The Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) information machinery needs to be intensified including creating cyber troopers to counter opposition attacks in the social media.     

Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the opposition was using the social media to attack Umno and BN in order to poison the people's minds.     

"Therefore, Umno and BN need to get close to the social media users so that the issues can be clearly explained and the lies countered," he said after opening the Bagan Datoh Umno division Wanita annual meeting at Wisma Umno, Bagan Datoh, today.     

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Defence Minister, said clear and accurate explanation was necessary as about 17 million of the country's 28 million population were more inclined to obtain information from the social media than mainstream media.     

"I believe Umno and BN Youth can do this and there is already a small group of their cyber troopers now. I thank them for what they have done but we need more cyber troopers," he said.      

Ahmad Zahid said Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak himself had taken the initiative to answer issues and questions raised through the social media.     

- Bernama