Prime Minister Najib Razak launched his own mobile app today. The app, named after himself, aims to “enable the public to keep up-to-date with him.” (Source: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/want-to-keep-updated-with-najib-theres-an-app-for-that)
The app was produced by a company called Resonate Digital Sdn. Bhd.
A search on the company showed that its directors include one Amhari Efendi bin Nazaruddin who is believed to be a special officer in the Prime Minister’s Department.
Oddly, one of the company’s directors, Azline Aliza posted the below status on her Facebook today, praising a Malaysian company, which turns out to be her own company, for developing the app:
“Woooww!! our PM Najib Razak dh ada apps sendiri.. Ada company Malaysia yang boleh buat apps ea.. Cayalah!! Ingtkan outsider je yg pandai buat apps.. #proudtobeMalaysian #akujakun #biarlah”
It is commendable if the Prime Minister is sincerely trying to reach out to Malaysians. However, a few background issues raised suspicion on his latest mobile app venture.
Firstly, Najib is no fan Information Technology nor freedom of information. The Prime Minister is infamous for his regime’s clampdown of the Internet and press freedom. Various online news portal such as The Edge, The Malaysianinsider, Sarawak Report and other websites critical of the government had been blocked, some leading to their shutdown.
Two Australian journalists from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) were arrested in March this year merely for questioning the PM on 1MDB-related issues. Other critics of 1MDB were warned or taken action against.
Secondly, Najib is of course known to have used various questionable methods in his social media propaganda activities. These include having 70% fake followers on his Twitter, and his defenders using fake identities including of deceased persons. (Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/350263)
Thirdly, way back in December 2011, Najib released a similar official app called “Najib Razak 1Malaysia” claiming that the app will allow the people to “connect with [him] on [his] website 1Malaysia.com.my, Facebook and Twitter…” The app was created by 1Malaysia.com.my Sdn. Bhd.
What happened to that earlier app? It is no longer available in the Apple App Store.
Fourthly, we want to know how much money was spent on the first app and this second one? Who was/were paid to develop these mobile apps and to later to run them? Was there a conflict of interest when a company owned by the PM’s special officer was given the contract to develop the second app?
The government’s foray into mobile app has been a failure to say the least. In 2013, the government spent almost RM1 billion to develop an app called SaveMe999 replacing the highly successful MyDistress, a mobile app to reach the police. No one knows what happened to the SaveMe999 app now.
I worry the same thing will happen to the PM’s official app, as it has happened before to the first official app and to SaveMe999. These systems ended up becoming multi-million ringgit money-making opportunities for cronies without bringing any real benefit to Malaysians.