May I suggest that banks install buzzers on their ATM machines to alert customers making withdrawals to get their money off the tray?

Some machines almost snatch back the cash if it is not taken as quickly as possible.

It happened to me on Thursday afternoon last week. I made a withdrawal, couldn't take the money on time and watched helplessly as the machine swallowed up my money.

I rushed to the bank to make a report before it closed for the day, and made a follow-up complaint the next day.

I was told it takes three working days, excluding Saturday and Sunday, "because the matter has to be investigated" and "because it is out of our hands."

This is because the ATM machine in question is contracted to a security company, which audits the cash in the dispenser every afternoon, and has to make an investigation, the bank's customer relations representative said.

After three working days, excluding Saturday and Sunday, until yesterday, Tuesday, I was still waiting for the result of their (the bank's and the security company's) investigations.

Surely, the security company could have found out as early as Thursday afternoon, even before the report was made, that something went wrong.

A report was made to the bank the same day, and a follow-up was made the next day to the same bank, but nothing has happened so far and I need that money very urgently.

The bank and the security company need to be more efficient in attending to their customers' feedback so that solutions can come earlier than "three working days excluding Saturday and Sunday."

- Smiley

One of my friends who was in public service quit his job to continue his studies at UBD.

He says that his department was not too keen on sending him for 'In Service' studies.

But I have heard there are some public servants who want to further their studies inside or outside Brunei do not have to quit their jobs and have even returned to their respective departments after their studies.

Isn't this true?

Is there a special category that would allow such facilities?

Besides people have the right to upgrade their knowledge by studying more and then may even get promoted in their respective job.

I always thought this could be a licence to get a promotion in one's department.

Besides it's really sad to see people who want to further their education resign from their jobs to get started.

They have wives and children to feed.

They would have had to struggle and compete with thousands of job seekers to get a job in the first place.

- Positive Thinker

I am not a frequent user of the Seria bypass by night, if I do drive down, as the road is quite dark, I usually have difficulty in finding the U-turn turning back to LNG and have to make a sudden stop, which is quite dangerous.

I believe this is not the only U-turn along this stretch of road. I would appreciate if indicators like the diamond cat eyes or other type of reflectors were installed for safe night driving.

It gets worse when it rains.

- Worried Motorist, KB

I would like to voice out this matter about a couple of us who applied for Brunei Smart ICs in September 2004.

Believe it or not until now we haven't still collected our ICs .

At first Brunei Immigration Department gave us a date of collection on October 23rd 2004, we went to collect it on that day and they gave us an extension until January 27, 2005.

We went again to Immigration Department to collect our ICs, the cards were still not ready for collection and without any explanation from Immigration personnel.

They extended it again to March 28 2005. So we went again to Immigration department hoping for the collection of our ICs.

To our dismay the cards were still not ready yet was extended again till July 17 2005 I tried to find out why the delay was so long but the officer ignored me and attended to the others .

Why can't they explain the delay and hurry up with the card? I hope the concerned authority sees the seriousness of this matter.

- Vash Stampede

Is there any plan to improve the system at Kuala Lurah Check Point?

Over the years the traffic congestion leading to this entry point has been so long and traumatic and not much has been done to rectify this problem.

I really hope the relevant authorities can make a positive improvement.

By merely introducing two lanes for passing in and two lanes for passing out is not sufficient at all.

At certain times just one whole lane opens with a long queue intending to pass through.

Long queues during school holidays is a common sight all year round but the sad thing is little has been done to change the situation.

- HolidayConcern

Glad about KB Hospital's service

Recently our mother, Mdm Wong Swee Lan was admitted to Suri Seri Begawan hospital.

She underwent an operation, which was reported successful.

We would like to express our gratitude to all those who took good care of our mother during her stay.

Lastly may the Almighty bless all of you. Keep up the good work. well done.

- The Lim Family, KB

I applaud our national carrier (RBA) for earning high praise, after being placed 5th out of 21 airlines in Asian region for its Business class (I guess in all aspects including "fly with smile"), and also take this opportunity to applaud our Labour Department for taking a tough stand against unhealthy elements that would tarnish our country's image in the recent foreign students' case, reported in BB recently.

RBA's achievement is quite commendable and a marked improvement from 16th position in 2003. Well done Royal Brunei Airlines.

Maintain it and I trust with the present management this shall again, hopefully, improve and you may become a leader of airlines in Asia.

Meanwhile MK Anwar's news report was indeed an eye opener to remind oneself how important it is to maintain Brunei Darussalam's clean, respectable and renowned name worldwide.

Sadly in some instances people of foreign lands may change their attitude towards us from positive to negative depending on the way we treat them.

Regarding the issue of overseas students from Nepal and Bangladesh, the Labour Department has shown tough procedures that would make it harder for bogus businesses to escape easily.

I once again salute the stand Labour Department took in this matter, of course also the enforcement agencies such as Immigration, KDN etc. for the excellent way they carried out their business.

- Mas Kelana, KB

On the March 15 evening I stopped by a hotel in Kuala Belait to buy Net cards at the telephone section in the store.

Sales were being done by three foreign salesgirls at that time.

There was just one customer before me and I waited for what seemed like hours and finally when my turn came, to my dismay and embarrassment I was ignored even when one of them was sitting right in front of me!

Without saying a word she just kept eating an apple ignoring me.

At first I thought they were busy but as I looked around all seemed quiet with only me standing there waiting to be served.

After standing there a few minutes I walked out in disgust to go elsewhere for a phone card where my money was better appreciated.

As sales people they should show courtesy towards their customers.

I feel sorry for the employers who get duped into employing such individuals who not only costs the company its potential profits but also tarnishes its good name.

- Taripas, KB