First impression
The first contact any visitor or locals returning to the country has is with our Immigrations personnel; and it is from these that impressions of our hospitability are made. For those leaving the country, these persons are the last official human contact with our nation.
Since our marriage more than 16 years ago, we have had to pass through the JB immigrations check point at least twice a year whenever we drive to Singapore for holidays. And every time, the reception we receive has always been the same – we need to stretch our hands to hand over our passports (the counter tops are build higher than the car windows), peer and peep into the cubicle window to get a look at who, if any, is inside the cubicles (they don’t bother to look up or out at us).
When they’re done flipping through our passports, they just place them on their side of the counter tops. So we again have to stretch to get back our passports. Not a nod or any signs of acknowledgement of our existence. And IF there should be anyone else in the cubicle with them…well, you don’t have to guess where their attention will be at!
Wouldn’t it be a wonder then, that with such “tidak apa” attitude in performing their job, many people with unhealthy records can just easily slip though and travel the world over without a hitch? I wonder of they realize their jobs are related to the country’s security matters…
Did I mention that our immigration personnel prefer to stay in the dark? Or is this part of being efficient in managing their operating cost…go figure!
Since our marriage more than 16 years ago, we have had to pass through the JB immigrations check point at least twice a year whenever we drive to Singapore for holidays. And every time, the reception we receive has always been the same – we need to stretch our hands to hand over our passports (the counter tops are build higher than the car windows), peer and peep into the cubicle window to get a look at who, if any, is inside the cubicles (they don’t bother to look up or out at us).
When they’re done flipping through our passports, they just place them on their side of the counter tops. So we again have to stretch to get back our passports. Not a nod or any signs of acknowledgement of our existence. And IF there should be anyone else in the cubicle with them…well, you don’t have to guess where their attention will be at!
Wouldn’t it be a wonder then, that with such “tidak apa” attitude in performing their job, many people with unhealthy records can just easily slip though and travel the world over without a hitch? I wonder of they realize their jobs are related to the country’s security matters…
Did I mention that our immigration personnel prefer to stay in the dark? Or is this part of being efficient in managing their operating cost…go figure!
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