Since the 12th Malaysian General Election on March 8, Penang (and another four states in Malaysia) has been in Pakatan Rakyat (PR) hand. Pakatan Rakyat is currently a loose coalition comprising of PKR, DAP and PAS. Each state has their own majority representatives and thus governed by different political party, but no doubt, all of them are Pakatan Rakyat – The People’s Alliance. What I would like to comment on today specifically touch on the new Penang State Government – loosely a DAP-PKR government.
How different is the new Penang State Government? Not much in certain aspects, in my humble opinion. Come tomorrow (9th May), it will be the 61st day they are in the government. While they have made some changes with respect to the old Barisan Nasional state government (indeed, some vastly different ones), nothing has changed in the aspect of replying a concerned citizen’s email.
When RapidPenang first started operating in Penang, I wrote an email (of my suggestions and recommendations) to the then acting-CEO of RapidPenang, which was the CEO of RapidKL. In addition, I forwarded the same letter to Dr. Teng Hock Nan, then Chairman Local Government, Traffic Management, Information and Community Relationship of Penang State, as well as Chairman of Public Works, Utilities (Energy, Water, Telecommunication) and Transportation (Air, Sea & Railway) Committee Koay Kar Huah. No one bothered to reply – I guess my opinion is not important enough to warrant a reply.
Come March 8, come new government. What has changed – Nothing. As soon as YB. Chow Kon Yeow was appointed EXCO for Local Government, Traffic Management and Environment of the new Penang State Government, I sent him the same letter on April 6. I did send copies to both his official Penang State Government issued email address as well as the one obtained from DAP website. One month has gone by without any reply whatsoever.
Talking about replying people’s email, I should mention about the new Chief Minister YAB Lim Guan Eng. As soon as he was elected, I sent him a congratulatory note coupled with recommendations and opinions about Penang on March 11. Knowing he was busy, I even wrote a point form summary of the email for him. Again, I sent the email to his state government email address as well as the one obtained from DAP website. Come May 11 it will be exactly two months without any reply.
I acknowledge that they are busy. I know that they have a lot of stuff to attend to. However, all I am seeking is a simple “Thank you for your view” reply, nothing more. In this era, emails should be replied, even with a short automated replies. It makes the sender feel more acknowledged and empowered. Since they are all so busy, I shall write a automated reply for them:
Dear (Sender’s Name),
Thank you for your input/ your views/ your opinion/ your questions/ your (whatever). I truly appreciate it and would look forward to further emails by you. However, due to the massive amount of emails I have, I apologise in advance for my inability to reply your email personally. Rest assured, I do read your email in full and I sincerely thank you again for your email.
Thank you,
(Replier’s Name)
What’s so hard? Jeff Ooi has replied my email (with 2 words), Lim Kit Siang has replied my email (with 13 words) too. Although short, the emails make me feel important and appreciated. Why should Lim Guan Eng and Chow Kon Yeow be any different?
The new Penang State Government is TOOT in some aspect, which disappoints me.
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#1 by Jeffrey Chew on May 12, 2008 - 10:44 pm
MP for Bukit Bendera left a post on your response. I think it’s good you check your mail. Good you continue to share viewpoints. No one is perfect. Glad YB is in the parliament. Nitwits like Gerakan folks would have not spoken out about PGCC. Focus on what is important and continue to speak out. When one speaks out, they make sense. You make sense. DR TENG DOES NOT!
#2 by khensthoth on May 12, 2008 - 11:42 pm
I have received the reply. Thank you to YB. Liew as well as Adm (JC). I truly applaud YB. Liew’s effort in replying the citizen’s email, unlike some current representatives.
Again, thanks – a lot. One simple email does mean a lot to a normal citizen.
Other MP’s and state assemblymen – take this as a role model. Reply to your emails.
On a sidenote, I do notice that Dr. Teng’s blog (Yes he did have one before the election) is now gone.
#3 by Ng Wei Aik on May 13, 2008 - 12:51 pm
Hi,
Sorry for late reply. Normally, we will try to reply to sender as soon as possible. If I have overlooked and never reply to you, then I would like to apologize to you.
However, we appreciate your comments and opinions. We will take serious attention to look into this views and will implement your suggestion whenever and wherever it is necessary.
Thanks again. Should you have anything need my immediate attention, you can direct to me at nweiaik@gmail.com.
Ng Wei Aik
Political Secretary to Penang Chief Minister
#4 by khensthoth on May 13, 2008 - 3:26 pm
Thank you Ng Wei Aik, Political Secretary to Penang Chief Minister. It’s good to know that someone is actually replying to blog post and blog comments. As with YB. Liew, I congratulate and applaud your effort in replying to emails and blog post. Your effort is very much appreciated and will not go in vain.
Since you are the Policital Secretary to Penang Chief Minister, I take this reply as partly from the Chief Minister as well.
There’s only one person left – YB. Chow Kon Yeow, MP for Tanjong and Padang Kota state assemblymen, as well as EXCO for Local Government, Traffic Management and Environment. May he find time to reply among his busy schedule.
#5 by khensthoth on May 14, 2008 - 6:29 pm
Well, one day after I left a comment about YB. Chow Kon Yeow, he finally replied to my email. I would have to say these new breed of politicians are different from the old Barisan Nasional politicians, where any emails will never be replied.
Although their replies are slow (except for YB. Liew Chin Tong, well done), I still sincerely express my gratitude towards them for replying. I hope in the future they will reply, or at least implement a partial automated reply system in their email.
Thank you, YB. Liew Chin Tong, YB. Chow Kon Yeow, YB. Ng Wei Aik on behalf of YAB. Lim Guan Eng, and Jeffrey Chew, assistant to YB. Liew. Your effort, comments and replied will never go in vain.