Warm welcome: The Malay staff member, wearing a sash that says “I can speak Mandarin” in Chinese.
KUALA LUMPUR: On his return trip to Malaysia, a Mandarin-speaking vlogger from China was amazed at the smooth clearance process at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
The 24-year-old who goes by the moniker Ai Chang Ge De Xue Zhang (pic) (A Senior Who Loves to Sing) on Douyin – the Chinese equivalent of TikTok – last visited Malaysia six months ago and said he was pleasantly surprised with the ease of communication at the airport this time.
After emerging from the arrival gate, the man said he saw a trilingual signboard, which he claimed was not there on his previous trip.
Then he proceeded to the information counter to ask if there was anyone who could speak Mandarin.
A Malay staff member, wearing a sash that says “I can speak Mandarin” in Chinese, promptly asked where he would like to go before showing him the way.
As he turned around, he saw several other members of the airport staff with the same sash.
“I’m amazed. Four or five people are wearing the ‘I can speak Mandarin’ sash.
“It’s really comforting, you know,” he said, adding that there were more Mandarin-speaking staff in sight than on his last trip.
Impressed that he settled his immigration clearance within five minutes, the man added that even the immigration officer could speak Mandarin.
The vlogger was further delighted when he found his ehailing driver and the hotel front office employee also speaking Mandarin, enabling him to have a smooth and easy trip and check-in.
His post, which has more than 20,000 views and over 1,400 likes, also earned praise from his followers.
One said he was glad to know the latest developments at the airport.
“It was different in the past. My grandparents who could only converse in Mandarin could not get any help from any staff last time.
“They could only ask for help from other Chinese passengers,” he said.
Another user commented that he looked forward to visiting Malaysia this month.
Malaysia is predicted to welcome at least 18 million international tourist arrivals in 2023, surpassing its initial target of 16.1 million.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing announced late September that a policy related to visa-free travel for Chinese tourists would be made soon.
According to information from tourism and tour operators, Chinese tourist arrivals increased by 40% during the Golden Week holiday earlier last month.
