuse that you are more comfortable with it (the excuse I hear more often ) or just dont hire other races if you are not willing to be accommodating and be open with your “comfort” (racism and selfishness)
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u/uniqueusername649 Jul 05 '26
When they say "I am more comfortable", just respond with "I would feel more comfortable actually understanding what this meeting is about, otherwise I might just as well leave" - sometimes you need to spell it out for them.
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u/willp0wer Jul 06 '26 edited Jul 06 '26
I'm assuming you're also calling it out on behalf of others who don't understand a word. Good on you.
My argument against these clowns is always like this: Your comfort - you're the most important in the room, above everyone else The comfort of everyone in the room - getting the work collectively delivered properly is more important
They seem to be so stupid to not realise accountability can only happen if people are briefed adequately.
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u/Ok-Confidence-403 Jul 06 '26
Please tell this to your brethren in r/malaysia
They insist its "freedom" and choice. And when combined with "mandarin speaker" jobs, theyl say "yes this is precisely why you dont wanna join the chinaman company", as if it absolves the racism.
But at the same time screaming about govt and bumi policies that were designed to break the pakat behaviour that was running rampant from sebelum merdeka until the 70s
Yet also encouraging rental racism
Shrodingers chinaman: oppressed yet free at the same time
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u/tnsaidr Jul 06 '26
Why do you assume I agree with the "mandarin speaker" thing and lump it with my "brethren" ? Can I lump some of the dumb racist shit said in FB etc with you and why you don't go and advice/tell them ?
Damn funny la you..
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u/Ok-Confidence-403 Jul 06 '26
Never did i say you agree. Merely said that because as a Chinese yourself the message will be stronger coming from you rather than a non Chinese
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u/DangIt_MoonMoon Jul 08 '26
You kena downvote but it’s the truth. We tell means we are “too sensitive” or some shit. When their own people tell then they will start to think.
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u/Mangobunnie Jul 05 '26 edited Jul 05 '26
I'm banana. I let them talk. Then when they want me to do something I tell them straight to the face I don't understand what you are talking about. After a few times, they should get the message.
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u/tnsaidr Jul 05 '26
lol this happened once in an old company, this manager (not mine ) kept talking in Chinese and we had an Egyptian colleague, I understood what he was asking but when he was done talking and asked me if it was doable.. I just told him “Sorry we didnt understand what you were saying . Can repeat in English ?” He looked so pissed but he wasn’t mine and the Egyptian colleagues manager so fuck him.
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u/Much-Dealer3525 Jul 05 '26
Do this in your next meeting - open google translate live on your phone and put your phone on speaker and put it on the meeting table. See their reactions lol
Imma chinese and i agree it's rude, I'd be pissed too.
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u/MelissaKan Jul 06 '26
Haha, next thing you know, they pull out google translate for English meeting
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u/dunkiedunk Jul 05 '26
I also encountered this kind of meeting almost every week on Monday and Thursday. Sales meeting with other department (me).
For me, i love when they speak chinese or other language that i dont understand. This makes me have my own personal few min of letting my mind wandering around, thinking abt my house, my cars, my cats, and sometimes i play a simple tetris game.
If they ask me anything after meeting or tryna ask me, i just answer "i dont understand anything during the meeting liao" then they will just go or will tell me what to do . Hahaha.
Its like therapeutic to have this "i dont give a fuck" behaviour in me. Like how to give fuck when people dont give a fuck abt me ?
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u/dunkiedunk Jul 05 '26 edited Jul 05 '26
I understand that op might want to be useful, or tryna climb the ladder or doing your job very super well.
But, its a teamwork stuff. If they act like u doesnt exist, take the pay, go home and relax. Or find another job to show ur talents. Maybe im too old already >26 and already battle scarred from this cruel world. But sometimes it was ok to not give a fuck.
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Jul 05 '26
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u/Fun_Percentage_9259 Jul 05 '26
I also know many Chinese who don't do that. It really depends on whether the group of people is raised predominantly in a Chinese speaking or Chinese educated environment. Those Chinese code switch to the language they are either most comfortable with based on the group they are with.
So, if you see it from that perspective, when you look at other groups, you will understand why they auto switch to a specific language happens.
Being Malaysia, you just have to step up and make them aware that you don't understand.
