Your Comments ... Click Here

Setting A Standard For Others To Follow
By Ignatius Stephen

Bandar Seri Begawan - It was a most pleasant surprise. It was one that I least expected. It really made my day.

I had gone one day early this week to TelBru, which is really Brunei's newly corporatised communications department. It was, in fact, the old Telecoms Department.

To get a landline as well as an e-speed connection was my objective. And I wanted it, because of some exceptional circumstances, very quickly indeed.

I haven't been to this department for a long time. Therefore, imagine my surprise when I walked in this time.

I had visualised that I would get tangled up in a mass of apparently endless red tape and delays. That was so in the former times. Those were the distant days when trying to get a telephone installed in your home were almost like striking a minor lottery.

There were umpteen forms to fill and you went from section to section. The department supplied the hand-set as well and often you were put on a seemingly interminable and haphazard queue.

So consider my surprise this time when I met a most pleasant young lady in the reception whom I recognised to use to work in a fast food chain in town.

She was all smiles and gave small courtesies as she supplied the relevant application forms and directed me to the right desk.

At the desk you experienced nothing but kindness and cooperation. The young man even helped you to fill in the forms. Then, there was a quick check through the computer and you were promptly shown a list of numbers. As you returned home after doing the grocery round, there you are, the technician was waiting to get your phone fixed.

In Brunei you are not used to this sort of service. "Wow! Better than Singapore," you exclaim. Well, that was a real eye opener. Are we at last catching up with the developed world?

There was even more. A few minutes later, my hand phone rang.

"Is your phone fixed, sir?" the officer wanted to know. "And your e-speed?" Well everything is alright I assured the caller. Oh, my, I simply cannot believe this.

And I am still reeling with the standard of service that has nearly knocked me off balance. And I can only say: Well done TelBru. You are setting a standard for others to follow.

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