Jasa to combat negative perception against Govt, including Tun M's

The Communication and Multimedia Ministry’s Department of Special Affairs (Jasa) will go all out to combat the allegations against government by various quarters on social media, including those by former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi, said the department will use the social media for this effort not just to correct the public’s perception but also expose the weaknesses of those who are trying to put the government down.

The Jasa director-general was responding to Dr Mahathir’s latest blog entry on chedet.cc yesterday where the latter had harshly criticised Najib’s governance.

READ: The fate of UMNO lies with Najib: Tun M

“We know Tun M’s latest posting has gone viral, and it is becoming too negative. Jasa will take the bull by the horns in this matter and go on ‘attack’ mode (via social media),” Mohd Puad told reporters after attending a seminar held by the Public Services Commission here today.

He said it was Jasa’s duty to manage public perception towards the government because failure to do so could jeopardise the government’s position.

“Governments have lost in elections before due to social media. This has happened in other countries. So, we do not want social media to be continuously used to criticise the current government,” he said.

READ: Ku Li echoes Tun M in calling for Najib to address allegations

In the blog post “UMNO dan PRU 14” published yesterday, Dr Mahathir lambasted Najib about the latter keeping quiet despite being seemingly connected to several scandals – on 1Malaysia Development Berhad, on the murder case of Altantuya Shaariibuu and the purchase of a new jet, among others.

“Why is he (Dr Mahathir) bringing up Sirul’s issue, which had been decided by the courts? To me, this is not right. It is as though he’s trying to say that he has new evidence. But I see it as him merely wanting to implicate the Prime Minister in the case.

“It is negative perceptions such as this that Jasa needs to manage,” Mohd Puad added.