JUST A CUP OF COFFEE..

Gold Arawana Talked on Civil Service

I read an article by a Borneo Post journalist, Tired Eye, which published in the newspaper on Sunday. It was an impressive comment, good and must be read by the civil service officers. In fact, I think all the agencies should publish it on their notice boards or distribute it to their subordinates. Other articles also publish in the newspapers for the next two or three days, some of them even in front page. So, please...Do not blame them, they are discovering the truth and it was totally constructive comments in conjuctions of Civil Service Day. And now this is my comment…

I wrote this just after I read some of the articles, I read it for a few times, and try to be as honest as I can. But of course, some of my honest idea I restricted myself to write it so that it will not become too descriptive and would hurt feelings of others. I asked few friends either I am wrong if I publish it, but most of them comments that it is general and most of the facts are well-known by public. So, it has containing no political issue or sensitive issue that could hurt others’ feeling. So, I just publish it…

Being working in both private and government sector, I realize that there is a very big gap. From the salary to the environment, and even the way I was thinking. I should start typing on my keyboard my working experience in private sector. I am working with a small, a political company which was mostly dependant on the projects given by the government. During that time, a lot of direct negotiation projects and my company is one which being lucky to get one of them. It was my one or two weeks after I successfully completed my study in civil engineering, I feel lucky actually. In fact I already start to promote myself since in University, sending my resume here and there to get a job. I was offer a small basic salary, but plus the incentives, travelling, overtime etc can give me almost triple of my basic salary. The most which attractive me is that we were encourage becoming a contractor to our own company, where in some projects our sub-contractor fail to do the rectification works as instructed by our clients. It was of course, two or three folds cheaper than looking for new contractor to do it. And I do.

However, with the almost completed projects, and Malaysian’s politics change its scenario, the company is half dead. This means that working with a political company is not secure! I always believed that the civil service is a “goyang kaki” job, nothing to do better than waiting for the payslips on every month. Whenever I meet our clients, they make complaints on this and that, I start to suspect on the left sided and almost ask them; “Sir, What do you want actually?” Eventually, they are much...much older and experience than me, and I am not brave enough to say so. So I start to curse them, of course on their back. He he

With the completion of the projects, we do nothing in office. Yes of course planning and lobbying for a new project. But it was not worthy; I have no more travelling, no more site income, and no more contracts for me. I slightly become poorer! I start to look for a new job, apply here and there but they offer me job which is not fair to my salary! At last I read a newspaper on the advertisement of vacancies on the civil service. Think and think and think, I finally apply for a carrier that I was always looked down before. I called for the interview, it is not as easy as I think; one day interview in two or three Section which I cannot remember. And I was surrounded by the senior officer which asking me a lots of questions. Even some of them, I cannot answer not because I don’t know the answer, I was too nervous! I was happy; I was among those who success in the interview while some of my closed friends is not lucky. And I tender my resignation letter with one month notice. Of course there was a farewell party and souvenirs from my colleagues.

I start my new day at my new office (actually temporary attachment) with a lot of question marks. I was forcing to dress on smart dressing that I used only in the meeting before, given a thick General Orders that I not finish reading yet until now, Treasury Instruction which I should strictly follow, procedures on this and that which I strictly have to follow, meeting with humble bosses and friendly colleagues, and of course I was introduce to the words INTEGRITY.

As mentioned by the Borneo Post journalist, he did not point any about the integrity is Corruption! His point is bucking to wake up the public services which are now some if not many think that they are sleeping. Tired Eye, you are correct, integrity is not just talking on corruptions, in my opinion its more towards strengthening the believed and empowering the service as an example to the private sector. For the next two days, there a lot more articles bucking on civil service. Most of them are on the newspaper’s front page. Of course, in real facts what being publish by the journalist is correct. We heard about DERISIONS on public sectors like Samseng Berlesen for PDRM, Jabatan Perosak Jalan for JPJ, Jangan Kerja Rajin for JKR, Kalau Ada Sapu, Tak Ada Minta for KASTAM and lots more. This must be referring to one or two in hundreds of the officers I believed as in a famous Malay parable; “Kerana Nila Setitik, Rosak Susu Sebelanga”.

For now, Civil Service are even challenging, we heard about threatening to enforcement officers, hit and run to police traffic and etc, etc. And on the country’s developments, civil services play major roles on it. Becoming consultants, advisors, banker, planner, etc…etc this sees the big responsibilities on their shoulder. It is normal anyway, if something goes wrong, we must have somebody to point guilty which reflect the pyramid shape, the bottom part have to receive more, of course! Civil services are now no more ‘goyang kaki’ job. When the government officers "speak", not meaning that they have "other" intention! Please...I have make it wrong once, and do not follow my mistake thinking...

