KUALA LUMPUR: Ahead of major public announcements, the government should make an effort to rationalise the move with the media to set a proper narrative, a deputy minister suggested.
Datuk R. Ramanan said each ministry had an in-house corporate communications unit whose role was to ensure effective liaison with the media.
He suggested that before something big or new was launched, there should be ‘prepping’ sessions with senior editors briefed in advance.
"When a shock is sent to the system, people tend to react differently, compared to if you gave them a chance to ask questions and be comfortable with it,” the Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister told a Concorde Club meeting on Monday (Aug 5).
The Concorde Club is an informal group of editors and senior journalists meeting with politicians and key policymakers.
Ramanan said it was important for the government not to be complacent when it came to tackling social media.
"We have to give a lot of importance to social media and not take it for granted. Because...it is very easy not to be in the government tomorrow,” he cautioned.
Ramanan, the Sungai Buloh MP who is the PKR deputy information chief 1, said Pakatan Harapan has had to make many compromises on some of its principles, as it was part of a unity government comprising various parties, including those from the Barisan Nasional, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), and Gabungan Parti Sabah (GRS).
He said the situation could not be compared with Barisan in the past, adding that there were not more than 20 parties at that time.
"It is a totally different atmosphere and climate now, so the compromises that have to be made are far greater than they were before,” he added.
Ramanan said he believed that the Madani government enjoyed the support of the Malays but said its ability to retain or increase such backing would depend on the national economy's performance.
"For us to hold on to the reins of government, the economy will be one of the key factors, besides bread and butter issues," he added.
Previous guests of the Concorde Club, led by Bernama chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, have included senior ministers and government leaders.
