Telum Talks To: P Kamalanathan from Public Relations Practitioners Society of Malaysia
Interview

Telum Talks To: P Kamalanathan from Public Relations Practitioners Society of Malaysia

P Kamalanathan is the Chairman of a newly launched Malaysian PR body, Public Relations Practitioners Society of Malaysia (PRactitioners). He shared with Telum the story behind the organisation and how it aspires to advocate for PR through collaboration with the government, education institutions and fellow organisations within the country and beyond.

What were the driving factors behind the inception of PRactitioners and how does it distinguish itself from other similar organisations?
During my previous years of public service as Malaysia's Deputy Minister of Education, I have had the opportunity to engage with a lot of individuals and I realised there is an urgent need for a cross-industrial and intergenerational platform for public relations professionals - from students or working adults, serving in government or private sectors - to network, share knowledge and exchange opinions. And that was where everything began.

The Public Relations Practitioners Society of Malaysia (PRactitioners) was set in motion officially on 16th July 2024, in conjunction of World PR Day (WPRD). Its purpose is to bridge the gap between existing PR organisations by hosting regular networking sessions and themed conferences, making industry insights more accessible to students via partnerships with government agencies and education institutions and more.

What are some of the key initiatives we can expect from PRactitioners?
The organisation aims to elevate, educate and advocate. These will be done by addressing specific industry needs and challenges through a range of initiatives, including:
  • Comprehensive training programmes for members
  •  Establishment of a think tank for research and communications counsel
  •  Fostering closer ties between academia and the industry, e.g. introduction of student membership
  • Championing sustainability and ESG communications
Other than that, we have set up specialised bureaus, namely the academic bureau, editorial bureau and digital communications bureau to tackle industry issues and challenges, including the rise of misinformation, ethical implications of AI and navigating geopolitical tensions.

What guided the selection of the mentors, and how will they support both established and budding PR professionals within the country?
The leadership team behind PRactitioners consists of experts and veterans from across various areas of communications. They have combined industry experience from sectors including communications, media, business, education, entrepreneurship and government. As the Founder and Chairman, I bring my experience in public service, education and communications together with industry luminaries like Siew Yong Gnanalingam, Yong Soo Heong, Ahirudin Bin Attan (Rocky Bru), Borhanuddin Osman, Marimuthu Nadason, K Haridas, Raja Singham and Mohd Said Bani, the President of the Public Relations and Communications Association of Malaysia.

We made sure that the mentors would constitute a strong and iconic lineup, offering members invaluable insights beyond what books can provide.

How does PRactitioners join hands with other bodies within the industry or educational institutions, locally and abroad?
As the newest member within the PR industry sphere, PRactitioners is not here to compete but to complement and strengthen the entire PR landscape along with other organisations. For instance, we are working closely with the Public Relations and Communications Association of Malaysia and the Institute of Public Relations Malaysia to create a robust and sustainable career environment for both current and future PR professionals.

On the global stage, PRactitioners was one of the official partners for the World Public Relations Day celebrations, symbolising our commitment to being part of the global PR community. We also received support from the Institute of Public Relations Singapore (IPRS) to speak at our WPRD conference on the day of launch.

Within the education scene, we collaborated with BAC Education Group and IACT College for the organisation launch and conference. Other than that, members of PRactitioners would have the chance to contribute as well by holding guest lectures at the college. We are also in talks with the local Ministry of Higher Education to conduct workshops in universities across the country.

PRactitioners is more than a new organisation. We aim to advocate for the profession by demonstrating its value to businesses and the public, and serve the nation by building an ethical and effective communications landscape.

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