cybertroopers

Malaysia's political landscape experienced noticeable changes due to the increasing popularity of the Internet and social media platforms.

A newly launched EU report suggests that most political parties on both sides of the divide engage in the use of cybertroopers.

Bloggers "Papagomo", "Parpukari" and "The Unspinners" were among 40 online activists or "cybertroopers" who were paid to spruce up Rosmah Mansor's image, the Kuala Lumpur High Court heard today.

According to Bernama, Rosmah's former special officer Rizal Mansor, testified that the three bloggers were paid RM5,000 a month for nearly six years since 2012.

"They were among three or four team leaders of the cybertrooper team. There were also 12 to 15 bloggers that were paid around RM3,000 and about 30 'Facebookers' of whom all were paid around RM2,000 each during the six years," said Rizal during cross-examination by Rosmah's lawyer Jagjit Singh.

Rosmah Mansor, the wife of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, was allegedly very conscious about her image and purportedly forked out RM100,000 a month to fund cybertroopers who were tasked to counter negative content about her on the internet.

This according to her former aide Rizal Mansor who testified in Rosmah's graft trial today involving a solar hybrid project which she allegedly helped Jepak Holdings to secure in exchange for kickbacks.

"She gave me RM100,000 cash every month to fund the team," Rizal testified at the Kuala Lumpur High Court today.

The High Court was told today that bloggers like Papagomo, Parpukari and The Unspinners were among 40 cybertroopers paid by Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.

Datuk Rizal Mansor mendedahkan kepada Mahkamah Tinggi bahawa isteri bekas Perdana Menteri itu mengarahkannya menubuhkan satu pasukan cybertroopers.

Sri Ram also denied that he had taken instructions from politicals figures and denied he was a political appointee.

Buat masa ini, semakin ramai orang sukakan Tun Dr Mahathir dan ramai mahu beliau kekal sebagai Perdana Menteri.

Cara biasa yang digunakan parti itu sebelum ini untuk menangkis fitnah di pentas ceramah, kuliah dan ceramah berkelompok, sudah tidak begitu relevan dengan perkembangan pantas era teknologi maklumat.

Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi mahu semua jentera UMNO melakukan yang terbaik bagi memastikan Barisan Nasional (BN) menang dalam pilihan raya umum akan datang.

Several individuals whose name appeared in the list have come forward to deny their involvement in the party.

Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan said UMNO and the Barisan Nasional need facts and speed in tackling slander especially on social media.

Pengarah strategi dan komunikasi BN itu berkata, pasukan 'cybertroopers' BN perlu lebih cepat menangani fitnah kerana ia kini menular dengan pantas di media sosial.