Comic Relief

My old* friend, Nadia and I recently started IM'ing each other while we work**.
*Nadia's not old. I mean that we've known each other since we were in kindergarden.
**Yes, despite our IM'ing, we still get our work done, Boss.

Today, dear ol' Nadia told me a lil' anecdote. Bear in mind that this woman has been out of the country for a very long time and had only recently returned to KL.

Nadia : oh, funny story...the other day we received a government letter
Nadia : and you know how they only write in bahasa right?
Nadia : so naturally, our reply has to be in malay lah
Nadia : so at the end of their letter, they always write "berkhidmat untuk negara"
diha_mahmood : Yeah? And?
Nadia : of course I had NO IDEA that it was the government slogan and they need to put it at the end of all their letters
Nadia : so i thought they were being patriotic, so i had my secretary draft a reply in malay,
Nadia : and at the end of my letter i put "berkhidmat untuk PETRONAS"
diha_mahmood: WHAT?? so lawakkkk!!!! I have GOT to tell Wan this story!
Nadia : wait! and then... 2 weeks later i received a letter from the govt guy, telling me why they write "berkhidmat untuk negara"
diha_mahmood: LOL!!! oh my goodness!!!
Nadia : AND he said that i didnt have to reply "berkhidmat untuk petronas"
diha_mahmood: funneee!!!
Nadia : a boo boo on my part...everyone at office laughed at me
diha_mahmood: heheh, oh well, u learn something new everyday... it's a government slogan for heavens' sakes!
Nadia : well no one told me that!!!! i thought in lieu of Yang benar or Yours sincerely,
Nadia : they put that phrase instead....
Nadia : and i'm thinking, how odd!!!
Nadia : so hence, to speak in their "language", i put that petronas thing laaaa
diha_mahmood: well, NOW you know.... and remember, if you get a letter from the police department with "mesra, cepat & betul" dont u go replying with a list of your OWN virtues! hehehehe
Nadia : hahahahahahahahaha
Nadia : i bet they all got a great big laugh there... at MY expense!
diha_mahmood: i bet they did!
diha_mahmood: heheheh
diha_mahmood: I'm so putting this on my blog...heheheh
Nadia: :P

What's WITH the damn slogans anyway?

Mesra, Cepat & Betul for the Police Department has always been terribly ironic... at least in MY opinion.

Have you tried to file a report with them? MESRA?? Puh-leeeezzzz. Let's not even GO to "CEPAT" and "BETUL". In fact, don't let me get started on the Royal Malaysian Police.

I'd better end this before I get my OWN 'letter from the government' telling me to be cautious lest I fall into I.S.A.

-Berkhidmat Untuk Tuhan-