Tourism Ministry: RM1.8 million spent on Facebook pages


By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal
June 14, 2011
The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 — A whopping RM1,758,432 was spent on developing six Facebook pages to promote Malaysian tourism, the Tourism Ministry said today.

Deputy Tourism Minister James Dawos Mamit said this today in reply to a question from Anthony Loke (Rasah-DAP).

Each Facebook page cost RM293,072 — Cuti-Cuti 1 Malaysia, Citrawarna 1Malaysia, Karnival Jualan Mega 1 Malaysia, Festival Pelancongan Seni Kontemporari 1 Malaysia, Kempen 1 Malaysia Bersih and Fabulous Food 1 Malaysia.

The Citrawarna 1 Malaysia page has so far attracted 20,292 Facebook fans since it was launched on May 21.

Mamit said that the RM1.8 million included costs for designing, flash programming and coding, testing and debugging, uploading and launching the application, system server deployment and campaign management.

“You need RM1.8 million to run Facebook pages and applications? A six-year-old can start a Facebook page.

“If Datuk Seri Ng Yen Yen has problems getting people to help start Facebook pages, DAP headquarters can help her out, we have people who can develop these things at no cost,” Loke told reporters later at a press conference.

Loke said that unless Ng explained the reasons behind the “exorbitant” costs for the “social media branding” exercise by her ministry, he would lodge a report to the Malaysian Anti-Crimes Commission (MACC).

  1. #1 by Bunch of Suckers on Tuesday, 14 June 2011 - 5:24 pm

    What? RM1.8million!? I am promoting my Facebook without even spending a dime or nickel!!!! What RM1.8million?

    Does it mean those money paid to Facebook for what? What?

    Oh! Bunch of suckers just suck those off… This is how our Bolehland BN/UMNO government keens on pursuing and implementing new projects!!!

    Our 1Malaysia Email already devoted over RM5million. Soon it will spin up to RM10millions!!! My Gmail and Yahoo emails span nothing out of my pockets! Both pretty well with a lot of new features and permitting your to embed your own company logo or images onto email without any charges!

    What RM1.8million on Facebook and over RM5million on just a simple email system? Pigs can talk and walk like humans, man!

    Bolehland BN/UMNO suckers are pretty good in sucking business… By 2020, we will suck our own Ubi-kayu…

  2. #2 by benilman on Wednesday, 15 June 2011 - 10:26 am

    We have Najib with 200 entourage to Khazakastan,We have Rais in Malam Seni,now we have Ng Yen Yen with her tourist Facebook,Anymore coming to spend the tax payers money as if it theirs?

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