Wednesday February 29, 2012

Rais: Master FB and Twitter

Facebook and Twitter must be used for good and not to spread accusations against each other. - Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim

KUALA LUMUR: The 1,200 special affairs officers of the Information, Communications and Culture Ministry have been told to master Facebook and Twitter.

“It is compulsory for all special affairs officers to master the use of the social media websites to reach out to the rakyat more effectively,” said Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim when launching the national level two-day special affairs officers' gathering here yesterday.

Dr Rais noted it was crucial for officers to master the new media as there were 18 million computer users in Malaysia, of whom 10 million are on Facebook.

“Unlike in previous years, the rakyat nowadays are more inclined to refer to such a medium for information apart from just reading the newspapers,” he added.

Besides, the special affairs officers, he said over 3,000 officers attached under his ministry would also be required to acquire skills in utilising Facebook and Twitter.

Speaking to reporters later, Dr Rais said knowledge on the usage of new media would help officers sharpen their efforts in tackling issues deemed non-constructive towards nation building.

“Facebook and Twitter must be used for good and not to spread accusations against each other,” he added.

On the main challenge faced by the officers, he said it was creating awareness and understanding of the 1Malaysia vision and its goal of uniting the rakyat for the betterment of the nation.

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