|
In
a crisis, many things come to play.
But two issues that are foremost in
the minds of management, besides
saving lives in the event of a major
disaster, are brand asset protection
and the limitation of legal
liabilities. Very often though,
these two factors clash head-on with
very little time for management to
think through all the implications.
“A
crisis requires quick reflex action,
and for this not to go astray
requires preparation and rehearsals.
Plenty of it until everyone in the
organisation is geared to react in
the same way,” said Muralee
Chandra, a media and crisis
management consultant with 20 years
experience.
He
added: “One aspect that has often
encumbered swift reaction to meet
public an media demands for
information is clearance from legal.
Not all lawyers are equipped to
handle crises, however good they may
be in the normal course of the day.
But I firmly believe that all
in-house legal counsels must be
trained so that they can either
participate actively or know who
best to contact for swift advise
under crises conditions.”
Appropriately
titled “When Worlds Collide”,
this seminar and workshop is
specially skewed for the transport
industry.
One
of its key features is a cross-talk
between Chandra and prominent
international maritime lawyer Datuk
Jude Benny, who has been involved in
a wide variety of crises cases from
high-sea collision to environmental
damage.
The
one-day seminar on Wednesday 30
January 2002, will be addressed by
Deputy Minister of Transport, YB Tan
Sri Datuk Seri DiRaja Ramli Ngah
Talib, on “The Challenges For
Malaysian Transport & Terminal
Operators – When Crisis
Strikes!”
The
seminar will also feature prominent
speakers like Malaysia’s Dr Ir
Mohammad Daud of UPM, where he heads
the MSc course in Emergency Response
and Mr Arthur Pilkington, senior
vice president of Skuld P & I
Club, based in Oslo, Norway.
While
Dr Ir Mohammad Daud will focus on
Malaysia’s integrated response
plan in the event of an emergency or
disaster, Mr Pilkington will share
his varied experiences of ships in
distress that required swift
operational response, media
management and a keen legal
foresight.
The
day-two workshop on Thursday, 31
January 2002, is highly hands-on,
requiring participants to think
through and respond to evolving
crises scenarios.
The
mainstay of the workshop experience
is the challenge of facing the media
in adversity – and that too, not
just the local press, but the
international media who often have
their own agenda to showcase.
Role-plays will be video recorded
for group review and personal
keepsake. “I’ve conducted this
workshop many times now and always,
the participants learn most, and
enjoy most, when they are put in the
‘media hot-seat’ as the official
spokesperson.
The
significant difference this time is
that they will be guided by a very
experienced lawyers to get the
first-word right, perceptually and
legally,” said Muralee Chandra.
“When
Worlds Collide” is co-organised by
Portsworld Sdn Bhd and Jude Benny
Consultants Sdn Bhd. To register or
more information, please contact 03
2282 2223 or 03-30057228 or visit www.portsworld.com
|
