Control the media? We even give them massage chairs, Fahmi tells PKR congress

Control the media? We even give them massage chairs, Fahmi tells PKR congress



Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil suggested that PKR had lost the communications war, leading voters to “vote over emotions instead of performance”. — Picture by Raymond Manuel


Summary

• At the PKR national congress, Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil conveyed that the party, despite losing the Negeri Sembilan state election, will not use harsh tactics against the press, emphasizing a better relationship than previous administrations.
• He attributed the loss to PKR's inability to counter the opposition's identity-driven narrative and promised to enhance the party's communication strategy.
• Fahmi acknowledged the coalition's communication shortcomings and emphasized that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's government has performed well economically, despite voters' emotional decision-making.

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid
First Published: Sunday, 16 Aug 2026 10:48 AM MYT
Last Modified: Sunday, 16 Aug 2026 10:50 AM MYT


MELAKA, Aug 16 — Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil today suggested that PKR will not resort to punitive measures against members of the press, even as some in the party believe its rivals are winning the messaging battle by fighting dirty.

Members of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) anchor party are gathered at this year’s national congress still reeling from the defeat in the Negeri Sembilan state election, which coalition leaders blamed on the opposition’s identity-driven campaign, after PH was ousted following two terms in government.


Speaking to party delegates, Fahmi suggested that PKR had lost the communications war, leading voters to “vote over emotions instead of performance”.


Still, he said the coalition would not turn to harsher tactics to win the perception battle.


Fahmi said instead that his party was treating the press much better than previous governments, joking that it even provided massage chairs to reporters covering the party’s congress.


“Some in the party had asked me why not rein in the media (that help platform rivals’ messaging). Dear friends and comrades, let’s remind ourselves that we are born from the streets, from fighting the power that told the press to attack our president,” the PKR leader said.

“I was told by our friends in the press that it was worse before. They were even told what to write... but today we are so courteous when dealing with them... we even give them massage chairs. You can visit the media room to have a look yourself,” he added.


PH suffered a heavy defeat in the Negeri Sembilan state election after Barisan Nasional (BN) turned to Perikatan Nasional (PN) and succeeded in consolidating a large portion of the Malay vote.

Analysts said the shift in voter dynamics, including among Indian voters and lower turnout among Chinese voters, made it even tougher for the PKR-DAP-Amanah coalition.

The bloc won just 11 of the 36 state assembly seats, giving the BN-PN alliance a two-thirds majority. Two of PH’s heavyweights, former menteri besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun and senior minister Anthony Loke, were also among those defeated.

Fahmi appeared to have shouldered some of the blame for the party’s poor showing. He apologised on behalf of PKR’s central communications team and vowed to improve its strategy, particularly its messaging about the Anwar government’s economic performance.

The minister argued that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s administration had performed well economically, but there was a disconnect between the data and tangible results.

“The comms team would like to say it’s sorry and we will strive to change our strategy, so that the people would understand better what the (PH-led) government is doing and had done, hoping that if they can feel it in the stomach, then it may also nourish the heart,” he said.