Beef up your damage control, it is still weak - PKR delegate tells govt

PUTRAJAYA – A PKR assemblyman has sounded the alarm over the government's sluggish pace in doing damage control and its lack of coherence and consistency when putting out the proverbial fire.

The warning was spoken Simpang Pulai assemblyman Wong Chai Yi – who is also a delegate from Perak PKR -- during her turn at the rostrum to debate the president’s policy speech at PKR's 17th Annual Congress, here, today.

“In this one year, we find that the explanation or response of the unity government to certain issues is still quite weak.

“When the unity government makes unpopular decisions or controversial decisions, divisive issues, the government is still slow in doing damage control.

“We need to understand that in politics now, perception is everything!” Wong underscored, sternly.

She argued that party leaders must be able to provide explanations that solid and consistent, as soon as possible adding that it must also tally with the ones voiced by the Prime Minister and the Cabinet Ministers.

“When explanation is not fast and consistent enough, party members will be confused and unable to convey the position of the unity government accurately to the people.

“Especially in this era of social media, we have to compete with time so that accurate information can be delivered to the people first before being questioned by the opposition,” Wong reasoned.

She lamented that a weak damage control will only dampen the spirit of the party’s machinery at the grassroot level.

“Our members serve as the link between the unity government and the people.

“Sometimes, they may feel pressured when our leadership makes decisions that they cannot explain and answer to the ordinary people.

“Therefore, effective communication between leaders and party members is essential to ensure the alignment of the party's direction,” said Wong.