GOVERNMENTS NEED TO BE SAVVY IN HANDLING PUBLIC INTEREST ISSUES

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 (Bernama) -- In the era of globalisation, governments
need to be more savvy or smarter in handling issues of public interest and
concern, such as the Influenza A(H1N1) pandemic, said Hasmy Agam.

The Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR) executive chairman
said a sound programme and mechanism of public relations would go on a long way
in projecting a good and positive image of the government, ministry or agency
concerned.

"An important part of such programmes to be put in place would be an
outreach programme that would explain to the public about government policies
and activities, as part as their education as concerned citizens."

Hasmy said this in his talk titled "The Impact Of Globalisation on Goverment
Public Relations" at the Institute of Public Relations Malaysia's talk series,
here, Monday.

The Malaysian ambassador-at-large to the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) said
additionally, officials handling public relations must be savvy in the
business of disseminating information to the public, particularly to the media.

"The appointment of 'official spokesmen' who are both very experienced and
well trained in the business of public relations and dealing with the media,
would be one effective way of meeting the challenge," said the adjunct professor
of the College of Law, Government and International Studies, Universiti Utara
Malaysia.

He suggested that there would be greater credence and credibility if
information dissemination on important issues of the day be given out in as
objective and apolitical a manner as possible.

"Very often this could be better done by officials rather than politicians,
although some politicans have shown great skills and savviness in dealing with
the media," said the former president of the United Nations Security Council,
twice in July 1999 and August 2000.

Hasmy said those in government should have a change of approach and mindset
from the old attitude of giving little information as possible to the public,
to one sharing as much information as possible with the public for better policy
formulation.

"Management of information should be inclusive, and not exclusive," he
added.
-- BERNAMA