Far from its Opposition days, Pakatan on the defensive in perception war
PH Cabinet ministers and aides spend most of their time rebutting claims made by Umno-BN and Najib
(MMO) – With Pakatan Harapan (PH) still struggling to frame its narrative nine months after it wrestled power from the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) regime, the ruling coalition now finds itself mostly on the defensive as it attempts to win a perception war against its critics.
One of PH’s fiercest critics is none other than former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who has revamped himself into an Internet sensation to win the hearts of the Malay working class after his fall from grace in May last year.
Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia strategist and supreme council member Datuk Rais Hussin admitted that PH was losing the edge it once commanded in social media as the reality of governing a country seeps in.
“We do not have the luxury to constantly engage intensely as we used to because we have shifted our resources towards administering, rebuilding the country and cleaning the mess left behind by the previous regime.
“Despite having a lot of good narratives to tell, we are simply not telling them enough and repeatedly,” he told Malay Mail.
Instead, PH Cabinet ministers and aides spend most of their time rebutting claims made by Umno-BN and Najib, with this coming across as the coalitions swapping roles — as PH takes on a reactive role against the latter’s proactive nature.
An independent month-long survey by communications firm Citrine One Sdn Bhd also revealed that almost half of its respondents chose “inconsistent” and “confusing” to describe the government’s or ministers’ communication strategy.
Pointing out PH’s strategic communications shortcomings, Rais said it must be addressed immediately and improved upon so the people’s perception could be readjusted.
“Narratives must be crafted to be easily understood by the people and conveyed to the right recipients. It must be explained proactively and not reactively.
