Can Najib answer the RM60,000 question?

'Twitter and Facebook are meant for those who think there is a simple solution to a complex problem.'

Awkward start on Twitter, but Najib's now a pro

SusahKes: "An example, Khairy (Jamaluddin) said, was when the opposition suggested that RM1.5 billion from the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) would be loaned directly to 'sub-prime' borrowers.

"‘If you look at the comments, almost everyone was opposed, but when I explained that the money would be channelled through a government agency and it is completely guaranteed by the government, the issue died down,' he said."

Oh really Mr I-need-the-spotlight? Has the issue really died down?

Manjit Bhatia: I suppose Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin has appointed himself as PM Najib Razak's social media advisor.

His latest advice to Najib, being candid with his tweets, is to follow Khairy's example because Khairy is such an exemplary twitterer and people's MP of Rembau and self-styled intellect.

Najib can now tweet with absolute candidness pure lies and other fabrications about certain innocent children of certain opposition politicians to the point of his harassing and slandering them with absolute impunity. Must be a Malay-Umno Islamic dominant rite of passage.

Yes, politicians are today expected to not dither on issues but to respond with immediacy. But this must not be at the cost of thoughtfulness.

And they don't have to use Twitter or Facebook, either, to get their responses across. These instruments are largely impersonal.

The traditional media is still the vehicle of choice for most people who want news and analysis of issues, especially in a country like Malaysia where the ruling Umno-BN regime routinely bastardises 'truth'.

The alternative media, thankfully, circumvents the regime's circumscription of 'truth'. Luckily there are more and more educated people in Malaysia who can think for themselves. They'll inform those who are still illiterate or who do not have access to news or technology.

Hopefully these people can be turned into active anti-regime pro-democracy voters who'll boot out the filthy ‘cretins' in Umno-BN.

Onyourtoes: I agree with Manjit with most of the points raised here. KJ (Khairy) is just thick, thinking his rebuttal on EPF (Employees Provident Fund) was a fantastic piece. Please go read all the responses before you starting thinking so highly of yourself.

By the way, why must most of issues be given responses immediately? Have we not had enough of McDonald's? Some issues are more complex and protracted, surely they need more consideration and measured responses.

How can one or two lines in Twitter help? It could only create more confusion and misunderstanding.

To me, most of the social networking tools are mere information dissemination tools for people who just want to talk thoughtlessly. The evolving culture is a thoughtless society with hysterical mentality.

Twitter and FB (Facebook) are meant for those who think there is a simple solution to a complex problem.

Alan Goh: Khairy, your response to Penang CM Lim Guan Eng's son transfer to another school for allegedly harassing a student was immediate, including making fun of the boy and his family.

No matter how hard you polished Najib's apple, your political career in Umno is finished so long as that ‘Apa Nama' (Dr Mahathir Mohamad) is around.

You are the work-smart politician who parachuted into your present position and like Hasan Ali and the Raja Katak of Perkasa (Ibrahim Ali), it is better if you talk less as educated Malaysians are not stupid and are able to judge how much substance you have by your behaviour and mannerism.

Lone_star: I would prefer the PM to spend less time on twittering and facebooking and trying to be cool.

He should spend more time on ensuring that the rakyat have a better standard of living and can go about their daily chores with less hassle. Stop trying to be cool, it is certainly not cool.

CiViC: If one day Najib take the trouble to answer the commentators in Malaysiakini, then I'll say he has improved by ‘leaps and bounds'. Otherwise, this is just another empty vessel.

Armageddon: Only 400,000 following Najib's tweets? I thought Umno has three million members.