Health Ministry spends RM320k on FB, Twitter

AUDIT REPORT The auditor-general (AG) questioned the Health Ministry's payment of RM320,000 to two companies to enhance the ministry’s social media presence by developing two Facebook andTwitter accounts.

The expenditure, during Liow Tiong Lai's tenure (left) as minister, comprise payment of RM199,068 to Eficaz Media Sdn to develop the firstFacebook page for the ministry’s anti-smoking ‘Tak Nak merokok’ campaign.

The second Facebook page and the Twitter account were developed by Astonish View Sdn Bhd for the 'Kempen intervensi penyakit tidak berjangkit' (intervention campaign for non-contagious diseases), costing RM120,500.

The AG in its 2012 audit report commented that the scope of the two companies’ jobs were almost identical and so questioned why Astonish View was given a price of RM120,500 to develop Facebookand Twitter, while Eficaz Media was given a higher amount to develop one Facebook page.

It noted that Eficaz Media was appointed for the period of July to Dec, 2011 and full payment was made based on the number of ‘Likes’ received on the Facebook page, set at 100,000.

However, the report noted that by July, 2012 the number of ‘Likes’ had diminished by 3.58 percent or 3,460.

After the contract elapsed, the report also noted that the Facebookpage in question was not updated.

In the AG's opinion, the Health Ministry should consider employing either one of the two companies to manage its Facebook andTwitter accounts as there are similar information in the quotation for both companies.

“The ministry must also ensure the social media is relevant and up to date,” it said in the report.

The Health Ministry, in its reply, stated that it would update its work specification and tender to make sure it is clear and specific. It also assured that it would update the Facebook page to ensure there would be more ‘Likes’.