Connect with us

Social Stories

Putrajaya Mosque Guard Taught Himself 7 Languages Just to Communicate With Tourists

Published

Putrajaya Mosque Guard Taught Himself 7 Languages Just to Communicate with Tourists - WORLD OF BUZZ
Source: Sinchew

Follow us on Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest stories and updates daily.

A security guard named Khairul has recently captured the media’s attention because he taught himself how to speak simple sentences in seven different languages. The Kelantanese man started working at the Putra Mosque in Putrajaya some 15 months ago and decided to take up different languages in order to bridge the communication between him and tourists. So proactive! 

Screen Shot 2018 08 24 at 11.56.43 AM

Source: Sinchew

According to Sinchew, Khairul works a 12-hour shift every day and even longer on some days but that didn’t stop him from learning a new language by the end of the day. He reckoned that the obstacle in learning a new language is the attitude of the person, and not the language itself.

Before Khairul came to the city to work, he could only speak the Kelantanese aboriginal language and soon realised that not many people could understand him. So, he started learning Malay and after three months, he could communicate in Malay fluently. 

In order to better interact with tourists from different countries, he took up seven languages in total, including Mandarin, Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, Thai, Persian and English. Impressive! 

“This (the mosque) is a tourist destination, we have to understand their languages because some of the tourists don’t have a good command of English. For the sake of their convenience, we should learn their languages if the situation permits,” Khairul said.

Since he doesn’t attend any formal class, tour guides and tourists are his best teachers. Whenever they corrected Khairul’s language, he’d jot them down in a notebook and learn the right intonation and pronunciation.

Screen Shot 2018 08 24 at 11.56.56 AM

Source: Sinchew

“Regardless whether they’re tourists or tour guides, I would take the initiative to ask them, and they’re more than happy to answer my questions,” Khairul added.

He’d try to use the newly-acquired language for the entire week to familiarise himself. He took the learning process seriously and would start from tenses and pronunciations, before moving on to phrases and sentence constructions.

Khairul revealed that tourists are more willing to obey his instruction if he spoke in their language. “Tourists whose dress code aren’t compliant with the mosque’s rules will have to borrow robes (from the mosque). We would then advise women to wear their hat and tidy up their attire before entering the mosque,” he said. 

Screen Shot 2018 08 24 at 11.57.05 AM

Source: Sinchew

Being multilingual has helped him tremendously in giving directions and instructions. Now that he has mastered some basic phrases in Mandarin, Khairul can easily inform tourists about the operating hours of the mosque and Friday prayers.

Through action, he has proven that it’s possible to learn a new language without formal education. The commitment and dedication shown by Khairul is enough to earn himself a raise, don’t you think? 

 

Also read: Malay UEC Grad Shares How Studying in Chinese Schools Actually Promotes Unity

malay uec graduate shares personal experience of how chinese school promotes unity world of buzz

Follow us on Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest stories and updates daily.



Just In

collage 39 collage 39
News2 hours ago

DBKL Officers to Attend Martial Arts Training & Legal Classes to Prevent Another ‘Abang Belon’ Incident

DBKL officers are expected to undergo courses and training starting next year to prevent another Abang Belon incident. Kuala Lumpur...

chloe FT 6 1 chloe FT 6 1
News2 hours ago

Male Teacher in N9 Cries After Pleading Guilty to 3 of 15 Sexual Assault Charges Involving Young Boys

A 38-year-old warden at a Quran learning centre broke down in tears after pleading guilty to charges of sodomy and...

collage 3 2 collage 3 2
News3 hours ago

14yo Girl in Sabah Regains Consciousness After Fainting & Finds a 62yo Man Lying on Top of Her

A 14-year-old girl in Lahad Datu, Sabah, went through a shocking and traumatising experience after she woke up to an...

chloe FT 5 chloe FT 5
News4 hours ago

PDRM: 17yo Son Now the Main Suspect in Murder of Teacher & Eldest Brother at Malacca Home

This morning, a Malaysian teacher and her 21-year-old son were found dead in the living room of their home in...

chloe FT 2 1 chloe FT 2 1
News6 hours ago

Suspected Drug Dealer Walks Away Unharmed After Crashing Into 18yo Girls in Pahang, Killing Them Instantly

Two 18-year-old girls were killed after their motorcycle was rammed by a car at a traffic light junction in Pahang...

collage 38 collage 38
News6 hours ago

Bodies of Primary School Teacher & 21yo Son Found in Pool of Blood at Malacca Home

A Malaysian teacher and her 21-year-old son were found dead at their home early this morning (June 12). Their bodies...

collage 37 collage 37
News7 hours ago

“They won’t enter heaven” – M’sian Teacher Mocks UPSI Students Who ‘Died in Disgrace’ Due to Unpaid PTPTN Debts

While the country grieves the tragic deaths of the 15 UPSI students who lost their lives in an accident, a...

My Post 1 2025 06 12T105041.206 My Post 1 2025 06 12T105041.206
News8 hours ago

“I’ll come back when I’m successful” – 16yo Taiping Girl Missing for Over 2 Weeks After Leaving Emotional Note

A 16-year-old girl quietly left home in Taiping, Perak, on the morning of May 26 (Monday) after leaving a note...

Announcement

Latest Videos



TRENDING TODAY