KUALA LUMPUR: Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming should focus on handling issues and initiatives relating to his ministry more effectively rather than using civil servants as cybertroopers, said the opposition.
Muafakat Nasional deputy president Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin said this in response to the appointment of 200 online ambassadors among the ministry's staff to help the ministry counter misinformation on social media.
"The ministry, or any other ministry, should not become defensive every time it is criticised because the public are our clients, and criticism is feedback to improve the ministry's work.
"The appointment of the online ambassadors is wasteful as the concern is not only that this will disrupt the staff's actual work, but also whether these civil servants will be used as a political tool for the ruling party."
Zuraida, a former housing and local government minister, said the ministry was among the most criticised, regardless of which party was in power.
"During my tenure as minister, I too received a lot of criticism whenever issues involving the ministry arose, even if the root of the problem predated my tenure.
"This is the norm, and as leaders in a democratic country, we must accept criticism and comments from the public, whether negative or positive."
She said it was well known that the government administration had an adequate communication machinery.
"We have the Information Department (under the Communications Ministry), the Community Communication Department (J-Kom), and the Corporate Communication Unit for each ministry and agency.
"So what is the purpose of appointing 200 civil servants to become online ambassadors for the Housing and Local Government Ministry?"
She said this was an attempt to turn the government machinery into a political tool.
"Nga's action is a shallow and unethical step in leading a ministry.
"He should focus on his goals more effectively, rather than using civil servants as cybertroopers for his political survival."
On Thursday, Nga announced the introduction of online ambassadors to counter misinformation and disseminate information and government policies to the public.