An opposition member today complained that the Perak menteri besar was not setting a good example by failing to heed state government slogans of being 'friendly, approachable, fast and accurate'.

Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah) said in Parliament that the chief minister Tajol Rosli failed to show up for his appointments several times despite having fixed Tuesdays for meet-the-people sessions and Wednesdays for politicians.

Fong said her appointments on Feb 14 and Feb 21 had to be postponed because Tajol had to attend a campaign.

On Feb 21 she and her complainants, despite having a confirmed appointment, were asked to wait for two hours, after which they were told by a 'rude' officer that the chief minister had gone home, Fong said.

"I wanted to raise matters concerning the people in Perak and it is the government's responsibility to listen and try to solve the problems," said the first-time MP.

"These problems cannot be solved by low-level officers because it involved abuse of power, misappropriation of funds and others and that is why we are referring it to the highest authority," she added.

Practise what is preached

"The slogans and standard client procedures are only seemed to be enforced on low-level officers. These slogans are to ensure that the public get good service,"said Fong during a debate on the proposed 2002 budget.

"The Menteri Besar, mayor and district officers must also practise what is preached in these slogans and standard procedures," she added.

Fong was referring to slogans such as "service with a smile" which were recently introduced by the Immigration Department and "friendly, fast and accurate"slogans displayed in police stations throughout the country.

Fong urged Tajol not to play politics with the rakyat's problems.

"If a people's representative find it difficult to meet the chief minister, what about ordinary people?" she asked.

At this juncture, Khamsiyah Ayub (BN-Gerik) stood up and offered to arrange an appointment with the minister for Fong.

Khamsiyah, who is parliamentary secretary in the Prime Minister's Department explained that the appointments may have been cancelled due to the minister's prior appointments.

"Perhaps, he has an agenda that is more important than yours," she told Fong. "Give me a date and I will arrange a meeting for you".

Fong replied that the cancelled appointments were fixed by the chief minister's office. She said she did not want special treatment but wished only to follow the proper procedure.