KUCHING: Effective and transparent communication of public information is an integral part of good governance, says Deputy State Secretary Datuk Hii Chang Kee.
He said public information needs to be provided to the public accurately, and more importantly, in a timely manner.
“I think trust in the government is essential. And when we face a myriad of challenges that continue to overwhelm leaders, it is very imperative for the government agencies to revamp our strategic communication approach.
“This is so that the public understands the background, the considerations and the details of implementation of government policies. And also, what is the impact of the policy on the public,” he said when presenting his talk at the Sarawak Media Conference (SMeC) 2024 held at a hotel here on Sunday (May 26)
He said effective communication will help gain the support and cooperation of a well-informed public and well-informed stakeholders, while enhancing the effectiveness of governance.
Apart from that, Hii said the media also plays a role to provide a means for citizens to stay informed about important developments and initiatives, on top of changes, improvements and weaknesses in government activities.
“(They also) facilitate public debate and discussion. I think the media platform provides forums for public debate and also discussion on government policies and issues.
“Through a lot of news reports, opinions, talk shows, online forums, the public can express their views, share their perspectives and engage in dialogue,” he said.
Hii added the media also helps to provide context and analysis, while acting as a bridge between government and the public.
“I think the media not only report news details, but facilitate open analysis and open interpretation of government information, helping the public to understand the significance, the implications of policies, decisions and events.
“And journalists provide that context, background information and often, I think, very expert commentary to enrich the public’s understanding of their governments,” he said.
“I think this is important, as we see a lot of government information decisions, the success and failure actually depends a lot on how we communicate, our rationale, our background, why we do this and what is needed for you,” he added.
