New cabinet needs special government spokesperson post

Political analyst and author Norizan Sharif suggests that the soon-to-be-announced cabinet by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak should do away with the Information Ministry, and instead introduce a "government spokesperson" post.

"This new post could help increase the communication between the government and the people.

“The post is a usual thing in any government,” Norizan said in an interview in Buletin AWANI today.

Norizan said this when commenting on one of his blog entries that suggested Najib lines only 10 ministries in his new cabinet.

Norizan said the government spokesperson post is essential as there is a lack of communication between the government and the people, which needs to be properly addressed by the Barisan Nasional (BN) government.

“The Information minister post sometimes has a confined role within the government-owned television and radio stations eventhough communications also take into account the social media,” she said.

The government spokesperson post is important to coordinate information regarding decision, policy or a government’s stand on various issues like what is practised in many countries including Indonesia and Philippines.

In July 2012, Malaysia has shown interest to elect a government’s spokesperson to solve various issues which shadows the relationship between the country and Indonesia.