Learning to accept criticisms in really big strides

My entry tonite is about that part of me as a public servant. Yes servant to the public....

I cant believe my luck. I was complaining of chest pain this afternoon and went to a&e thinking that I had asthma attack. instead the doctor wanted to put me under 24 hour observation just to make sure that I do not have any heart condition!! Now I am stuck in this hospital ward. They say that my oxygen level in my blood is low that is why I experience shortness in breath. So they will have to perform further tests. Could this just be my luck?! This is my first time I have to stay overnight at RIPAS. I didnt want to make such a big fuss about it.  I told my missus not to tell my parents or anyone for otherwise they would just go absolute bonkers panicking. Anyway, I was really embarrassed as I bumped into a few people that recognised me. "is the stress really getting on you pengiran?" "eh, I just saw you on TV, stress kah heheh?" "maybe you had too much tv exposure heheh?" were just amongst the few comments that I had. I have long accepted these snide remarks as part of the occupational hazards as I know as a public figure I will never be able to please everyone. There will be people who will belittle us and there will be people who will encourage us.  For as long as the people who belittle us are in the minority, I always say to my officers, we would be on the right track. Because I keep reminding my officers, we are not in this job to be popular.  There would be people especially those who have been investigated by us and those who have been brought by us to face justice and those who are bent on corruption who would never be with us. in fact the Bureau would be their all-time sworn enemy. I took the advice of the people at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime  (UNODC) of which we work very closely and got our technical assistance from.  As they said our awareness campaign against corruption and our NO to corruption should be louder than anyone else. In fact, strong awareness and prevention strategies are required in the UN Convention Against Corruption the treaty that Brunei is now bound to comply. These are the two key strategies that we adopt. the other being strong law enforcement.  The UNODC now looks at us as one model of strong prevention and education program. We were actually very proud when they sent a representative to Brunei to look closely how we implement this program.  I suppose when it comes to dealing with the public criticism  you will never win but just simply to keep on doing in what you think is best. I am encouraged by the positive notes and words from members of the public who have been very supportive of our efforts.  I keep telling my officers to just focus on the positive words of encouragement.  Of course we need to listen to any dissenting voice if it meant well or if it meant to help us improve. Unfortunately, there would be one or two voices who would be complete rejectionists. These are the people that would normally bark the loudest.  I keep telling my officers that we should not see these as mere challenges but rather opportunities. Opportunities for us to understand why there are dissenting voices because we can also learn from them. 

Happy International Anti Corruption Day

Hello world! May I just wish happy anti-corruption day which falls on today worldwide. Your NO to corruption count. Please visit my official weblog at http://anticorruptionwatch.blogspot.com and our official website at www.bmr.gov.bn.

I really do need a break

How do you make everyone including your friends and families understand that what you are doing is for the sake of this country and the future generation and yet stop short from sounding too corny and idealistic especially to the cynics and to those who would not be able to understand it? Yesterday both my eldest son and my youngest daughter asked me if I am taking some time off from work and would take them abroad. I told them "no sayang, babah has to work" My son cheekily suggested that I should just quit my job.  They started to make comparison that in my previous job, I was able to take time off and bring them abroad like to Singapore or Malaysia even for a short break during the school season.  It is very difficult to tell them that now things are a little bit different. I have more responsibilities and I am more accountable to a lot more people. Even my mum started to make comparison. She came to my house yesterday and began to "sindir" me by saying that my amit (her older sister) has no problem in seeing her children as they would usually spend every weekend together at her home. I just wanted to make her understand that now because of the bigger responsibility, I have to be a public servant first in many occasions and being my wife's husband, my kids' dad and my mum's son would have to fight for second place.  For the last few days, I virtually had no understanding of what day and date it was as I actually had to work on friday and sunday, night and day.  For that part of me as a husband, dad and son, yes I do need a break but I cannot simply abdicate my responsibility as a servant to the public at least not when the public is expecting to see results. I have a mission and I have a mandate. I just wished everyone around me understand me that.