Guess What? Saadillah Mursjid

When reporters recently invited new Minister/State Secretary Saadillah Mursjid to a lunch to welcome him to his new post, the minister wanted to make sure they had enough money to pay for it.

The reporters who usually cover his office's beat ensured him they had all contributed to pay for the catering.

When it turned out the bill ended up with Saadillah after the lunch at the office, he still managed a smile.

"Actually I guessed from the beginning that I would have to pay for this, but reporters always give the impression that they're rich," he sighed.

Saadillah is not really new to the Secretariat, as he was the junior minister/cabinet secretary and then the state minister/cabinet secretary.

"I've managed to avoid publicity for 10 years. But since I now have to come forward as the spokesman for the President, I have to face the public a lot," he said.

The minister, who has a master's in public administration from Harvard University in the United States, said he had known what it was like to be on the receiving end of a boss' nagging from the beginning of his career.

"This will be a good lesson for me to think of my subordinates' feelings if they are treated like that," Saadillah said. (prb)