|
MY TRIP TO PUTRAJAYA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
My second son Josef, who is studying medicine in Moscow, Russia has
been pestering me to send to him the "NOC" (No Objection
Certificate), which he says, is required by his university.
So this morning (Tuesday, 3rd February 2009), I took the
Kancil car and drove to Putrajaya. It was at first a
decision of whether I should take the Volvo, which was
parked at my office in Shah Alam, by taking the LRT/train to
Batu 3 first and then walked for 15 minutes to my office to
get the car. Or whether to drive directly there with either
the Kancil or Persona. I finally decided to go there with
the Kancil because it consumed the least amount of petrol
and saved me the travelling time in the LRT/train. It would
also be easy for me to find a parking space for a Kancil at
Putrajaya. I was thinking that the only thing that I was
going to miss for not taking the LRT/train and then the
Volvo was the exercise from the walking. But I consoled
myself that I had been fasting the previous day and also had
some walking exercise from my office to the Batu 3 railway
station on the same day - all for the sake of controlling my
diabetes.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
How do I find a space for my Kancil? |
|
Can I squeeze my Kancil on the left? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Travelling to Putrajaya and arriving at my destination, which
was the Ministry of Education at Parcel E, was easy enough
for me because I had been to Putrajaya a couple of times
before. The first few times was, of course, a nightmare.
There were so many signboards and roads and "Precinct" here
and "Precinct" there that I got lost a few times. Nowadays,
whenever I have to go to Putrajaya, I'll take the same route
and also leave by the same way if I want to avoid getting
lost again. If you want to have a non-stop learning
activity, going in and out of Putrajaya with your car is the
best place to do it and also the best way to know about the
roads in Putrajaya. |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Driving around trying to look for a parking
space at Parcel E, Putrajaya |
|
|
|
|
|
Whoever did the town-planning for Putrajaya, especially at the
"Parcel E" area, probably did not think that the Government
employees are going to drive and park their cars there and
that visitors going there need to park their cars too. When
I arrived there at about 8.30 am, I observe that both sides
of all the roads there were occupied with cars if not the
red barrier cones. Since it was still early, those cars must
belong to the employees. On my first round of the area, I
was unsuccessful in locating an empty parking space. Yes,
even with my tiny Kancil I couldn't find a space large enough to
squeeze it in. I was lucky on the second round when I found
a parking space for my Kancil.
Someone who had parked there must be using a Kancil too
because it was just wide enough to accomodate my Kancil.
After parking the Kancil and taking out my computer notebook from the car (couldn't risk losing it), I made my way to the nearest
building to enquire where "Jabatan Pengajian Tinggi" (Higher
Education Department) was. I approached a guard, who nicely
told me that it was located "further down" at Block E3. So I
made my way to the Ministry of Higher Education at Block E3.
There I was also nicely informed by the lady to go further
down to the second floor of Block E9. After a few minutes of
walking I reached Block E9 and after registering with the
security guard, I went up to the second floor. I informed
the lady at the desk of my intention to get the NOC for my
son. She nicely told me to take a seat whilst she arranged
to get the certificate for me. I was barely seated for 5
minutes before a gentleman approached me and handed to me my
son's NOC. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
One side is cars and other side is
cones |
|
Both sides of road filled with cars |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Even though the parking there needed some improvement, I was
happy with the way I was treated by all the staffs,
including the "jaga" (guard). They were nice and helpful.
Maybe because they took a little pity on this "PakCik"
(uncle, old man)
I walked back to the car feeling elated because I got what I
came for. I was also happy because the walking uphill
towards the Kancil made me sweat a bit. I got the exercise
that I thought I was going to miss that day.
After I left Parcel E, I went to Precinct One to go to the
Immigration Department to get an application form for a
foreign maid. In contrast to Parcel E, there was ample
parking space for visitors at the Immigration. The planner
for the Immigration Department had done a good job of
allocating two open-space areas for car parks. So, it wasn't
as difficult as at Parcel E for me to get a parking space
for my Kancil. |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Immigration Officers attending to a member
of the public |
|
|
|
|
|
When I entered the lobby, I was surprised to see two lady
Immigration Officers standing there to attend to enquiries
from the public. I took advantage of the "service" by asking
one of them where to get the application form to apply for a
foreign maid. She obligingly told me to go to the second
floor on the right. I did as she said and sure enough, I
soon found myself queuing up for the application form.
What the Immigration Department was doing by placing its
officers at the entrance lobby to answer to queries from the
public was a good move and should be applauded. I left the
Immigration Department being a happier person because my
mission to get the NOC for my son and the application form
from the Immigration Department had been accomplished. Thank
you to God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful and the
Most Helpful, without Whose Help my mission will not be
accomplished.
I hope the Putrajaya developer can look into resolving the
parking woe at Parcel E and similar areas in Putrajaya for
the benefit of the Government employees working there and
also for visitors like me to find a convenient place to park
our cars to accomplish our "urusan" (mission) with the
Ministry.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
