PAS aims to weaponise info and win the media war

ALOR SETAR: The next general election will be fought on the “social media battleground”, says Perak PAS secretary Fairuz Hafizh.

He said PAS and Barisan Nasional lost the general election in 2018 as they were unable to master the media war, especially news portals.

“(Online) news was not always true. There were many lies spread by Pakatan Harapan, but people believed them because they were delivered to a targeted audience effectively,” said Fairuz during debates at the party’s 68th muktamar here yesterday.

He said although PAS had cybertroopers too, their skills were not harnessed while the party was in its comfort zone and did not take the “war” to its opponents.

“We will lose again if we don’t master the media war and PAS cybertroopers must be used as an important tool to fight and dispel the lies of the Opposition,” he said.

Fairuz said even the best strategies and plans would fail if PAS could not get its message across to its targeted audience.

“We need a coordinated effort, with cybertroopers at the forefront; these should not be seen as part-time jobs but crucial tools for battle.”

He noted that there were PAS supporters willing to do anything for the party and they should be paid and deployed in the media war.

“We used to be on the offensive, but right now we are more on the defensive and reacting and responding to events and situations rather than taking the battle to the Opposition.

“Our information department should be weaponised,” he added.

The party’s Permatang Pauh division chief Omar Hassan called on the leadership to ensure that there would only be straight fights between PAS, Umno and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia against DAP and its allies in Pakatan.

He conceded that GE15 would be a tough one for PAS.

“We have to double our efforts and increase our outreach so that we can ensure that the win will be ours,” he said.

Omar said the 22 months of Pakatan rule created fear among Muslims in Malaysia of being systemically sidelined and driven out by uncontrolled development, especially in Penang.

The muktamar continues here today.