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KUALA LUMPUR: The allocation of RM 85.5 million for Jabatan Komunikasi Komuniti (JKom) from the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia has been reduced to RM 40.5 million.
This means RM45 thousand less for JKom, which was previously known as the Department of Special Affairs (Jasa), announced Deputy Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Bakri, who presented a motion to reduce the allocation to RM40.5 thousand, which will be for the 500 employees hired under JKom.
Prior to the assignment to JKom, there were debates between MPs on both sides of the political divide, and MPs from the government coalition argued in favor of the controversial government department.
According to Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh (PN-Pasir Putih), it was necessary to have JKom because the department will make sure that Malaysians understand the government’s agenda.
He also added that the relationship between the government and the people is very important.
“That is why it is a very relevant assignment,” he said, prompting interjections from several opposition MPs.
Ramkarpal Singh (PH-Bukit Gelugor), who stood up during Nik Muhammad’s speech, asked if the allocation for JKom would be better spent fighting Covid-19.
“The allocation (for JKom) is large because the government’s agenda is large. Big agendas require larger allocations,” Zawawi said, prompting RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) to stand in protest before his microphone was silenced by President Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun. .
“This is a discussion session, not a discussion session,” Azhar said.
Khalid Abdul Samad (PH-Shah Alam), who spoke later, explained that Jasa was shut down by the former Pakatan Harapan administration because it was being used as a political tool to employ proxies and political supporters to spread government propaganda.
He noted that under the 2021 Budget, RM158mil was assigned to the Information Department and RM479mil was assigned to RTM.
“If the allocation for the Department of Information and RTM is not enough, then it is very embarrassing.
“Jasa is a government propaganda tool to cover up the current government,” he argued.
Discussions on the motion to reduce JKom’s appropriations continued until it was passed by voice vote.
JKom is the renamed version of Jasa, which came under scrutiny recently for its initial allocation of RM 85.5 thousand in the 2021 Budget, and opposition MPs say those funds would be better spent fighting Covid-19.
Meanwhile, attempts by opposition MPs to cut the additional RM4mil allocation for JKom through a motion failed after it did not get enough support.
* The title and introduction have been modified to reflect accurate information.
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