Jalaluddin Bahaudin and former Nanyang Siang Pau deputy editor-in-chief Joan Lai Siew Choo have been appointed to the prime minister's media team.

Jalaluddin began his duty today as media advisor to Najib Razak, press secretary to the Prime Minister Tengku Sharifuddin Tengku Ahmad said.

Jalaluddin, a former Bernama journalist, had served as press secretary and special aide to former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

New role

Lai also began work today as assistant press secretary reporting to Tengku Sharifuddin.

"I feel honoured and will do my best in terms of bridging the communication gap between the Chinese community and the government," she told Bernama .

"I hope that with my new role, I will be able to explain some government policies to the community and help them convey their message to the prime minister," she added.

Bentong-born Lai started her journalism career as a sub-editor with Nanyang in 1983 before pursuing a law degree in 1994. She returned to the Chinese daily in 2002.

- Bernama