Your Comments ... Click Here

"Sir does the sun rise in the East in Brunei?" asked the persistent reporter.

Now, now, that is a tricky question. The local director thought about it for a while. Clearly a fierce debate was taking place in his mind.

Then at last, his face lit up. He had the right answer. He was very clever, indeed. If not, how could he sit in this office and .draw a handsome salary for practically doing no work and evading responsibility and decision making for so long? It took a lot of skill. It involved cunning and tact and, of course, patience.

Now this reporter was asking this question. Why couldn't this nosy fellow and the likes of him leave him alone? He just wanted to lead a peaceful life.

Nevertheless, he could handle fellows like him. No problem. He then looked at the newsman squarely on the face and replied in triumph, "No comment."

He was so pleased that he could produce such an ingenious answer. That would put the persistent journalist in his place. He really enjoyed that moment of pure ecstasy. "No comment," he repeated, with much relish.

"That should fix the nosy parker," he said to himself. Then he turned to escape his tormentor.

"But that is not an answer, sir. You are evading the question. We would really like you to tell us. The public would like to know," continued the steadfast inquirer.

The tranquil tone of the questioner and the sense of being pestered were getting on his nerves. But he was a seasoned civil servant. He still had one or two cards up his sleeve.

This situation could still be fixed.

He could play the ultimate trump card. The likes of him were masters of it. Or else, how could he and others like him survive the intricate and dangerous maze called the civil service?

There was one all saving device that always came in handy when facing tight corners.

Yes it was quite simple, if you knew how to use it with skill.

And the saving factor, which most of them like him use? Pass the buck.

Now was the time to use it. Pass the buck, old boy.

"Write a letter to the department and ask for an official answer," beamed the man magnanimously. Pass the buck man, pass the buck.

Then he got into a car and drove away for an official function.

The reporter had no option but to continue his quest and he wrote as the director suggested.

Weeks passed. No answer from the department. So he went to see the director.

"Ah, you again," said the official, busying himself with some papers.

"You wrote? That's good. Your letter was passed on to my deputy. Please go and see him," said the man.

The deputy, the newsman discovered, had given to his deputy, that deputy to his deputy. Deputy's deputy's deputy had passed the letter on to deputy's deputy and so on until the reporter had to check down the line to the junior clerk.

Then he eventually found the chain led right to the entrance where the security guard was...outside...That's where he started after all.

The buck had turned a full circle as often was the case here.

Your Comments ... Click Here
View Old Talks ...  Click Here