PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES WITH SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWING ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE PICKED TO CONTEST IN THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION - NAJIB

Candidates on Twitter more likely to be picked for GE

KUCHING April 29, 2012: Prospective candidates with social media following are more likely to be picked to contest in the next general election, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The Prime Minister said having a social media following was a boon to politicians in this “transition” era.

“It would add to their marks, so to speak, to be (selected) as Barisan candidates.

“I will consider the proposal, for it’s important but it’s not an absolute must,”

Najib told a gathering of social media enthusiasts here yesterday.

The gathering was the first of its kind in Sarawak.

He was responding to the Sarawak Social Media Association’s 10-point resolution which, among others, called for all future Barisan candidates to be active social media users.

More than 500 people attended the half-day event.

• Another resolution urged Barisan leaders to connect through the social media to engage the public as well as to proactively spread information, explain issues and defend government policies, among others.

Najib said he supported the association’s intent to organise the 1Malaysia Social Media Tour throughout Sarawak to engage social media practitioners in the state.

He added that he looked forward to meeting his 500,000th Twitter follower in two weeks, adding that he tweeted on a daily basis because he wanted to relay the Government’s achievements and his personal concerns on matters affecting the people.