COMMENT Malaysians were amused when Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chief Hasan Arifin put his foot in the mouth by saying “ saya pun cari makan ”.
As a media coach and trainer for the past two decades, I have repeatedly stressed that joking with the media is a ‘no-no’, especially at press conferences.
Ministers, CEOs, ambassadors and top government officials who attended my practical mock drills of press conferences will remember me emphasising the importance of taking the media seriously.
Hasan compounded his faux pas when he later sought to clarify his ‘cari makan’ remark. He said what he actually meant was ‘ looking for food ’.
In Bahasa Malaysia, the term ‘cari makan’ is often used to express the need to earn a living.
The Rompin MP stressed that “cari makan” was not what he had intended to convey after he was repeatedly quizzed by journalists on the reasons behind PAC’s decision not to summon Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak over its 1MDB probe.
“As the press conference was coming to a close, I invited the media to lunch and after that joked ‘saya pun cari makan’ to create a more friendly environment with the media.
“I also informed the media that what I said about ‘saya pun cari makan’ should not be reported because it was just a joke,” he added.
Hasan claimed that Malaysiakini , and other news portals that published the quip were unethical and affected his relationship with the media, and his reputation as PAC chief and a politician.
One cardinal rule in media relations is when you made a public statement that is recorded on video , stop attempting to correct your mistake.
The media has a duty to report responsibly and it did.
Nothing is off the record at PCs
Today, with the advent of the social media, boo-boos are tweeted directly from the press conference within seconds.
Planning, preparation and practice (mock drills) are crucial. Even US President Barack Obama practises with his advisers before meeting the media.
When you engage with the media, study your statement and speak confidently. Understand the media. At press conferences, nothing is off the record. Be honest as reporters often come with a list of questions after having done some research.
It is important for the PAC chief, as its spokesperson, to be well-trained to confront the media. When leaders assume facing the media is an easy task, that’s when they make mistakes.
When they are not trained to face the media, they will shy away from the media. During the MH370 crisis, not only did the former Malaysia Airlines CEO shy away, his bodyguards kept pushing away reporters and cameramen, creating a bad impression of Malaysia.
It is not about the colour of a tie or immaculate three-piece suit Hasan wears on television, but his ability to effectively connect with the audience.
In practical training sessions, leaders like Hasan should be drilled by seasoned journalists to make him better in dealing with the media with ease and confidence.
In the media practical workshops organised by Campuskini , I have often stressed on the importance of continuous practice.
The effectiveness of any training will be in the feedback and evaluation.
At the end of the two-day workshop, participants wished they had more of such training because media relations is not extensively taught in universities and colleges.
M KRISHNAMOORTHY has 35 years of experience as a journalist and is also a certified trainer, and is currently a Campuskini media trainer and coach. He has taught news and feature writing at Monash University Malaysia.