Furthermore, Malaysia has too many agencies where in some areas they are on the same scope of responsibilities and overlapping to each other. In road projects for example, JKR, District Office, Councils, DID, Land & Survey, Resident Office all knows how to build roads. For building projects, almost all the departments know how to construct or maintain even if they have no technical backgrounds. On environment, there are also few departments looking after the same scope. So when come to complaints, the public blurred which department is doing what! Or in most cases, departments will pass the complaints to each other like playing football. The most unlucky department (or the goalkeeper), will have to take it where the complaints already half a year without action. So, rebrand each of the department maybe a good idea.

Public Relation Officer (PRO), in some utilities company (actually they are government link company) has proved their well managing the public complaints which should be expand to some departments which are directly deal with the public. I totally agreed on Tan Sri Dr. George Chan, Deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak and Datu Wilson Baya Dandot, the State Secretary of Sarawak on their constructive suggestions that civil servants should be innovative and creative. Maybe I have to add another one, PROACTIVE!

I do not agree that the civil servants are working for the politicians. Totally not! Politicians and Public Service of course sharing the same main job; to serve the peoples. Now I had to stop because I am not a politician, so I am not the best to write it. For further description, I have to dotted my sentences.

For the civil servants, we are so lucky of course. Thousands of Malaysian is hoping that they can seat at the chair that is currently belong to us. So, be thankful! Don’t feel hurt by the various comments by the public and take it as constructive comments for better improvements. Once, I was thinking that salary in civil service is too low compare to the responsibilities that we have to carry. At some posts, it is not too much to say that they are overloaded! Of course there were salary increment last year (Thanks YAB PM), which see the salary for the same post and experience in private sector is sometime lower compare to civil service. This is after plus minus on the hidden cost!

There is pro and contra on this, but the real challenge is how to empowering the integrity among the civil servants. But the integrity itself is immeasurable that needs continuous application. I am not a Mr. Perfect, not an expert, not the father of justice, not a senior officer in government, or even not a journalist. That’s mean I am nobody who JUST CAN TALK ABOUT IT WHILE HAVING A CUP OF COFFEE. But I believed that you will know better a group, only if you become the member of the group. When something goes wrong, go back to the basic.

Now is almost 12 midnight, I better finished up my coffee, shut down my computer and go to sleep to continue serve the peoples for tomorrow. To all Gold Arawana's friends in civil service, it is still not too late for me to greet “HAPPY CIVIL SERVICE DAY” and wish you all the best.

WILD SEX

I was on traveling and visit a beach at Matu, Sarawak. The sunset is amazing, but the beach itself is not that attractive where waste logs and debris are everywhere. This is not shocking as the beach on this area is collecting waste from a few rivers in the central region of Sarawak. Furthermore, the beach is surrounded by swamp areas where it creates a dirty look on the sand. This site is being gazette by the local government for a Melanau traditional celebration called Pesta Kaul. So at least once a year, the beach is tidy up by the locals before the celebration. I can imagine that it will look more attractive. Unfortunately, it was only lasting for not more than seven days in three hundred and sixty five days.

While enjoying the sunset, my eyes caught an attractive occurrence which was actually normal for the animals’ desire. A group of cows are enjoying their evening dish on green grass when one of them is trying to climb on the other one (I predict that the male is on the above, the one trying to climb). Luckily I am able to snap photo on the scenario. Looking back at the photo reminds me to hot news on the self-made pornographies and porn videos involving the locals and even the under-age student. I try differentiating the difference; I mean the human and animals behavior on this. Yes it is, the animals have the brain but they are not able to use it for thinking, meanwhile human have given brilliant brain which they supposed to use it for brilliant thinking. Unfortunately, they were not, or they overused it! The rest…it was equally the same. After all, they are mammals anyway, just like the human beings.

Nowadays, there is a lot if not hundreds or thousands of porn websites where I actually sometimes accidentally crossing on it. He he, its okay for adults anyway and it is normal. But for the under-age, happened in the classroom at a rural school and still in school uniform was really terrible. This case was published in a local newspaper sometimes in October this year. I try to find the video and judge it by my own eyes but luckily I was failed.

