Have you been in a situation where calls to government offices are often unanswered?
Or, if someone eventually answers the call, the conversation often ends on a disappointing note?
The situation was made worse when civil servants were allowed to work from home at the height of the pandemic.
While some government agencies provided mobile phone numbers, calls to those numbers sometimes went unanswered.
This matter was raised in Parliament this morning by Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun.
“Phone calls to government offices, including those in Putrajaya, have been unsatisfactory… They often go unanswered,” said Fong.
“Who is responsible in raising the standards of the service?” he asked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
“I believe many MPs had called government offices but did not receive a satisfactory reply, if and when they finally got through.”
Ismail Sabri said he was aware of the situation.
“The complaints about this … can’t seem to get anyone, calls (to government offices) unanswered … I take this seriously and will ensure this matter is addressed for the benefit of the people,” added Ismail Sabri.
In answering an earlier question by Pasir Salak MP Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, Ismail Sabri said some 20 per cent of the civil workforce still worked from home.
“The productivity of those working in the office was better than when they were working from home,” said Ismail Sabri.
“However, some work could be carried out from home like research, legal work, or the drafting of contracts.
“But critical departments and those involved in services (in the government sector)… they need to be in the office. In short, there is still a small percentage (of the civil service) who are still working from home,” he added.