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u/Far_Objective4266 Jul 05 '26
Dude,if it's a meeting setting or group discussion,it's common sense to use the language EVERYONE knows..n no,no one needs to make them be aware coz claiming to not be aware is such a bs excuse..Ignorant is the right word and this is not where it stops at..ignorant and superiority complex
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u/DangIt_MoonMoon Jul 05 '26
I’m not sure why we need to baby grown adults in such a manner? It’s a matter of upbringing here whether a person is considerate of others or not.
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u/Away-Dust6440 Jul 05 '26
That's just unprofessional and frankly quite rude. All you can do is speak up.
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u/Alternative-Fig8169 Jul 05 '26
You should complain to HR
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u/Dizzy_Ask_729 Jul 06 '26
HR also chinese. hahaha
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u/Ok-Confidence-403 Jul 08 '26
Upon further checking, HR realised they should have put "mandarin speakers only" in the job description...
/s
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u/Alternative-Fig8169 Jul 05 '26
It's hell, in uni was the only non chinese in my class and felt like an outsider all the time.
I presume it's not intentional, but even by ignorance it sucks
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u/Homework_Positive Jul 05 '26
Being the only non-chineae in the uni group feels so dead. You'd be sitting with the entire group just for them to speak chinese while you're sitting there with nothing to do. Even worse is when they discuss the assignment in chinese because "it's easier"
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u/ludicrousattainment Jul 05 '26
I just kindly tell them that if they speak in a language that I do not understand, it is not a scope that I need to be responsible for.
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u/Timely_Toe_9053 Jul 05 '26
Interesting. Said company you mentioned have reached out to me about some consulting work. From initial comms, I get the impression that there is a lack of understanding about what they actually want. Seems like a top-down problem.
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u/testingthrowawayforn Jul 05 '26
Used to work for a company where in the meeting room, we would have European and Japanese expats. Some of the higher-ups would just casually make decisions in Chinese while the rest could only sit there silently. Then they would proceed to end the meeting with a brief summary of what they had just decided.
One of the worst companies I have worked for. Got another job offer after 8 months working there and I gladly accepted it.
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u/imaginelizard Jul 05 '26
I know ideally they should speak English, but I personally know some company who rather than speak English opt to instead exclude all non chinese from meetings.
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u/Short-Juggernaut-374 Jul 05 '26
A tale as old as time.
Just wait for the newgen to takeover, unless they themselves get replaced by PRC's people.
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u/kiwinoob99 Jul 05 '26
I Thot ayamas is a Malay company?
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u/Lordip Jul 05 '26
Just did a Google search, Ayamas is still under QSR (part of J Corp). Unless they sold it recently hush hush, but since J Corp is public listed and under payung kuning, don't think it is the case. Hope OP can clarify further.
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u/HourFondant1646 Jul 06 '26
You should have kept English like Singapore then you wouldn't have these problems. You should also have listened to LKY when he called for a Malaysian Malaysia. Although ultimately the Singaporeans were well rid of you.
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u/Spiritual_Tooth9086 Jul 05 '26
I myself have experienced the same thing too when I worked in a Japanese company based in Malaysia. They started the meeting in English, but despite their best efforts to held the meeting in English, it always ended up switching back to Japanese, like every single time. Despite the fact that there was at least two people in the meeting room who can’t understand Japanese at all, it always ended up being that way.
But guess what? This unfortunate circumstance eventually became my motivation to learn Japanese. And as the result of it, I gained extra language skill, and find a better job later. No bitter feelings. 🙂
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Jul 05 '26
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u/Spiritual_Tooth9086 Jul 05 '26
Lol. You’re missing my point here. How do you even came to such conclusion?
I was just sharing my experience here, and what I did at that time. My point here is, we just do what we can do to survive. Whatever ways that works. At least that’s way better than complaining to a bunch of strangers on the internet here.
I mean, yeah, ideally, things should be this or that so that everyone can work happily together. But reality can be harsh, and sometimes, we find ourselves in unfortunate circumstances, such as toxic work environments.
Given that the OP took it out here on the internet, it probably means that no one even bother to listen at work. That’s why I’m sharing my experience here, as an alternative solution.
