Advertising director apologize for defaming Malaysian Tourism Ministrer, Ng Yen Yen

Malaysian Tourism Minister, Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen


Zecha (left) outside the High Court

Advertising agency director Austen Victor Lauw Zecha expressed his sincere regret to Malaysian Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen in open court for making defamatory statements against her.

The statement of apology was read out by his lead counsel T.H. Liew in a packed courtroom in the presence of Dr Ng, her family members, supporters and staff on Thursday, 15th September, 2011, a day before Malaysia Day which falls on 16th September 1963.

Dr Ng, who was dressed in a blue baju kebaya, sat beside the dock and listened attentively.

Liew said Zecha, 71, acknowledged that the allegations were unfounded and unreservedly withdrew them.

Zecha is a director of advertising agency TBWA-ISC Malaysia Sdn Bhd and Integrated Strategic Communications Sdn Bhd (ISC).

Dr Ng had sued Zecha for giving a radio interview on March 18 2011, in the presence of one Noelle Lim, that was defamatory to her.

In her lawsuit filed on April 14, 2011, Dr Ng said the words uttered by Zecha during the interview implied that she, through her agent, solicited a bribe to ensure that the defendant and/or ISC were awarded an advertising contract for which there was a pending public tender.

Liew said Zecha apologised to Dr Ng for the distress and embarrassment caused to her.

“The defendant (Zecha) apologises for having reacted the way he did when there was no basis to conclude that a person was acting on the minister’s behalf concerning ISC’s recent tender for Tourism Malaysia’s current three-year contract,” he said.

Dr Ng’s lead counsel Sunil Abraham said Zecha had agreed to publish a one-page statement of apology in Nanyang Siang Pau within 48 hours from the date of the order.

Zecha had also agreed to apologise on the radio station BFM89.9 Current Affairs programme and pay an undisclosed amount of damages to Dr Ng in a final settlement.

High Court judge Justice V.T. Singham recorded the consent settlement.

Outside the courtroom, Dr Ng smiled and handed out a media statement saying that she was pleased with the outcome.

She hoped the settlement would help instil confidence that the ministry was transparent in its dealings.

Malaysian Tourism Ministry slammed for spending RM1.8 million for a facebook page..

RM1.8mil … for a Facebook page? Malaysian Tourism Minister, Dr Ng Yen Yen needs to answer this. It's the rakyat and people's money. RM1.8 milion was spent and yet the Facebook page looks very much ordinary just like other ordinary Facebook pages.


By Joseph Sipalan
June 14, 2011
MalaysiaKini

The Malaysian Tourism Ministry came under fire again today, as MPs questioned why it had spent RM1.8 million to start and maintain its Facebook page – yet another on the list of controversial projects.

Anthony Loke (DAP-Rasah) slammed the decision to use so much money when the social networking site can be used free of charge.

“On my last check, there are 20,308 fans on the ministry’s Facebook page. Comparably, the ‘Visit Penang’ Facebook page, for which the Penang government did not spend a sen, got over 100,000 fans. Why spend RM1.8 million?” he asked during Question Time.

Loke said it is hard to believe that not one person in the ministry has knowledge of how to maintain or update a Facebook account.

He stressed that the Tourism Ministry could have easily sought advice from various parties, including BN and opposition MPs, many of whom are ardent users of social networking sites.

“You don’t even have to ask members on this side (opposition). There are those among the backbenchers, such as Kota Belud and Rembau… they can come in as consultants,” he said, referring to Umno MPs Abdul Rahman Dahlan and Khairy Jamaluddin, who are both heavy Twitter users.

Deputy Tourism Minister James Dawos Mamit said the budget covers the cost of hosting various activities on the Facebook page, including six interactive Flash applications, development and maintenance work and advertising, which was tendered out to a company, Impact Creations Sdn Bhd, on a three-year contract from 2011-2013.

James, who stood in for Minister Ng Yen Yen despite being sick and suffering a sore throat, added that the ministry spent nearly RM300,000 to develop each of the six applications on their Facebook page.


‘It looks like a waste of money’

Khairy, in a supplementary question, agreed with Loke that the RM1.8 million budget “looks like a waste” of funds, stressing that the low interest in the ministry’s Facebook page is not reflective of the expenditure.

He acknowledged that it would take money to maintain the page and its various activities, but insisted that by engaging a company to focus on promotional work, there should already be big returns.

“Currently there are 2,013 ‘likes’, and the page design is nothing extraordinary. It’s only using the same template. We don’t even have to look at the Penang tourism page; some of the MPs here are even more popular,” he said, while asking how the ministry will measure the success of its campaign.

James pointed out that Impact Creations was engaged to run an advertising campaign to promote domestic tourism, particularly among Generation Y Malaysians who are generally more tech-savvy.

He said the success of the ministry’s social networking campaign, including advertising, will be measured based on the national return of investment in terms of an increase in domestic tourists.

Mama mia..!!!