PUTRAJAYA, Feb 10 — Minister Khairy Jamaluddin suggested today that all top civil servants should follow the example of Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar’s frequent use of Twitter to address the public swiftly, and quash rumours and negative perceptions.

The youth and sports minister said the national police chief’s Twitter account @KBAB51 was a good example of an initiative driven from the top to deliver swift and accurate explanations regarding the civil service.

“Today, we saw among the most diligent Twitter users the IGP himself. Especially today, maybe because there was a lot happening,” Khairy said in a tea time session with young civil servants here.

“But it was clear and there was no doubt as it was delivered from an official Twitter account. People cannot dispute it.”

Khairy also asked civil servants to help disseminate accurate information to counter rumours in social media in a more casual way, such as one would in daily conversations.

“The problem is, those who have the authority to issue statements do not have the courage,” the Rembau MP said, without specifying whom he was referring to.

This problem, he added, stems from the top leaders’ inability to deal with criticism that comes from the public.

Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar kept the police cyber crime unit busy today, directing them to investigate PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli over a Twitter post after ordering similar probes on a DAP lawmaker and a cartoonist.

In succinct orders posted on his personal Twitter account, the IGP told the Police Cyber Investigation Response Centre (PCIRC) to add the Pandan MP to the list of people they will investigate for sedition.

Earlier, the PCIRC was also ordered to investigate DAP MP Nga Kor Ming and cartoonist Zunar over tweets on Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s conviction by the Federal Court.