By Adib Zalkapli
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 22 — Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon (picture) confirmed in Parliament today that the government had engaged Apco Worldwide, an international public affairs and media relations company, to boost its image overseas.
The Malaysian Insider understands that the contract is worth some RM20 million but Koh, in a written reply to a question from DAP’s Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching, did not divulge the exact amount.
“Apco Worldwide was tasked with promoting and improving Malaysia’s image overseas,” said Koh, who is Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department.
He justified the appointment by asserting that a foreign firm would ensure that the country’s communication practice was in line with international standards.
To justify the hefty fees it is charging, The Malaysian Insider understands that Apco Worldwide staff are now generating press releases and conducting media training for the government.
Because of the value of the contract, Apco Worldwide has set up an office for the first time in Malaysia. Its personnel are mainly from the United States, and the main focus of their job remains to improve Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s image.
It is also understood that the government has hired a separate firm in the United States to act as its lobbyist with the Obama administration.
“Appointing an international communication firm is a common practice by governments of other countries,” Koh said in his written reply to Parliament today.
He also said that inaccurate reports in foreign media had affected the international community’s confidence in the country as a stable investment, trade and tourist destination, resulting in the need to appoint Apco.
“Apart from Apco, the ministry and government agencies also appoint other local and international firms, for short and long term to provide communication services,” he said.
“Because the expenses for this service depend on the implementation of the programmes and communication projects planned from time to time according to needs, the total cost cannot be determined for the time being.”
The Malaysian Insider had reported in July that Apco was also tasked with promoting Najib’s image for his first 100 days in office and later to boost the administration’s standing worldwide.
Najib is not the first prime minister, however, to use expensive foreign help to boost his image and that of his administration.
Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi also used a foreign-based public relations firm to help project a positive image of himself as a progressive Muslim leader, and Malaysia as a modern Muslim nation.
The Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad administration had used disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
Good Public Relation start at Home…the actual person who vote BN/PR is the Malaysian People and Not the International Community. Appointing Super Consultant are good for selling Products and not Image.
The Whole World may like you or BN but come’s GE13/14…Malaysian People voted you out ! Home Image and Perception That Decide Who Rule This Counrty !
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La lagi nak buang duit. Nak promote apa lagi? nak promote 1 Malaysia buat apa? Dunia dah ada UN. Bagi 20 juta tu untuk upgrade penguatkuasaan undang-undang yang dah tak terkawal di Malaysia ni lagi bagus. Lantik syarikat Amerika pulak tu. Dari pakai JJ punye recomendation lagi baik suruh company ni repair imej JJ dulu.
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Woi!! apa nih!!
Rakyat tak cukup makan, tak cukup pakai tau tak?? Kami terpaksa berjimat cermat berbelanja. Kerajaan senang-senang je pergi belanja untuk naikkan image sendiri. Nak popular di peringkat antarabangsa, buat la kerja. Baru masyarakat antarabangsa akan recognize kerja tu. Bukan sewenang-wenangnya nak belanja duit rakyat.
Apa?? Ingat sebab pakai pakaian mahal pegi interview, boleh dapat gaji tinggi ke? Orang tengok prestasi la, bukan sekadar image. Kalau cam tu.. kami pun nak jaga image jugak. Tapi kami punya image siapa nak bayar?
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These people got nuts in their brains.
Is it so important to spend millions of dollars so that the world should judge us..? We are being judged anyway…
We are currently 56th slot for “corruption”. Which part of the millions was spent on this slot..??
I’m sure these ratings done “are not” refering to the entire Malaysian public……!!!!!!!!!!
Image boosting is only “superficial”. Only on the surface….!
What about attitude? Will it ever change…?????
What about us Malaysians..? Does the goverment “care” about how we judge them..???????
Where’s that…….. “People 1st, Performance Now” agenda went to???????
