Former PKR vice-president Tian Chua has called for the government to overhaul its communication strategy, saying the responsibility should not rest solely with ministers or the chief information officer.
He said relying heavily on the Communications Minister or a centralised approach was outdated, and urged the government to mobilise the wider strength and creativity of political parties and groups aligned with PKR’s ideas.
“I think this is one of the weaknesses at present because we are still using the old format, relying on the Communications Minister.
“I do not blame the Communications Minister because he is simply carrying out his responsibilities, but the overall approach to government communication needs to change,” he said during The Tiger Show Podcast today.
Tian Chua, who is also a former Batu MP, was responding to discussions surrounding concerns over weaknesses in the government’s communication efforts.
He said government messaging should be treated as a broader collective responsibility, with different parties and aligned movements playing a role in reaching the public rather than leaving the task to a single ministry.
His remarks come after Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil apologised during the recent PKR Congress over shortcomings in government communication, acknowledging that weak communication had resulted in some information failing to reach the public effectively.
Tian Chua said a more decentralised and collaborative communication strategy could allow the government to engage Malaysians more effectively while making better use of the resources and ideas available across its political network.
