Why are deputy ministers more responsive to public queries than ministers?

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Deputy Ministers Exhibit Higher Responsiveness to Public Queries Compared to Ministers

A recent study indicates a notable difference in responsiveness between deputy ministers and full ministers when addressing public queries. Over a month-long investigation, My Kuasa found that 55% of deputy ministers responded to constituent inquiries within three days, with this figure rising to 70% within a ten-day period. In stark contrast, only four out of twenty ministers participated in the study by responding to questions submitted via anonymous accounts impersonating voters. This disparity suggests a broader issue of accessibility and engagement from the ministerial level, prompting calls for greater seriousness in voter interaction.
Ministerial Accessibility and Engagement Expectations

The findings suggest a gap in how ministers and deputy ministers engage with the public. While deputy ministers demonstrate a higher rate of direct communication, the study implies that ministers may not be prioritising this aspect of their roles as effectively. My Kuasa CEO Praba Ganesan articulated that ministers need to adopt a more proactive stance, moving away from a perception that constituents should solely bear the burden of reaching them. The implication is that ministerial accessibility is not merely about being present, but about actively facilitating communication channels.
Potential for Service Centre Mismanagement

One perspective offered for ministerial unresponsiveness points towards potential mismanagement at their respective service centres. Rather than attributing the lack of response solely to ministers being away from their constituencies, it is suggested that internal operational inefficiencies could be a significant factor. This highlights the importance of robust administrative support systems within ministerial offices to ensure that public queries are efficiently handled and directed appropriately, even when the minister is engaged in other duties.
Discrepancies in Communication Channels

The study also touched upon the nature of communication channels used by high-ranking officials. It was observed that some ministers, including the Prime Minister, maintain social media pages where direct engagement or comment monitoring appears to be limited. This creates a one-way communication flow, where information is disseminated but feedback or direct queries from the public are not actively addressed. This contrasts with deputy ministers, who, according to the findings, appear to utilise more interactive methods for engaging with their constituents.

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Why are deputy ministers more responsive to public queries than ministers?

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