It was not the first case actually; even there are thousands on the internets. They are either school students, university students, in the public park, inside the car, in hotels and so many locations with sometimes showing their advance and modern skills. Government has blocked most of them, but the now advance handphones is the new way to do this 'good return' business.

If it was under-age, why should not take action on that? It was considered as a rape case what? Even the school was reported has take action on the “junior porn star” by kicking them out from the school, which was totally wrong punishment! When the relevant agency comes to investigate, they even cannot find their footprints! This reflects the ineffectiveness of the way they settled the case. Why should investigate where prove and evidence is already cleared. Just bring them to the jail and punish them immediately! If they are not punished, than many more will be following later. Or worst come to worst, don’t ask them to used their school uniform or censored the school batch or censored the face, or etc, etc for next shooting... at least.

My conclusion is that, sex is normal which everybody like it either male or female. For those who dislike it, or not even have no desire to try it, they are considered as abnormal. Some or maybe majority will be agreeing on this. Porno industries are now become normal although it is not officially declared normal. But the animals’ attitude, which adapted to the human attitude on this matter, is abnormal. I always believed on the nature is the best teacher, but for sex… do it on personal business, behind the closed door…By the way, I don’t think the 'amateur porn star' gain any benefit from that. The CD pirates, the salesman is the one most benefit. Opps…and also the viewer of course. On Gold Arawana opinion, the amateur also should get it as what the professional star get…If not, they are entitle to claim it from the 'generous' cameraman. Full stop.

So dude, next time be careful. Cameras now are so cheap where we can find it everywhere.

When I Have Nothing Else To Think.....

Gold Arawana on Overloaded Vehicles

A logging truck at a main road. I wonder this truck purposedly build for carrying logs?

Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ), Sarawak has launched the Ops Tutup recently. The campaign that I think should be done earlier and continuously is actually target on the overloaded vehicles and technical modification of high light (I am not very sure on it). I am not interested on second one since it is in my opinion has less contributed on the road accident. Maybe yes of course, but much lesser than the first one contributions. Moreover, any accident happened to the vehicles is at the driver’s own risk

As well known by other state in Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak are rich with the timber industries. It was no doubt that timber industry has contributed lots on Sarawak economy. The State Government of Sarawak even has created a leading agency on this rich industry, Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC), which has been proved to be success as a leading agency. The timber industries as well has born few if not a lots of Sarawakian millionaire. No doubt that this industry is really mega contributor to the developments of Sarawak.

However, timber industry also born a lot of timber thief, which damaged both the natural beauties and the public utilities. The illegal logging has become common till the public almost impossible to differentiate the legal and illegal. To say illegal, they are clearing the forest for plantation, which also will contribute to the state economy. As my earlier article on Malacca – The Malaysian World Heritage (Part 1), that is no point to let our people in purity but lives in poverty! So, actually the Government intention to develop the state land or empty land to commercial agriculture has no doubt will contribute to the state economy. And of course, the Sarawakian will enjoy the benefit from the development on surroundings. There is no point to built road to nowhere, except there is dividend and income from the built infrastructure. Plantation will as well help the scattered settlements in Sarawak at least connecting them by roads. In fact, in West Malaysia, the Plantation has grown for centuries. So for me to use the word "illegal" is not fair, and even I am not the right person to say that it is illegal!

I was driving in one major road in Sarawak when I saw a long queue up of overloaded logging trucks (I judge it from my naked eye). It was ten or more, which carried logs even can overturn the trucks itself on dangerous corner! So I start to predict there must be road block by an enforcement agency in front. I fastens my seat belt and reducing my speed which actually not only save my RM 300.00 on compound but also my life. Driving about one or two kilometers a head, yes, there is road block. No wonder that the logging trucks are waiting for the cblock learance! And there is a pick-up waiting about few hundred meters from the road block location which I suspect the contact lens for the logging trucks. And of course, after the road block end, they managed to bring the wealthy to their pocket. They can be patient on waiting.

It’s actually not a big impact to the public if they are following the rules and laws. There is some accident where drivers hit a parking logging truck on the road shoulder which was without any emergency provision. That’s mean that they even not aware on the safety of other drivers, and their hunting for wealthy has course others life.

On the public utilities, we are not surprised on the polluted rivers and its surroundings course by the logging. But we are surprised on the invasion to the water catchment, which is our must daily need. I have no detail comments on this since I do believe that effort being taken by the responsible agencies. I do believed that they have try their very best to tackle this issue.

