N4TION Ride 2012/2013. Entering Laos. Much has been said about our Government. Most are uncomplimentary. Some inflammatory, some slanderous, many exaggerated, but, unfortunately a significant few allegations against the Government clearly damaging, revealing the actions of a number being dishonest, others incompetent bordering on criminal. But this post is not about politics. Its about having the pleasure of dealing with a Public Servant who is exemplary. Who goes beyond the call of duty. We were on a Riding Tour of Thailand and Laos. There were 19 bike and 24 of us including pillion. We were turned away at the Lao Border at Chaloem Prakiat. The Head of Immigration/Custom did not give a reason for denial of entry. We turned back into Thailand to replan. We telephoned His Excellency Dato Than, the Malaysian Ambassador, and H.E. said just tell him when we want to enter Laos and hell do his part. We faxed our details to his office and rode to Vientiane Immigration Point the next day. Dato Than waited for us on the Lao side, and with his staff personally facilitated our entry into Laos then he led us as a convoy to the Malaysian Embassy. We had an informal meeting before taking a group photograph. Dato Than does not need to go all the way to bring us in. H.E. need not even need to help us beyond just forwarding a letter of support to the correct Lao Channel. But he did. If he is willing to go that far for a bunch of bikers like us, imagine him handling disaster or death of a Malaysian in Laos. Or any Malaysian in real trouble in the country under his watch. Dato Than and others like him in the Government are the hope of Malaysia. In our passion/hatred of the Government/Leadership/Ministers there is a danger of accidentally generalising ALL in the Government as bad, demoralising the many good people doing a great job. We have to be mindful not to put the good fruits in the same basket as the bad fruits even if they come from the same tree. This was a good reminder for many of us who did this N4TION Ride.
Posted on: Fri, 02 May 2014 13:41:24 +0000