KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin has ordered Sabah Umno's divisions to activate their respective media teams and defend the party from intensifying online attacks from political opponents.
The state Umno chief said this included forming cybertrooper teams as well as ramping up activities on social media platforms.
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“We must be active on numerous platforms especially Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and also online portals as well as the print media to defend our leaders and the party itself when attacked by rival parties,” he said in a statement on Tuesday (April 11).
According to Bung Moktar, the party's opponents had made full use of technology and gained the upper hand in the cyber war.
According to him, Umno's enemies also attacked it through their control of certain online portals which he claimed had funds set aside specifically to attack Umno.
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“Our enemies are constantly on the offensive, making all sorts of (accusations) and provocations on social media,” said Bung Moktar, who is also Kinabatangan MP.
Issuing the call after chairing the first Kinabatangan Umno division meeting in the Sandakan district, he said the information bureaus of each division must take a serious look at the situation.
He said they must emulate Sabah Umno in setting up a strategic communications unit.
He attributed Umno's losses in GE15 and the 2020 state polls to members who did not play their role in defending the party and its leaders online.
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“Not only that, they (Umno members) were dragged into the opponent’s (net) to discredit or run down their own leaders when, for instance, blogs or portals spewed nonsense (about the party and its leaders)," he said.
Bung Moktar said the reality was that the political norms have changed and that every party must find new ways to remain relevant to the people.
As such, he said the formation of cybertrooper teams in all the party’s polling district centres will help preserve Sabah Umno, in addition to countering the onslaught by its rivals.
