CYBERJAYA: MCA Youth will launch a massive social media campaign to help Barisan Nasional (BN) win the minds and hearts of the people, especially the young generation.
Its chief, Datuk Chong Sin Woon, said social media now plays an important role in determining the success of a political candidate, as proven by Donald Trump, who recently won the United States presidential election.
"His victory has shocked many of us, but we should remember that Trump is more popular in social media, compared with his rival, Hillary Clinton,” he said.
Trump, the Republican candidate, defeated his Democrat rival Clinton in a tight race to secure the US presidency.
Although the 70 year-old real estate developer-turned-reality television star has no experience in public office, Chong said Trump knew how to exploit social media.
"Social media can make a video go viral, and (make an unknown) person (famous overnight)," Chong said while playing viral video clips, including the hit ditty PPAP (Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen) by eccentric Japanese artist Pikotaro, which has been viewed by millions of people.
Chong, who is deputy education minister, said MCA Youth will also get feedback and ideas from the young generation on various issues through social media engagement.
"We should not only focus on traditional media, (we) must embrace social media.
"(BN Youth chairman) Khairy Jamaluddin himself is also very popular in social media and we should emulate him," he said at MCA Youth’s 52nd annual general assembly here today.
The assembly was opened by MCA deputy president, Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.