For him, Facebook saves time

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KUALA LUMPUR: Being a deputy minister at the International Trade and Industry Ministry, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir has his hands full.

There are many people who want to know so many things from him. But meeting them and answering their queries personally would be an uphill task.

However, he has adapted well with new technology, using it to reach out to as many people as possible.

One way is by Facebook. The hugely popular social networking site is becoming an indispensable communication tool for him as part of the mesra rakyat policy.

The moment he logs into his FB account, questions come flooding in from all corners of the country -- and from overseas as well.

The questions vary from fuel prices to politics to the country's automotive policy.



"I use FB to answer some of the questions from the people.

"Chatting with them also allows me to do a dipstick survey on current issues that are of concern to the people," said Mukhriz, during a two-hour chat session at his Mont Kiara office yesterday.

This was the second FB chat session. The first was held two weeks ago.

"We extended this session to two hours because an hour just wasn't enough," he said.

Despite some initial technical glitches, Mukhriz interacted with more than 100 individuals yesterday.

At its peak, he had close to 130 people wanting to chat with him.

Yesterday's topics varied from politics, the economy to race relations. Some just wanted to wish him "selamat berpuasa".

He explained to those who complained about the recent fuel price hike, that it was necessary in view of rising crude oil prices.

"The government does not implement policies that will burden the people.

"This is what happens when global fuel prices rise and the government's subsidy is not enough to maintain local prices."

On racial tension and politicking in Barisan Nasional, he replied "things seem so convoluted lately".

Mukhriz advised BN component parties to settle internal problems as soon as possible.

"It's better for them to solve big problems soon rather than dragging them on until the next general election," he said of MCA's current crisis.

Mukhriz said he would carry on with FB chats regularly. Another will be in the next two weeks.

"I've already reached the FB friends limit of 5,000 people. I've written to FB to increase my limit," he said, adding that he had 4,200 other people awaiting approval to be his FB friend.