Najib: GE13 will be Malaysia’s first social media election

Facebook and Twitter will be a key battlefront to Barisan Nasional’s defence of Putrajaya and Election 2013 will be the fascinating period for people in both politics and the Internet.

                                  Datuk Seri Najib Razak

While launching the Malaysia Social Media Week 2013 summit, BN Chairman and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib said, “the coming general election will be Malaysia's first “social media election”

He said this was because politicians were already using social media to engage with people online.

“Of course, it will not be the biggest factor in the elections, but it is certainly increasing the tempo of political debate,” he said after launching the Malaysia Social Media Week 2013 summit.

He has more than 1 million followers on Twitter and some 1.2 million “likes” on Facebook, Najib was given a special Leadership in Social Media Engagement Award at the event organised by the Malaysia Social Media Chambers.

He said social media had encouraged greater openness. “With social media, everyone has a voice, and can broadcast it to the world.It allows people to reach across traditional boundaries and barriers, to engage in real discussion, in real time,” he said.

He said the Government had put in a lot of effort to ensure every Malaysian had access to social media.

“Initiatives like Digital Malaysia offer smartphone vouchers to young people and expand broadband access in rural areas,” he added.

Najib also posted his first Instagram picture of the audience which he took using his iPad on his newly set-up Instagram account @najib_razak.