PRCA stands firm in accreditation row

PUBLIC RELATIONS   ACT   LEGISLATION   GOVERNMENT

• PRCA stands firm on accreditation row
  
• Restates position against IPRM's mandatory accreditation proposal
• Reacts to public backing of legislation by Information, Communication and Culture Minister

Malaysia - Institute of Public Relations Malaysia's (IPRM) plans to start up a legislation of accreditation or PR Act for firms in Malaysia has been met with strong opposition from the Public Relations Consultants' Association (PRCA).

"I don’t think it is something we want to work with (referring to the Act) as we oppose this mandatory accreditation," PRCA president, and Hill & Knowlton managing director, Julia Ahmad said.

The opposition to the move began to gather steam following last week's comments from Information, Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim who was quoted in the Star as saying Malaysia should have influential public relations firms similar to the lobbying groups in developed nations.

However, the minister's public backing of the controversial PR Act which would essentially make PR accreditation mandatory was just the latest in a string of discussions between the IPRM and PRCA on the issue.

In one letter to the PRCA dated 21 August 2009, IPRM president Dato Mohd Hamdan Adnan urged PRCAM to document its suggestions and proposals to advance voluntary accreditation as a way forward for the PR fraternity.

In another letter dated 4 November 2009, current PRCA president Ahmad moved to restate the position of the PRCA.

"While PRCA Malaysia supports voluntary accreditation, we have repeatedly stated our stand to oppose any move towards a charter or any mandatory accreditation," Ahmad said in the letter.

"If you have mandatory accreditation it’s just a step towards legislation which indicates a step backwards," Ahmad told A+M yesterday.

Adding fuel to the fire, the Information, Communication and Culture Minister was also reported in the Star as saying local PR practitioners should use blogs to spin the stories of local bloggers.

David Lian, account director and social media strategist for Text 100 PR, strongly disagreed with the Minister's comments on his blog and echoed some of his sentiments to A+M.

"PR is about being transparent and truthful," Lian said.

"It's about authenticity and genuineness," he said.

 

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