Barisan Nasional is optimistic in facing the uphill battle against the Opposition on cyberwarfare, BN Strategic Communications Director Abdul Rahman Dahlan said.
“We are very confident as we have learned our lesson. We are realigning our strategies as far as BN is concerned,” he said at the Lim Kok Wing University after the “Malaysia Social Media Week Forum 2016″.
Rahman told reporters that BN had engaged the public’s feedback and had gathered all relevant information to win this “game”.
“Our biggest problem is that our responses aren’t read by the public. The challenge is how to get people interested in reading our explanations,” he said.
Responding to public criticism against the #respectmypm campaign, the Kota Belud MP said Malaysians tend to focus on unimportant issues highlighted by the media.
“If you want to criticize the prime minister, you can do it. The PM is not going to lose sleep over it.
However, is it really an issue? BBC reported it, so what? It doesn’t really matter,” he said.
Rahman, who also the urban wellbeing, housing and local government minister, pointed out the Malaysians should evaluate both sides of the political divide, where debates on policies should take place instead of petty issues.
“What matters is that the Malaysian people should be able to put the Opposition on a magnifying glass.
“If you look at it, when was the last time Pakatan Harapan came out with a policy speech? Are you not concerned over their stand on the economy, their energy and social policies?” he asked.
Rahman reminded the public that personal attacks and sowing hatred among the people were not politics.
“They (Opposition) are just talking about whacking us on social media and demonizing us. That’s not politics.”
Rahman also posed a challenge to Malaysians to step up the current political debate.
“It’s tiring talking about trivial issues in this country. Let’s talk about policy matters,” he said.
Meanwhile, Rahman also said a team of UMNO lawyers has been set up to assist Barisan Nasional elected representatives take legal action against those who spread false and defamatory rumours about them on social media.
Rahman said the legal team would be ready with all the necessary documents, including the identification of the parties who spread slander to distort the facts.
“To all YBs (Yang Berhormat/Honourable) and ministers, if they think they have been defamed and news portals are not keen on retracting or fixing the story, then legal action should be taken,” he said when extending the offer.