SIBU: Clear and timely communication is very important, especially in a crisis situation,to keep a lid on false narratives.
The advice comes from Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development, Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee, who said inaccurate information is difficult to control if it spreads widely.
“Once the damage has been done, it is not easy for us to turn back,” he said, recalling what he had to do during the COVID-19 outbreak in Sibu district. “Communication and prioritising the way of communicating with the people is therefore very important during a crisis.”
He said this during the Media Appreciation Night with the Sibu Journalists Association (SJA) here on Tuesday.
Dr Annuar. who is Nangka Assemblyman, explained that during the pandemic, he took the initiative to hold a live broadcast every evening to explain the real situation to the community, including the development of vaccination, so that the people’s confidence could be maintained.
He said the people’s confidence was a key factor in ensuring that joint efforts to curb the epidemic could be achieved.
“Then came the issue of vaccination. At that time, many were anxious, whether to take it or not. Secondly, on if you want to take it, when will you get it.
“So I needed to explain to the people. That is why, during the crisis, I decided to communicate with the people, speak the truth, so that the people have confidence.
“When there is confidence, it is easier for us to work together to achieve what needs to be achieved like during the pandemic,” he explained.
In another development, Dr Annuar explained why he is more comfortable giving opinions about his field of work, be it on education, innovation and talent development.
“As you know, I am not someone who likes to give opinions on certain issues. By nature, I prefer to limit my views to matters given to me as a duty or responsibility,” he said.
He added that questions outside his field of work mainly involve political issues or sensitive matters which he rarely answers because every statement made can cause misunderstanding and division.
“Therefore, I am very careful. So I hope you understand why sometimes I do not reply to your WhatsApp asking for opinions.
“Because when I write there, for example, ‘I have no opinion’, that itself is an opinion. ‘No opinion’ is also an opinion,” he explained.
In this regard, he believed that SJA together with its 40 members play an important role not only in delivering the correct news, but also in providing perceptions and images from the people.
At the event, Dr Annuar also presented a cheque of RM10,000 to SJA for the association’s annual activities.