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“He also said that inaccurate reports in foreign media had affected the international community’s confidence in the country as a stable investment, trade and tourist destination, resulting in the need to appoint Apco. ”
ada betul kaaan…..perangai korang tu memang penyamun….ape tak betulnye…siap ngan bukti what….jadi korang yg memang menghodohkan muka korang sendiri……jgn nak kata org saje2 nak cakap……jadi jgn salahkan org tak datang…sbb org datang pun korang jamu ngan makanan yg berulat,busuk dan beracun…..puuuuiiiii…..Ummmmph Noooo…Be eNd
* nak panggil syarikat consultant ni pun korang tubuhkan satu syarikat kroni korang….yg akan mentekedarah duit rakyat lagi…..kenyang mkn untung atas angin jelah korang…rakyat yg siksa ngan kesempitan ekonomi nie…….mari rakyat Malaysia..tumbang dan kuburkan UMNO-BN dengan segera…….
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It looks like most governments in this world cannot workout and properly project their own good image locally and internationally.
Huge sum of people’s money need to be wasted just to engage those consultants to ensure “good” image of the country’s leadership is portrayed in the correct perspective despite the real picture of the leaders in actual fact is far from what is portrayed to the world.
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Kepada PM dan mantan PM musibat…
Sedarlah diri sikit.
Kalau muka dan perangai tu dah memang buruk, tak payah lah nak belanja juta-juta
untuk serikan penampilan tu…memang takkan ada perubahan, makin hodoh adalah…
Sikit pun tak hiraukan tentang masalah rakyat.
BESAR PUNYA MUSIBAT HARAM JADAH
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The RM20 million purportedly spent to “boost” the image of the government of PM Najib should have been utilised in Mongolia and to help build proper infastructure and provide clean water for Malaysians!!!!!
It is a pity to hear Dr Koh justify such spendings in Parliment….anyway what is big deal of throwing another RM20 million as compared to the loss that PKFZ has sustained?!!!
RAKYAT! With the drama that is unfolding since Najib became PM (please remember that he was not voted to the PM’s post by the Rakyat), get rid of these goons come the next GE as otherwise it is going to be a long and winding road downhill for Malaysia!!!!!!!
Das
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Jika BN excellent dalam urusan pentadbiran, tak payah guna agensi antarabangsa untuk iklan gimik tunjuk baik. Memadai mekanisma yang ada dalam negara. Kan selalu dabik dada Malaysia hebat !
Menagih simpati luar ertinya BN sendiri tidak yakin prestasi sendiri. Hal tamak, rasuah dan pecah amanah itulah sebenarnya punca pelabur tawar hati serta curiga untuk datang melabur ! Pelabur tidak bodoh. Yang mentadbir Malaysia tu yang tak sedar diri !
BN tu ibarat sampah mengaku permata ! Yang tak kenal masuk perangkap. Tapi yang kenal…alamak, loya aku !
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WHY ? UJIAN IQ ALAF BARU !
Kenapa Najib minta Agensi Luar Iklan Pentadbirannya ?
(Dicadangkan jawab semua sekali, dapat markah penuh !)
=A= Pentadbirannya memang rosak.
=B= Pelabur luar loya dengan pentadbiran Najib.
=C= Rakyat Malaysia muak lakonan BN.
=D= Yakin pentadbirannya memang menjunam !
=E= Propaganda nak tutup imej bankrup !
Kesian ! Dah tak laku nak “jaul diri” plak !
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Looks like our hard earn tax money flowing down the drain again,just to cover the stink of mongolian najis..sigh…
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Itulah budaya UMNO 3M Satu Malaysia. Menipu, merompak, Membazir.
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A leopard could never shed its spots,kalau dah batu buat macam mana pun tetap batu tak akan jadi permata.Here,we the rakyat daily are trying hard to make ends meet,our pm and associates are spending like nobody business to build their image.At rm20m could easily help eased parents from spm and pmr exams fees or build permanent relief centres for flood victims.If it is a necessity to promote the image of najib and rosmah,then the obvious – najib rosmah and bn/umno are rotten eggs fit for the dustbin.
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