Farewell At Bratak

Going On Transfer

I am often reminded that when you work in the Civil Service, being transferred from one station to another is a normal affair. Station here means another department, agency, ministry or council within the State Government Service. If there is a farewell speech to be given, these words will always be a feature reminding us that serving in the Civil Service is a very fluid occupation.

The Civil Service is also porous enough to take in expertise from the private sector to join the State Civil Service. It can also happen the other way as some of the heads of department before this has also been transfered to private sectors or they go retire in the private sectors because of their useful and vast experience while serving the public sector. Prominent names such as Datuk Amar Hamid Bugo, Datu Dr. Hatta Solhee and Dr. Taha Ariffin are amongst a few.

Transfer orders sometimes come to you anytime and anywhere you are required and you can be at one station for three to eight years or you may be there for two to nine months. It really depends on a lot of factors and I rather not dwell on that as it can be any reason under the sun. It could be for promotion, secondment, attachment or someone may be retiring, or you may have been requested by one of the Ministers to accompany his Ministry; or he wants you in his constituency for the special skills ythat you possess, or it can be the other way round - you may have had too much too drink during one of the official functions and acted in some ways that could have caused you to be noticed who will report you to headquarters. What are the chances that you would have made someone unhappy - working at a place for 8 hours a day and five days a week for a few years? Chances are very high right? Like I say it can be any reason in the Universe. And the scary part is that you will never know why.

So the important thing to note is that transfer orders are part and parcel of the service and you may question your transfer if you feel that something is not right - so its a case to case basis. I am rather used to the transfer culture as my dad used to be a teacher, headmaster and educational officer serving in various stations from Kapit, Kanowit, Julau and Sibu. I know its hard when you have to move places and also leave family and friends but its something that I have grown accustomed to. A new place means a new chance of learning something new and develop yourself. A Civil Servant who has never been transfered from one Department to another misses a lot and I mean the exposure to different working environments.

Bratak Karaoke, Bau

One of our colleague recieved his transfer order recently so it was decided that we had a small gathering for him at one of the karaoke outlet in Bau. We heard the Bratak Karaoke was especially famous so we headed in convoy to meet Mr. Mackos and his family there. A seasoned and experience officer, Mr. Mackos Sibong will be reporting for duty in Kapit Resident's Office next month in November. he previously served in the Miri District Office and went on to work at the Miri Resident's Office. So he has the best of both worlds - a strong network of friends in headquarters in Kuching and his Divisional experience exposure in Miri to be applied in Kapit.

Mackos with his wife - Madam Sulia and son Sylvester Mackos

The feeling of having to leave one's hometown or family (if they are not following you) will always be part of the Service's make up. The experience is enriching though - when on the ground (as we call the frontline office's like the Resident's Office and District Office), the people you will be dealing with shall be real people and problems will be actual problems that we in the newspapers.

Bratak DJ Room - Lots of VCDs and Songs of your choosing (English, Indonesia, Balay, Iban and Bidayuh songs)


Mr. Fedrick John, Mr. Anthony Banyan and Mr. Augustine Merican

Fun Photos - Everyone had a good time

More Fun Photos - everyone in action

Shania spent her time drawing on the request slips

One thing you can expect in a Karaoke like this - everyone is there for a good time, no matter who or where you come from

The SPU Gang

It is part of being in the Civil Service. One gets to serve in the various parts of the State - and make many friends and people. But when you are in the service you will get to meet one another while in the Service be it attending meetings or organising Statewide functions. We are still in the same big family - only our roles become different depending on the function of the Department or agency you represent. To Mackos I bid you Bon Voyage and the Best of Luck. The world is smaller now with the arrival of the Internet and rest assured the width and breadth of the State is made reachable via the evolving communications technology.