Being the No 1

Today is my fourth day in new office. It is a different kind of environment and climate and also a different set of people. Being posted in a remote district like Setiu is another episode in my 27 years of service. Until today I do not get the correct answer on why I am posted here and what the expectation from the people on having me as the head for this small district.

Anyway, as I always convince myself and others, being the government servant means you have to serve the people. No matter where and what you are. Try to serve them the best you can. And here I am.

Yesterday was my first assignment, visiting the areas hit by flood. There are a lot of things I can do in providing the people there with more comfortable space to live. We need to upgrade the facilities and infrastructures to certain level to ensure that the people in this tiny district can breath with the same air as others in more developed areas. Things like flood mitigation plan, the water flow system etc have to be given top priority. Just imagine, every time the flood hit the village, all activities stop involving everybody; farmers, school children, rubber tappers, housewives etc. Apart from the activities, a number of infrastructures such as roads, bridges, plants and others affected. Some have to settle as squatters in surau, masjid or balairaya.

I think I can embark on many things here as the no 1 administrator for the district. Anyway, steering the district and uplift the standard of living of the people is not an easy task. It will involve a lot of energy, mind and also commitment. Let alone the mindset of these people towards modern lifestyle. At the same time I also have to cope up living in a lonely space though life is easy, apart from the messy busy town, but got to deal with no mcdonald, kfc, giant or even seven eleven.

On top of those, still it is good to be the no 1.