Letter to Fong Chan Onn - Part 2

Kepada : Yang Berhormat,
Datuk Fong Chan Onn,
Menteri Sumber Manusia,
Kementerian Sumber Manusia,
Aras 2, Blok B Utara,
Jalan Damanlela,
Pusat Bandar Damansara,
50530 Kuala Lumpur.

18th December 2000

Yang Berhormat,

RE : Letter dated 30th October 2000 regarding socso and employment
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I wish to refer to a letter which I sent to YB dated 30th october 2000, requesting you to assist me in resolving 2 matters which are of great concern to me as a blind individual. The 2 matters that I'm referring to is with regards to the unjust treatment that I have received from some of the top officials of RTM, not forgetting the fact that I have also lost my job at the above establishment. The second matter relates to socso benefits but sad to say that inspite of the fact that I've been afflicted with certain health problems, my application was rejected even after i had gone through the appeal process. It is therefore rather disconcerting that as minister of human resources, you were not even prepared to assist me in these 2 very pressing matters at hand. Incidentally YB, I wish to enquire if it's the policy of your ministry not to respond to letters sent by members of the public seeking assistance, more so when it has been sent in by a disabled person such as myself.

YB, I wish to draw your attention to the fact that some of your staff have been rather unco-operative and arrogant. Allow me here to site you a very glaring example. About 2 weeks after having written to you and having received no response from your department, I proceeded to make a phone call to your office, where after having been given the runnaround, I managed to speak to your personal assistant (mr chan) who told me to ring your confidential secretary a Mr Tiew Hai San. Believe it or not, I tried calling his line for more than a week but to no avail. When we finally got through to Mr. Tiew, my wife proceeded to enquire as to whether he had been able to act on the cases which was brought to his attention. On hearing my name being mentioned, Iwas told that he (Mr Tiew) unceremoniously slammed down the telephone which really shocked both of us. Not believing for once that a government officer would act in this hostile manner, I decided to call up Mr Tiew myself once again. When I got through to his line, I was told by one of his staff to hold on and it took something like 3 whole minutes before he came on the line. When I asked Mr Tiew whether he had been able to act on the cases which I had brought to the attention of YB, he answered me in a very unfriendly tone of voice, that he was no longer involved in both the matters mentioned, as he had already sent back my letter to you. It is rather unfortunate that government officers should act in this high handed manner, inspite of the fact that they have been reminded from time to time to be courteous in their dealings with members of the public and to render assistance wherever possible.

YB, it may interest you to know that 2 years ago, your predecessor, Datuk Lim Ah Lek, did me a great service which I'll never forget i.e. by helping me to resolve a problem when I was unfairly dismissed by a private radio station. For your information, Datuk Lim Ah Lek acted on my letter with great speed, for after having written to him for just over a week, I got a surprise telephone call from the labour department asking me to report at the office, as they would like to take up my case immediately. I was even told by the labour officer that he had specific instructions from Datuk Lim to attend to my case without delay. The officer concerned even enquired as to whether I required transportation to get to the labour office, to which I declined as I felt that I could manage without it. In short, what I'm trying to say is that Datuk Lim is certainly a great example to look up to, when it comes to serving the public and it is my personal opinion that the disabled would lead much more enriching lives, if only ministers and government officials alike were to champion their causes, especially when it comes to the field of employment. Thanking you in anticipation and looking forward to a favourable reply.

With regards,

Alfred Ho

NOTE : NO RESPONSE FROM FONG CHAN ONN AT ALL