A NATION CAN BE DESTROYED IF PUBLIC RELATIONS MISUSED - IPRM CHIEF

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 30 (Bernama) -- A nation can be destroyed if public relations
(PR) expertise is misused by its PR practitioners, says Institute of Public
Relations Malaysia (IPRM) president, Mohd Hamdan Adnan.

He said if not properly controlled, it would be easier for public relations to
cause chaos in a country as it involved the use of various methods and channels
of communication to influence public opinion.

"Among the negative activities of certain media practitioners are spin
doctoring, flacking, astroturfing, opponent defining and fronting. All these can
threaten peace and order in the country," he said at a media talk on "Enhancing
PR Practices Through a Public Relations Act", here, Monday.

Hamdan said the time had come to formulate a Public Relations Profession Act
based on the current situation and the sudden and uncertain globalisation
process.

"PR practitioners must place public interests above their organisation's and
their own. This is already spelt out in several existing Acts that give priority
to the nation and society like the Sedition Act and Official Secrets Act."

Hamdan said the PR practitioners in Malaysia were given enough freedom and the
responsibility to act in carrying out their work as long as they did not violate
the country's laws.

"Presently, almost all organisations require various PR expertise and as such,
PR practitioners must have the skills to fulfil that need."

He said among the benefits from the creation of a Public Relations
Profession Act would be recognition and prestige for the profession in Malaysia,
monitoring of the practices and developments of the PR profession and industry, and
ensuring PR practitioners had acquired the education, and suitable training and
experience before being recognised as qualified PR practitioners, in line with other
professions that were protected by statutes.

Hamdan said efforts to have the PR Act drawn up started in 1999 with copies the
first draft sent to the Information Ministry (now Information, Communication and
Culture Ministry) and the Attorney-General's Chambers.

He said Information Communication and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim also
supported the formulation of the proposed Act and suggested that a comprehensive
study be done involving PR practitioners in the government and private sectors,
and a public forum through the media so as to hasten the process.

"The proposed licensing of the PR profession through an Act is not a 21st
century phenomenon because without licensing, anyone can claim and act as a
professional PR practitioner.

"The United Kingdom, Greece, Brazil, Nigeria and Panama already have their own
Act governing the PR profession," he added.
-- BERNAMA