Based on your perception, how would you answer the following two questions:

1.Who would you perceive is in control at Putrajaya?

(a) Datin Seri Rosmah

(b) Tun Mahathir

(c) Datuk Seri Najib

(d) All of the above

2. Which country do you perceive should be credited with this popular phrase,'continuously re-inventing the wheel' ?

(a) Angola

(b) Congo

(c) Fiji

(d) Malaysia

Do you believe that people’s perception is a tough nut to crack? I strongly feel that over a period of time, the rakyat , from the boardroom to the kedai kopi or warung have cultivated a variety of perceptions on almost everything and anything, from politics to food.

Therefore, to all the 'spin doctors', wheelers and dealers in Putrajaya, beware of your communication strategies. Communication strategies that only create 'the feel good factor' do not help change the rakyat 's perception on corruption, transparency, economy, etc.

‘Putrajaya' needs to do better than that. Perception is the reality and guides human behaviour. To the BN and Pakatan Rakyat state governments, you need to do better than just create 'the feel good factor' to convince the rakyat that you are doing a good job.

Battling negative perceptions - Since Idris Jala loves conducting research, research and more research in his many laboratories at Putrajaya, following are some research topics for Idris to deal with in over-coming the negative perceptions of the rakyat :

1. As reported in our local daily, former top cop Hanif Omar believes that the lack of non-bumiputera in sectors such as the civil service and government-linked companies is one of the factors causing racial divisions in the country (National Unity Forum 2010).

2. On one hand you have the prime minister promoting the ‘1Malaysia’ concept and right next door you have BN friends, Perkasa and Utusan Malaysia making contradictory remarks.

3. The negative perception on our country's corporate governance may have taken root since the days of the Bank Bumiputra's scandal, followed by Renong-UEM, MRCB, Pewaja Steel, Bakun Dam, MAS, PKZ, and the list continues to be as long as the Mississippi River.

I would like to continue, however, I will stop at three. These three issues alone should keep your researchers at Putrajaya busy till the next general elections. Please keep in mind that battling the rakyat 's negative subjective perception is no easy task. Putrajaya can no longer afford to engage in outdated communication strategies that are too general and ambiguous to combat the rakyat 's negative subjective perceptions.

To quote Benjamin Franklin, 'Promises may get friends but it is performance that keeps them’. If I may add, 'the feel good factor' may attract an audience but it is 'performance now' that will get you the votes, investors etc.