KUALA LUMPUR – The Housing and Local Government Ministry’s decision to appoint online ambassadors from within the civil service will not result in any additional government expenditure, said minister Nga Kor Ming.
According to Nga, the initiative, which involves a cyber unit established by the ministry to combat fake news and relay accurate information on government policies, will also aid in “building a positive image” of the federal administration.
“(Appointing) key opinion leaders (KOL) from ‘outside’ will see costs between RM5,000 and RM150,000, whereas KOL from within the ministry does not involve a single sen,” Nga told Scoop in a brief text message.
“(The cyber team) consisting of civil servants from the Housing and Local Government Ministry will also see staffers provided with social media management training, (which can) fill up their free time after work.”
The minister added that the “message” the unit intends to convey is “to inform the rakyat on government programmes and provide opinions freely without restrictions”.
Yesterday, Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi sounded the alarm over whether the ministry’s move to form a 200-man team to counter online fake news could potentially be deployed to suppress dissent by defending the minister or “unpopular” policies.
He also expressed concern over whether “cybertroopers” from the unit could throw operations by the government’s existing social media machinery into disarray.
Puad pointed to the existence of the Community Communications Department and the Information Department, both of which are parked under the Communications Ministry helmed by Fahmi Fadzil, who is also the government spokesman.
Previously, Fahmi said his ministry would set up a special task force to curb the spread of fake news on social media in the buildup to the Sg Bakap by-election in Penang.
The task force, Fahmi said, would monitor social media platforms to identify and address “irresponsible statements” made during the election campaign. – June 16, 2024