After a long silence, the federal government finally opened its mouth on what it is that consultancy firm Apco Worldwide Sdn Bhd did for the RM77 million in fees paid to it for a one-year contract.

This follows months of speculation on the company's real role in the Najib administration, a topic which was shrouded in secrecy beyond the official one-liners that the firm provided strategic communications support for the government.

smm meeting with nazri 110907 nazri abdul aziz Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz ( right ) today listed out the allegedly Israeli-linked public relations firm's services for the government in a written reply to a question from Tian Chua (PKR-Batu),

Nazri's reply, though scant in details, is the first official reply from the government on the role of the public relations firm.

Much controversy has erupted over what it did and how much it costs.

"Apco Worldwide was hired to implement a comprehensive communications service in order to upgrade government communications capacity to be in line with best world practices," said Nazri in his reply.

He added that Apco also provided support to the government in international media relations and strategic planning as well as research and analysis. However he did not specify what exactly Apco did for the federal government in those areas.

Opposition leaders have alleged that Apco's main role was to lobby for support from the United States and other foreign governments as well as create positive spin in the international media for the Najib administration.

Upgrading officers' skill level

Nazri said that the consultancy firm is also engaged in training government personnel in various areas of strategic communications to upgrade their skill level and improve coordination between ministries.

These include basic skills like how to read and monitor media as well as how to build websites on the Internet.

In addition to the above, government personnel are also taught to observe "social media best practices" - which could refer to social networking websites such as Facebook and Twitter - as well as how to handle issues in discussions and prepare communication plans.

"It is hoped that this will result in government officers with the ability to run communication programmes with effective modern methods," the minister added.

So far, Nazri said, 500 officers from 15 ministries have been trained by Apco, adding that the government is currently satisfied with the services of the consultancy firm.

NONE Tian Chua ( left ) as well as other opposition leaders have repeatedly questioned the government over the matter, querying the use of such massive amounts of public funds for what they see as a public relations exercise to glorify Najib and the government.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim got into trouble when he made remarks in the House implicating Apco as being the real brains behind the 1Malaysia concept.

Anwar is currently facing the parliamentary rights and privileges committee for making those statements after being referred to the powerful committee by the BN government.