All Umno members should be united and active on social media to counter the vicious attacks against the party and its leaders, supreme council member Mahdzir Khalid said today.
Mahdzir said their opponents' dominance in cyber war should be curbed so as to stem the flow of false information and attacks against the party leadership, hence regaining the people's trust in Umno and in the government led by the party.
"We need to have an awesome team in cyber war to counter and fight back our opponents through the same medium, the social media.
"How to get a strong team? The way is for all the three million Umno members to be united under one leadership, be active in cyberspace and counter attack to dominate perception on the social media," he said.
Speaking to reporters after opening the Hulu Langat Umno division delegates' meeting in Semenyih today, he added that this must be done immediately.
'Use all medium to express support for leadership'
Mahdzir, who is also education minister, said as part of an organisation, Umno members should, all together and using whatever medium, express support for the party and its leadership.
He was confident that each Umno member has become a social media user but had not fully used the opportunity to counter the online attacks by the opponents against the party and its leaders.
Meanwhile, he welcomed Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's willingness to hold a special Parliament sitting to appoint a new chairman and three new members for the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
Describing the move as very good, Mahdzir said Najib's stand also showed the government's seriousness in solving the issues being investigated by the PAC, as there would not be a need to wait for Parliament to meet in October to make the new appointments.
The prime minister's agreement to the move was announced by Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) chairperson Shahrir Samad to the media after opening the Segamat Umno division Youth delegates' meeting yesterday.
The post of PAC chairman is vacant after Nur Jazlan Mohamed was appointed as deputy home minister in the cabinet reshuffle on July 28.
Another PAC member, Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau, was appointed as science, technology and innovation minister, and two others,Reezal Merican Naina Merican as deputy foreign minister and Mas Ermieyati Samsudin as deputy tourism and culture minister.
- Bernama
