KUCHING: The Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication’s Strategic and Corporate Communication Department will undergo a major re-evaluation to ensure more effective and timely dissemination of information to the public and external stakeholders.
Minister Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi said the current communication strategy must be strengthened, especially in handling sensitive matters, such as those on the gas aggregator under the Distribution of Gas Ordinance (DGO) 2016.
Citing a recent incident, Julaihi revealed that a compliance letter issued under the DGO 2016 was leaked to the media before an official explanation could be provided, leading to widespread misunderstanding and negative online reactions.
“The leak created negative perceptions. On social media, it looked like Peninsular Malaysia was attacking us.
“Many people lacked the full context, and by the time we responded, the damage had been done,” he said.
Julaihi, however, noted that the ministry managed to rectify the situation by issuing clarifications and properly explaining the matter, which gradually restored public confidence.
He was speaking at an appreciation dinner held in conjunction with the ongoing State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting and the Pre-Gawai celebration at the Waterfront Hotel on Monday night.
Following the incident, Julaihi has directed the ministry’s permanent secretary, Datuk Jefri Lias, to hold discussions with all department and agency heads to develop a more robust communication strategy.
“We must ensure that our messaging is clearly understood and correctly interpreted by the public,” he said.
“In today’s digital age, any statement can go viral within seconds, whether accurate or not. Even a pantun I recited about Liverpool at the end of my winding-up speech went viral.
“People who’ve never interacted with me assumed I was a die-hard Liverpool fan. I’m not but that’s the power of viral communication,” he quipped.
Julaihi stressed that the incident, though humorous, reflected the urgent need for the ministry to rethink and modernise its communication approach in line with current realities.
