DECEMBER 3 — There are times when I wonder if we as a nation are suffering a collective form of Stockholm Syndrome. Case in point: our tragic acceptance of poor service standards.

I decided to treat myself to ramen at a well-known establishment housed in Bangsar Shopping Centre. Whoever designed that mall needs a good talking-to. If the fate of the world depended on me finding the washroom in five minutes, we would all be dead by now. You see, I had tried and asked staff at said ramen restaurant where the toilet was. "In the mall, " said the front desk person. Who then promptly went back to whatever she was doing before I so inconveniently interrupted her. Obviously she was too busy what with there being a grand total of two tables occupied right then. "I'm sorry, but where is the washroom exactly?" I tried again. What I got was a blank stare and the very obvious answer to anyone but simpleton me: "Near Chilli's." So my mission now included finding Chilli's. My bladder insisted I surrender and muddle my way quickly to the loo so I exited. One confused round and an escalator ride later I found the washroom. Of course, all the stalls were occupied. In hindsight I should probably have stayed at home and made instant noodles. When I finally returned to The Ramen Outlet You Will Have to Pay Me to Visit Again, I sat and waited to be served. And waited. And waited some more. After 10 minutes had passed am pretty sure a miniature storm cloud was forming over my head. Finally a waiter deigned to appear. The nearby bartender was obviously too busy to move the two long metres needed to call for the other staff to take my order. Fortunately I needed to wait just 15 minutes for the food to arrive. Was it worth the terrible service? I am sad to say, not really. But by then I was so angry I think I'd lost my appetite.

The thing is that this scenario happens way too often. It's as though our service tax goes towards hiring the worst waiters possible. At times, if you complain, you get this very Malaysian rejoinder: "Tak suka, pergi makan tempat lain-lah! (You don't like it, go eat somewhere else!")"

I'm not sure why our eating establishments feel as though customers should be grateful to be served and that excellent service is a bonus, instead of something to expect.

Of course, if I was at a mamak, waiting for my food to take forever and for the mamak to only get to my table after 15 minutes, I probably wouldn't care. But maybe I should.

It's a lot like our government. We elected them and yet we are expected to fear, revere and be grateful they rule. Let's not get into the tax that goes into their, ahem, upkeep.

Am sure someone reading this will say that it's my fault for not, oh, going to the counter and asking to be served instead of expecting to be waited on.

And someone is sure to tell me that I must respect the people who work so hard to say ridiculous things that will get quoted in online media.

Look, I chose to eat at the terrible ramen house but I didn't get to choose (though I tried) who got to lead this country.

And that, is the worst deal ever.

* This is the personal opinion of the columnist.