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PETALING JAYA: The leaders of Umno wonder if the huge 85.5 million ringgit for the Department of Special Affairs of the Ministry of Information (Jasa) was necessary at a time when the focus of any funding should be to fight the Covid- 19.
Urging the government to clarify this need, they said they would disagree if the unit, which was closed in May 2018 after Pakatan Harapan (PH) took over, is used simply for propaganda purposes, adding that the unit government owes an explanation to taxpayers.
Umno Vice President Khaled Nordin said that while the party welcomed Jasa’s resurgence, the huge allocation required further explanation. The Barisan Nasional government had last allocated RM30 million to the department in the 2018 budget.
“If there is a reasonable justification, then it is fine for the big assignment. Perhaps a weak government needs a bigger speaker, ”he told the FMT.
According to the Ministry of Finance website, Jasa’s purpose was to develop the community at the grassroots level through effective communication between the government and the people.
A total of RM4 million was allocated under the strategic communications funding and another RM81.5 million in the annual budget.
Speaking to Astro Awani yesterday, Umno’s chief information officer, Shahril Sufian Hamdan, asked for further clarification on Jasa’s duties and why he needed such a large assignment.
“If any party or government uses Jasa for propaganda purposes, I will not agree. But if it plays an effective role, especially in rural areas as an information unit, I think that is fine. But an allocation of over RM80 million sounds too big for me, ”he said.
Wan Agyl Wan Hassan, the head of information for the Federal Territories Umno Youth, said he was surprised by Putrajaya’s decision to spend such an amount that it could actually be funneled to the beleaguered avant-garde.
“If the revival of Jasa had the goal of creating jobs, I’m sure all Malaysians would be fine with it. But we need more information and justification for the decision, whatever the case.
“This must be discussed in the Dewan Rakyat. Our priority must be to combat and solve the problems caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, ”he said, adding that Jasa’s vision and goals should also be reviewed.
Jasa was dissolved after the PH government launched an austerity campaign, following its victory in the last general election.
