Former Bar Council chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan has advised Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak not to not depend totally on paid advisers to improve his image.

In mocking Najib, Ambiga, also a former Bersih 2.0 chairperson, tweeted that she was giving the prime minister advice free of charge, and that is, for him to tell the truth.

She made the response in relation to a news report in The Malaysian Insider today that advertising and public relations guru Lim Kok Wing has been appointed Najib’s special programme coordinator.

Lim is no stranger to public relations, having established the nation's first private advertising company and the first creative arts university, Limkokwing University of Creative Technology.

He has also helped negotiate several explosive problems, including the MCA internal war between then president Dr Ling Liong Sik and Lim Ah Lek.

He was also one of the pioneers to help the African National Congress in its first election campaign for a free South Africa, helping Nelson Mandela to win the election.

Lim ran the advertising campaign with video clips and banners depicting Mandela with children of various races, thereby creating a wide appeal among the international community - which also stamped the ANC leader as the viable face of South Africa.

The Limkokwing University of Creative Technology at present has campuses in London, Botswana and Cambodia plus  Cyberjaya and Kuching in Malaysia.

Felda students too

Under Lim's stewardship, the university began accepting students from Felda settlements to do their diploma programme under Felda scholarships.

Previously, Lim had also advised former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad and helped Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar in his election campaign  for the Rembau constituency during the 2008 general election.

Previously, it was reported that the government had denied paying ex-Apco Malaysia boss Paul Stadlen ( photo ) for his services, which allegedly includes managing Najib's media relations operations.

"Up to now, the government did not provide any remuneration to Paul Stadlen," Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Shahidan Kassim said in a written parliamentary reply to Mohamed Hanipa Maidin (PAS-Sepang).

Besides Lim, it has also been reported that Najib has four official advisors namely UKM academic Prof Dr Abdullah Mohd Zin, Kubang pasu MP Johari Baharum, and former cabinet ministers Rais Yatim and Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.