Update: RM94 mil to boost Putrajaya’s global image

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid and Tarani Palani

The Barisan Nasional paid RM94 million to a media consultancy company to enhance its image on the global stage.

KUALA LUMPUR: Putrajaya paid RM94 million over three years to media consultancy company FBC Media to boost its international image although it denied any involvement in how the controversial company secured coverage in the international press.

FBC is currently under investigation by the British authorities for alleged conflict of interest after it was accused of producing content on Malaysia without revealing that Putrajaya was its client.

Broadcasters like CNBC, BBC and The Atlantic magazine have all launched internal investigations into its connections with FBC.

FBC is being accused of providing editorial content on foreign subjects while doing public relations work for the same governments it was reporting on.

“The FBC Media has the duty to get airtime in international media and the government has no control over this matter.

“This is a matter of discussions between FBC Media and the BBC,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a written reply to Tian Chua (Batu-PKR).

The PMO added that the contract was on a yearly basis and have been renewed twice since 2008.

It was first signed in 2007 and the total cost was €19.6 million (or RM94.08 million using current conversion rate of 1 Euro = RM 4.80).

Whistleblower website Sarawak Report had claimed that interviews and other programmes produced by FBC had cost the ruling BN coalition millions of ringgit as part of its bid to boost its international image.

The deal came to light after Supplementary Supply Bills showed that the PMO paid RM57.7 million between 2008 and 2009 to FBC for a “Global Strategic Communications Campaign”.

FBC shows dropped

Putrajaya was forced to end its contract with FBC last month following allegations that government leaders had appeared regularly in paid-for interviews on global television programmes on CNBC.

The public relations company is now being probed by British media regulator Office of Communications (Ofcom) as well as the BBC and CNBC for the said offence.

FBC is also said to have approached top US current affairs magazine The Atlantic to host an event featuring Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Both broadcasters have since dropped FBC programmes from their lineup.

An online news portal had also reported that Najib has engaged a new image consultant team that includes those behind former British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s “New Labour” to reinvent himself as a “cool” leader as part of his preparation to lead BN into elections.

In an immediate response, Chua, who is a PKR vice-president, told a press conference today that the revelation by PMO confirms Najib’s heavy reliance on consultants to boost its image and not on “substance”.

“The Najib administration relies solely on consultants to spread Barisan Nasional propaganda on the global stage,” he said.

Pakatan Rakyat leaders also questioned if the funds used to finance Putrajaya’s image embellishment enterprise are taxpayers’ money.

Najib’s overseas trips

On another matter, Tian Chua also revealed the ministry’s written answer to his questions on Najib’s recent overseas trips to Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Perth, Australia.

The foreign ministry revealed that Najib’s visit to Kazakhstan from June 5 to June 9 this year cost slightly more than RM1 million.

A total of RM1,072,213.22 was paid for the trip which was made following an invitation by Kazakhstan president Nursultan Nazarbayev. The visit also coincided with the 7th World Islamic Economic Forum held there.

The prime minister’s official visit to Turkmenistan from June 11 to June 12 meanwhile cost RM323, 268.19.

Najib was invited to Turkmenistan by its president. The prime minister had also officiated a Petronas gas terminal during his visit there.

As for Najib’s trip to Perth from Aug 31 to Sept 3, no expenditure was cited as it was a private visit.

Najib had gone to Perth during the long Merdeka break for a physio-therapy session after his recent knee operation.

Source : FMT