Other public utility that severely assaulted by the logging activities is public roads. This is even more in the rural area where the enforcements are almost impossible to frequently check on it. Government has pouring billion of RM to construct the roads and another million of RM for maintenance just for the logging company comfortable used. I even wondering either they pay their road tax? The most pity is that the public on their small cars have to suffer on the bad condition of roads. Please bear in mind that most of the car owners have to spend one third of their income to pay their car installments.

Road safety is the most important issue that affects the life of the road users. With now standard Sarawak roads, it is almost impossible to overtake the slow moving overloaded trucks. In some portion, where the slope is extreme, the road users even take in pawn their own life by following the trucks from behind. It is not unusual, as there was an accident involving falling logs onto the innocent vehicles. How much price the wealthy they gains compare to the life of human beings they take. Headache to think of how they think!

As on the Ops Tutup, thumps up to the Government, on my opinion it is a great effort to tackle these problems. Everybody is eyeing on this, and hope that we will ride on comfortable and safer roads soon. Why I have to care, because I am a driver too…

And for the natural beauties, hope that our future children will together enjoy the beauties that we enjoy today. Otherwise like the dinosaurs, we just recognized them in the museums and history books. To talk is easy, to instruct is even easy, and implementation is always not that easy.

And when I have nothing else to think, I am dreaming, hoping and waiting for the change…..

A log pond at a riverbank. I cannot imagine the value of the logs....

Kayaking – The Best Way to Explore Mukah Beauties

Batang Mukah, holding the most secrets of Mukah, a second younger Division in Mukah.


Mukah Division located in the central coastal of Sarawak, Malaysia was declared as a new division in 2002. Mukah, famous and well known by the Sarawakians for their long term fourth Chief Minister of Sarawak is the state assemblyman for Mukah. With its well planning town, Mukah is transforming significantly from a fisherman village to a future Smart City of Sarawak.

Even on its great development, with roads and other infrastructure is well connected almost all the kampongs, river is still maintain its popularity as an alternative for transport. In fact, sago logs, one of the main products from Mukah are mostly still transport by river. Batang Mukah is the main river that originally connected Mukah to the other parts of Sarawak. Most of the settlements are along this river and no doubt keeps most of the secrets of Mukah. Mukah town itself is growing on the estuary of this river.

Jerunei, a Melanau ancient graveyard

Kayaking from a smaller river, Sg Misan to Sg Tellian and end at the Mukah Old Town, which take approximately 2 hours will give a lot of experience and natural views. This may look like a long time, but the surroundings are so impressive, that the kayakers won't notice the long ride. Sg Misan, once was the major source for treated water supply before the relevant authorities change its source to bigger river to accommodate the demands. Along this river are the sago farms which laid almost both sides of the rivers up to another river called Sg Tellian. The natural views and sounds as well as the panoramic view of Melanau traditional kampongs will provide a complete visit to Mukah. Along the river, the kayakers will meet the sago farmers transporting their sago at a traditional ways.

A tourist at Lamin Dana, a Melanau cultural resort

Sg Tellian was one of the oldest settlements in Mukah. Along this river are traditional Melanau kampongs and sago factory. Some kampongs are still using their traditional tools to process sago. Jerunei (Melanau ancient graveyard) and famous Lamin Dana (A mini museum and Melanau traditional resort) is located along this river. The kayakers even can stop at the locations to see closer on the uniqueness and buy souvenirs or traditional crafts from the kampongs along the rivers. Some of the Jerunei believed to be more than 100 years old.

The journey will end at the main river, Batang Mukah where the Mukah Old Town is located. Along this river are the fisherman’s boats, the major economic activity that rejuvenating the development of Mukah.

"Kuda", a traditional tools to transport sago logs

The kayaking itself will give the conclusion about Mukah. From its traditional sago farming and inland fishing to the modern selling and buying businesses in town, where the rivers still play important roles on all the activities.

The photos attached are telling a better story on the river kayaking. The photos were contributed and taken by Hipani Alwi (http://hipani.blogspot.com/ ), during our exploration through the rivers.

1. The participants kayaking through the floating sago bundles

2. Sg Tellian at Kampung Tellian

3. Mukah Old Town

1. Sago logs at Sg Misan

2. A sago farmer at Sg Misan

3. A young Sago tree

1. Villagers on their daily activity

2. Natural beauties at Kampung Tellian

3. Natural beauties along Sg Misan

Natural Beauties Along the exploration

Mukah is connected by daily flight from Kuching, and well connected by roads (some are under upgrading) from Sibu and Bintulu, another two major towns in Sarawak, Malaysia......