[vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image=”17396″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]KOTA KINABALU: The Malayan Information Agency, now The Malaysian Information Department (Jabatan Penerangan Malaysia) has providing information related to the implementation and development of national policies since 1910.Purposed by the British as a trade commissionership for The Government of the Federated Malay States based at the Malaya House in London, it evolved into a propaganda machine in 1945.This was at a time when Malayans began losing confidence in the British following their washout to Japanese forces resulting in the department taken over by the British Military Administration.
During that period, several national organisations were created by natives with the aim of liberating Malaya from any foreign occupation.During the process of the transition of the British Military Administration to the Civil Government in the following year, the Department of Publicity and Printing was divided into A Public Relations Department each for the Malayan Union and Singapore.
A Public Relations Department soon saw restructuring to suit the civil administration and current developments.Information centres in 1945 were established in major cities across the country as places for people to visit to read books, listen to the radio and see photographs on display about events at home and abroad.Among them is the Information Centre at Java Street, Kuala Lumpur which was established on October 20, 1945.Publicity services provided were Press Publicity, Public Relations Publications (Pamphlets and booklets produced for Governments), Mobile Public Address Units, Publicity campaigns and other publicity media.Public Relations Officers (Malay States & Settlement Public Relations Officers) were also stationed in the states of Malaya.
The Department of Information name was adopted in 1950 replacing the Department of Public Relations in line with its function as the official tongue of government to explain to the people about the philosophy, policies, and vision of the country.Fast forward to now, in line with the latest developments in a borderless world, the Department’s responsibilities have become increasingly challenging in the sense of transforming services so that engagement, outreach, big data analytics and advocacy can be implemented using digital technology apart from face-to-face communication.
Jabatan Penerangan Malaysia (JaPen) is placed under the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia, Malaysia (K-KOMM).JaPen Headquarters has been operating at the KKoM Complex in Putrajaya, since 2011 and communicates nationwide through state and district information offices to reach out to various levels of society at the grassroots level.Its mission is to market government information strategically through various methods of communication.Its vision meanwhile is to become the leader in effective government communications. JaPen strives to build communication networks and interactions with target groups towards broad-based information marketing by reaching out to target groups, especially those living in rural and remote areas.Data collection is their basis in formulating a strategic communication plan to ensure the effectiveness of government information marketing and also address current issues as well as influencing public opinion and convincing the people of the country’s philosophy, policies and vision.This is to increase the acceptance, confidence, support and involvement of the people in governmental success in order to help build a society that is connected, united, knowledgeable and with integrity towards the development of a progressive, dynamic and prosperous nation.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]