Lemak Lemang

Web extension to Letters to Editors

Praveen Rajan and his friends recently set up TwoSen.com to keep track of letters written to the major English newspapers. The Web site automatically aggregates the letters on a daily basis.

He said he was surprised by the number of complaints published in the Press on a daily basis. However, the manner in which the media organisations operate, exacerbated by space and time constraints, tends to fizzle out issues raised by the readers.

"I, too, have written to the papers several times, and have found that many service providers tend to react rather than be proactive," Praveen said.

"We're using now TwoSen.com to keep track of current issues, feedback and complaints on public services in Malaysia," Praveen told me.

"We do not alter the contents of the letters, but do allow comments to facilitate positive discussions," he added.

Thus far, TwoSen.com tracks letters published in the four major English newspapers in Peninsular Malaysia. The topics covered include crime, education, environment, express buses, fees, hospitals, post office services, ministers and... public toilets.

By the way, two sen is the Malaysian version for 2 cents (worth).