Ahmad Maslan (third left) receiving a souvenir from Zaini after the GST briefing.
KUCHING: The Ministry of Communication and Multimedia (KKMM) must adopt a new approach that is strategic and dynamic to counter spiralling amount of dubious information online.
Its secretary-general Dato Sri Abdul Rahim Mohamad Radzi said developments taking place in the online media and personal views on the social media must be viewed seriously as it could lead to many negative repercussions.
“False Information in various media, especially on the Internet, will drag readers and the general public to a phenomenon called `crisis of perception’. This can be harmful to the state and nation, more so when negative perceptions of the government become embedded in the minds of the people,” he said at the ‘Jelajah Isu Negeri’ programme at Finas office here yesterday.
His text-of-speech was read out by State KKMM management committee chairman Zaini Mohamad, who is also the deputy director of the state Information Department.
Abdul Rahim noted that the crisis of perception among Malaysians appeared to have spread quite rapidly, and cautioned that it could lead to confusion and destruction of the country if it became emotionally-driven by self interest.
On `Jelajah Isu Negeri”, he said it was meant to address issues related to the proposed implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
“The programme is a strategic approach taken by KKMM to provide information to the frontliners of the ministry.”
One hundred and fifty KKMM staff attended the programme, which was organised by Information Management and Analysis (BPAM), KKMM with the state KKMM Coordinating Committee.
Deputy Minister of Finance Datuk Ahmad Maslan was on hand to brief the participants.
Also present were State Custom director Dato Jamaiah Jol, BPAM assistant secretary Ramlah Mad Jalee and Finas Sarawak chief Maffizan Saupie.