As such, knowing and speaking a few languages can be of advantage.
One makcik from Ipoh has gone viral for exactly that.
A multilingual makcik
According to a report by Malay Mail, two videos of the woman speaking fluently in Tamil and Cantonese were uploaded onto TikTok and it has garnered over one million views.In the first video, 54-year-old Fatimah Mat Kasar was seen speaking to her neighbour in Tamil.
"I grew up in Buntong where most of my neighbours were Indians and we would spend time together playing all sorts of games.
"Being one of the few Malays in the area, I learned Tamil and my neighbours would correct me if I had mispronounced a word.
"Watching Tamil movies have also helped me improve my command of the language and now, I don’t need subtitles when I’m watching a Tamil film,” she told Malay Mail.
@maiyahrahim_ Reply to @putra.syg korang tgkla mak kita ni , dalam nak naik moto tu . Boleh membawang bahasa tamil tu dgn jiran walaupun jauh ?. #fyp #fypシ
♬ original sound - Cikk.Mayaaaaa
The second video, meanwhile, shows Fatimah speaking to her neighbour in another language: Cantonese.
She told the news portal that she picked up the language from a friend who taught her the language in exchange for Malay lessons.
@maiyahrahim_ Reply to @kingmrboyboy
♬ original sound - Cikk.Mayaaaaa
The burger stall owner said mastering multiple languages has helped her in many ways and she has also helped others.
"Yesterday, I helped an aunty to fill up her form in Malay before she got her first dose of the vaccine.
"Other times when I see older people who have trouble writing in Malay, I would help them by communicating with them in Tamil.
"Most of them would be shocked when I initiate the conversation in Tamil," she was quoted as saying.
That's really impressive, makcik.