Why there is a strong debate in the Malaysian parliament on a measure to reactivate the government’s ‘propaganda unit’

SINGAPORE: Among the hotly debated issues in Malaysia’s proposed 2021 budget is an allocation of 85.5 million ringgit ($ 20.7 million) to reactivate the government’s public relations arm, the Department of Foreign Affairs. Specials (JASA).

The department, under the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia, handles government communications and disseminates information to the public.

According to the website of the Ministry of Finance, the purpose of JASA is to develop the community at the grassroots level through communication between the government and the people.

As part of the 2021 budget, presented by Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, on November 6, the government has proposed two allocations for JASA: RM4 million under the strategic communications budget and an additional RM81.5 million allocated to the new government policies.

However, the decision to resuscitate the department has been criticized by many members of parliament (MP) during the ongoing budget debate.

The opposition has said that JASA is a propaganda tool of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government, headed by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, to promote partisan messages.

The Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, under then-Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, dissolved the department when it took power in 2018.

Here’s why reviving JASA has become a key point of discussion:

WHAT CAN JASA DO FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PN

Observers have noted that historically, JASA has been used as an information dissemination agency for the government.

The Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, when in power before 2018, used JASA to promote “pro-government messages” and “painted the opposition in a negative light,” said Universiti Utara Malaysia political analyst Associate Professor Ahmad Martadha Mohamed.

“The opposition has labeled JASA as a propaganda machine, but I don’t like to use that term,” he said.

“It is a public relations machine to show people that what the government was doing was good and that what the opposition was doing was destabilizing the country and the economy,” he explained.

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Associate Professor Ahmad Martadha noted that JASA would organize events and campaigns, involving students, officials and members of the public, during which messages will be disseminated.

In addition to that, he noted that JASA was largely used by BN to dominate the online space through “so-called cybertroopers”, and when speaking that the next general election could be called soon, Muhyiddin’s PN government You might also want to adopt a similar strategy. .

“The government knows that the only way to get support for the elections is to establish a social media presence,” said associate professor Ahmad Martadha.

“The media like television and radio are traditional ways of consuming information. Now, Malaysians are turning to social media. This is reflected in the amount of money assigned to JASA in this year’s budget, the government could be willing to rely on the department when the polls are called, “he added.

READ: Malaysia’s opposition will only support the 2021 budget if it really helps people, says Anwar Ibrahim

JASA’S ASSIGNMENT IS “TYRANIC”: ANWAR

JASA has been widely criticized by the opposition, including top PH leaders Anwar Ibrahim and Lim Guan Eng.

Anwar, who is chairman of the Parti Keadilan Rakyat, has described the assignment for JASA, along with another assignment for the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, as “tyrannical”.

“At a time when the rakyat (village) is in danger, it is tyrannical for you to accept money, 85.5 million ringgit and another 8.6 million ringgit for (the Ministry of Housing and Local Government),” said Mr. Anwar during his budget debate speech in parliament on Monday.

He added that the measure was “unprecedented” and was made to safeguard the needs of ministers to use it as propaganda.

Meanwhile, the head of the Democratic Action Party, Lim Guan Eng, has urged Muhyiddin to withdraw funds for JASA if he wants to pass a “unity budget” that is accepted by the opposition.

In his speech in Parliament on Tuesday, Mr. Lim urged the government not to politicize the issues by establishing JASA.

“This should be rejected. And we (in PH) are ready to join all the deputies who want to reject the resurgence of JASA, ”said Lim.

Adjunct Professor Ahmad Martadha pointed out that the opposition is familiar with how JASA worked during the BN era and therefore will not be interested in its resurrection.

“The opposition is trying to prevent JASA from being used as a political tool, operating for the ruling government coalition and not for the people,” he said.

However, the PN government has rejected such claims.

In an official statement, the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia said that JASA has been assigned to revive “as the agency for disseminating information” based on the needs of different segments of the community.

“This responsibility is very important and critical, especially as the country faces the COVID-19 pandemic today,” the statement said.

The ministry added that the agency’s purpose is to counter the spread of fake news that threatens to divide the community.

Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) chief information officer Wan Saiful Wan Jan, has argued that JASA will not be revived as a propaganda unit, as it was under BN.

Bersatu, led by Mr. Muhyiddin, is a component party of PN.

Wan Saiful explained that the new JASA will act as a vehicle for gathering feedback from members of the public.

“His role has changed with the current situation. I understand that the intention of the government so far is to make sure that they always listen and understand people’s complaints and at the same time people can also get accurate information from the government, “Wan Saiful said in a Facebook post.

“It will not be for propaganda as before. That era ended. “

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UMNO SAYS THE ALLOCATION IS TOO HIGH

In addition to the opposition, parliamentarians from the United Malaya National Organization (UMNO), a component party of the PN, have also raised concerns about the government’s allocation for JASA in the 2021 budget.

When UMNO was the last major party in the BN government in 2018, then-Prime Minister Najib Razak allocated RM30 million to JASA’s budget.

The amount proposed by the Muhyiddin government for 2021 (85 million ringgit) is more than double.

Speaking in parliament on Tuesday, Najib, who is a deputy for Pekan, said he supported the measure to get JASA back but was not in favor of the high amount, particularly as Malaysia faces a health and economic crisis due to COVID-19.

He said it would be very difficult for people to accept the measure. Also “woo anger,” he said.

“I can accept it if the fund is spent on buying face masks or hand sanitizers for people (or) given to parents to replace the Supplemental Food Plan (RMT) for children who are denied breakfast, because schools are closed until the beginning of next year, “he said.

“But I can’t digest the suggestion of RM81 million for JASA,” added Najib, who was recently appointed president of BN backbenchers.

Other UMNO leaders have also spoken out on the issue.

UMNO Vice President Khaled Nordin has been quoted by Malaysian media as saying that the huge allocation required further explanation.

“If there is a reasonable justification, then it is fine for the big assignment. Maybe a weak government needs a bigger loudspeaker, ”he would have said.

However, Mr. Wan Saiful defended the allocated sum.

In his Facebook post, he explained that in the digital age, technologies for effective communication are not cheap.

“It is no wonder that an appropriate allocation must be set aside to ensure our government has the necessary technology and equipment in this age of social media.

“We have not talked about the cost of repelling fake news, which is spreading more and more,” he wrote.

Associate Professor Ahmad Martadha noted that UMNO may have “political motives” to speak out against JASA, as some UMNO figures are perceived to have been seeking a fairer redistribution of government and ministerial positions in the NP coalition. .

“The UMNO knows that JASA is an agency with a special purpose: to convey positive information about what the government is doing, rather than allowing people to consume information from the opposition,” he said.

As such, UMNO might be wary of how JASA could influence Bersatu’s position in government, he added.

On whether criticism against JASA will affect the budget approval, Assof Prof Ahmad Martadha said this is unlikely as the government will likely review its allocation after debate.

“The allocation will be less, this is quite common. The initial amount is only a proposed amount, but after discussions and debate, the number will have to go down ”, added the political analyst.