VVIPs at thy Pleasure or Pressure?

A news headline in the NST, page 8, today attracts my attention, gives my heart a slight lift.
The pleasure of reading such nugget of wise advice from our Seniior Most Civil Servant in deed lowers my blood pressure.
I hope it does the same to ALL GOVERNMENT SERVANTS TOO! Lower their blood pressure, I mean.

Don't be pressured by VVIPs, civil servants told

PUTRAJAYA: Guidelines and procedures — and not VVIPs — govern the work ethics of civil servants.Civil servants have to do their jobs well and not fear retribution by important people whose recommendations were not taken up.

This is Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Samsudin Osman’s advice to civil servants who may come under pressure from VVIPs wanting their way in specific matters.

For example, only suitable applications for government scholarships should be approved, regardless of the recommendations submitted.

"Even though the applications come with strong recommendations by VVIPs, officers required to carry out their duties responsibly and honestly must always toe the line and not easily succumb to pressure.

"Government servants are bound by rules and regulations when making decisions or granting approval.

"They should not feel pressured or be pressured into doing something. Just use your discretion and follow the criteria or guidelines."

Samsudin said he had received letters or applications with notes of recommendations from VVIPs.

"It is the responsibility of government officers, including myself, to consider and grant approvals based on the stipulated guidelines or criteria. If an officer fails to follow guidelines, that simply means that he has failed in his duty," he said after launching a Nasyid competition for civil servants here.

Samsudin had been asked if there was a need for a code of ethics for VVIPs in dealings with civil servants.

It is normal for VVIPs such as state assemblymen or Members of Parliament to forward recommendations where applications or decisions are concerned.

Jasin MP Datuk Mohd Said Yusof was recently reported to have asked the Malacca Customs and Excise Department to "close one eye" on the illegal import of sawn timber by his company, Binyu Sof Enterprise.

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(The emphasis -- BOLDED like this -- is Desi's. Read the complete report from the newspaper-lah! RM1.20 only -- cut down on one cuppa plus a kuih and invest on this knowledge tool; good for thy brain cells and body mass, wat...)


DESIDERATA notes that the NST news reported said:

"Samsudin had been asked if there was a need for a code of ethics for VVIPs in dealings with civil servants.

It is normal for VVIPs such as state assemblymen or Members of Parliament to forward recommendations where applications or decisions are concerned. "

I salute Samsuddin for his discerning obervation and sound advice to the Civil Service personnel, many of whom I must congratulate for good service, especially those manning the Customers Services counters. In fact the private sector's personnel can learn a thing or two from Perkdidmatan Kerajaan staff in this aspect.

But I also hope the VVIPs list should extend beyond the MPs and SAs to those TITLED PERSONALITIES who often throw their weight around.

As a pressman, I had the unfortunate occasion to sumtimes cover certain functions, especially those organised by ASLI, and some loyaljelly-connected functions -- where one gets the impression that when somebody were to throw a pebble -- don't-lah, not a stone, or a rocky! -- it had the higher probability of hitting a Datuk, Datin, Tan Sri or Puan Sri, even A Tun or ... how do you a'dress someone who's the spouse of a Tun, ah? I'm not well-worst in Protocall!)than hiting a plain Encik or Cik, or Tuan or Puan. Minta maaf if I miss out Saudara/Saudari.(You see, I mix around with quite a substantial socialist crowd, and the camaradeArie comes along with the form of a'dress...)

Okay, back from Digression to the ASKLI fuinction ~~ Any speaker would spend almost 2-3 minutes just with the opening nomenclatured, properly Attired or A'dressed, Excuse Desi thius morn if he's a li'l LOST in the forestry of words and prayers for our Civil Servants that they take the Chief Secretary's words to heart and be stout hearted in their actions. Action of commission -- act firmly like the Malacca Customs against the MP of Jasin -- and also omission -- Don't let politikus force the hands of the local council (MPPJ, hear me, or Nades?) in erecting billboards or bridges at the wrong/dangerous locations.

But some VVIPs are like salesmen. Glib and sweet-tongued.
Do you know one *POET called a salesman an IT?(*I'll try to locate the proof. Miss Patience, KO?)

Why does Desi have a particular grudge agaiinst salesmen?

Okay! I restrict to just Car and Telco salesmen...for now, and it's anecdotal, not scientifically surveyed and sampled, just so that there's no MISSundersatnding and you engage a loyar buluk to sue me. Or FA.



Encounter1:

~~~~~~~Which brings me to the sext digression. One FAshionistA who fragrants Desi's Place from her own abode @fashionasia.blogspot.spot sumtimes attracting with genetlemanly fesyen tips or tops, was in hi-spirits when her SignificantOther took her to view a
SportsCar, which caught their fancy, and after some hard bargaining, the twosome said they would return 24 with the cheque. Da Salesman was incognito for the sext few days (MIA on his ...TRESS?), then SMSed FA's S.O. that the SportsCar had been sold to Another, for a hi-er price!:(

Now sisters to Desi's Place, you undersatnd WHY a Salesman has been described by a Poet as an 'IT'?~~~~~~~

Encounter 2:

THE FOLLOWING IS NARRATED IN SALEMAN'S LANGUAGE STYLE. It's C&P-lah, from Fashionasia, nigh Gay Paree, Lundun, or Tokyo, or Kuala Lumpur oso-cun!:)
Following the dictum ~~
When in Roome, do as the Romans do.
OR
When at a Milan Fashion show, do as FashionistA do-dos.


"desiderata said...
I oso got story to sell. Went to telco office to change from Post-paid to Prepaid for my HP. Handphone-lah, not my hire-purchase... I said I oso want to maintain my Olde Number.

She, saleswoman, said "No-can, only vice-versa allowed. That is you can switch from Prepaid to Post, not the Other way round, then can maintain olde number."

I politely but loudly informed her I clearly heard her colleague at the Sales counter promising that I should have no prob switching and using the same number. I turned in the direction of the Salles counter staff and softly thundered they should be HONEST in making seales pitches.

"Now your Comapny has LOST one customer, possibly MORE as I cuntvince my frens to swtich from your telco service!" was my polite parting shot.

That telco's nama trthmes with Miss Gigi.
Now I'm using one that rhymes with Texas.

(So mGf reading the strange advisory, now you understand the vile Desi SMS-ed thee about my nu'e HP no.)

PPS: ~~ Now you understand Y one Poet called Da Salesman an 'it'?

1:21 PM, May 19, 2006 "