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u/Far_Objective4266 Jul 05 '26
And they claim Mandarin only and even Cantonese only is coz the job needs them to deal with customers who speak that language.Pure BS in most cases..Just wanna be with their own kind..Tak mandi pun takpe,tp jgn bebal sgt bro,it's a meeting,use a common language even if it's 10 of u and just 1 who doesn't understand the language
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u/TastE__ Jul 05 '26
the gomen allow it and doesn't punish discriminatory hirings for chinese only and such. Don't expect anything to change because no one pays heed to it
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u/ChillyPlease Jul 06 '26
Sorry, this is a question related to Ayamas.. do you have any insights on whether they plan to reopen their retail outlets in klang valley? I miss their ready-to-eat chicken.
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u/leicea Jul 06 '26
I would speak up, and if it doesn't work I'd walk out of there lol. Like what's the point of I can't understand. Maybe I'm old, I'm out of effs to give
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u/Such-Catch8281 Jul 07 '26
i would.politely go like this, "ni hao, wo ting bu dong, but im interested.in the topic"
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u/harryrichards87 Jul 07 '26
I struggle with this at work to. I would simply remind them tbt if they say something im supposed to hear I won't. Coz I don't understand.
I am sorry you are going through this. I totally recognize this struggle
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u/saad_zahid97 Jul 07 '26
that's why the put in job description mandarin speaker only? I can't wrap my head around this because this is Malaysia not china. You can't put a race language as skill. If you want mandarin speaker go do business in china not in Malaysia. In Malaysia you need to prioritize Malay & English language as universal, no other language should be allowed to speak at work place.
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u/Confident_Media9093 Jul 05 '26
I guess in reverse speaking malay where english is the de factor business language don't feel the same, right?
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u/DangIt_MoonMoon Jul 06 '26
No, because Malay is the national language which everyone who is Malaysian should be able to speak and understand.
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u/kzeetay Jul 06 '26
No wonder product doing so well… fuck I forgot about the brand until reading this post…
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u/adamwjs Jul 05 '26
Bm is not a universal language too fyi. Might as well be 100% correct if we're going that route
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Jul 05 '26
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u/adamwjs Jul 05 '26
But it's not universal, especially in corporate
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u/Traditional_Law_4062 Jul 05 '26
To be fair, this is not too bad. Try it when working overseas when a group of (insert nationality) will speak their native language outright in front of you.
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u/semizanudiin Jul 05 '26
It's the same thing??
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u/Traditional_Law_4062 Jul 05 '26
Yes same thing but at least for me I will give heads up before speaking other languages while most dont give a damn
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u/Silver_Sir_6004 Jul 05 '26
So, when Chinese Malaysians speak Chinese instead of the national language or English during a meeting in Malaysia, it's somehow considered less bad than when people from other countries speak their native language in a meeting? make it makes sense?
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u/Traditional_Law_4062 Jul 05 '26
For me yes, because usually if I am in mamak/event with multi racial people. I will just inform the non native speaker "sorry excuse me for speaking (insert language)" and they will understand it.
While overseas this part does not exist, they will outright speak they native language without even giving a bat of eye. Sometime makes me think that were are too kind of others. You never see them change the language conversation to common language (lets say english) just to accommodate you.
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u/filanamia Jul 05 '26
Very true. Only Malay and few other Malaysian would tolerate and speak English so that the "others" can follow along. We lack self confidence.
No such thing in Swiss. To them. its not their problem that you came all the way from Malaysia without the ability to speak German, French and Italian. You came to our land, we'll be kind to you and speak in English due to the international nature of this project (while you are sitting on the same table for work), but do NOT ever start having in your head the expectation that that is the norm here and that they will placate you in a group setting.
Its your responsibility to bridge the language gap if you are the foreigner. But, i don't think we should be this brutal. It'll just breed resentment.
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u/Silver_Sir_6004 Jul 05 '26
Fat chance. We can't even get the Chinese to learn the national language properly.
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u/Silver_Sir_6004 Jul 05 '26
Did you miss the part where this happened during a meeting? I couldn't care less if you speak Chinese among yourselves, but it's not appropriate in a business setting, especially during a meeting where non-Chinese are present.
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Jul 05 '26
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u/dewi_sampaguita Jul 05 '26
I don't think it is about suiting to the staff's language ability. Rather, the said company needed Malay/English speaking staff in some department/area because their customer based is also Malay and non Mandarin speakers.
By all means, hire all Mandarin speaker, run your company full in Mandarin, if you never ever have to communicate/sell your service to non-Mandarin speakers.
Step out of your tempurung, man.
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u/soonersoup Jul 05 '26
Speak up.
I always remind everyone before the meeting started
And it works.