THE RM85.5 million Budget 2021 allocation to the Special Affairs Department (Jasa) will be reduced, said Saifuddin Abdullah.

“I can guarantee that the allocation will be lowered. But I cannot say how much.

“The RM85.5 million is based on estimates for parliament and state constituencies but we are targeting only 160 districts,” said the Multimedia and Communications Minister during his winding-up speech on Budget 2021 in Dewan Rakyat today.

Saifuddin, who is also the Indera Mahkota MP, stressed that the rebranded Jasa will not be used as the government’s propaganda tool.

“Not under my charge,” he said.

“The difference is this is a new programme, and it’s not a propaganda tool.

“So, please don’t call it Jasa but call it J Comm.” 

He said JComm stands for Community Communications Department, and its main function is to communicate about the Covid-19 pandemic.

“In line with current needs, Jasa’s functions have to be different and the cabinet has agreed for Jasa to be rebranded as JComm.

“JComm is different from the Information Department as it will provide understanding about the government’s policies and initiatives,” said the Bersatu leader.

JComm’s three main functions are creating a knowledgeable community, promoting digitisation and inculcating patriotism.

“It will work on the grassroots,” said Saifuddin.

At this point in Saifuddin’s speech, former Multimedia and Communications Minister Gobind Singh (Puchong-PH) said: “Doesn’t the ministry have RTM, Bernama, Information Department, MCMC, etc.?

“Why restart Jasa under a new name when we closed it as it was a propaganda unit?”

Gobind also questioned the RM85.5 million allocation for Jasa/JComm when there were many RTM staff that did not receive allowances and overtime payments.

Saifuddin replied that although the government had many agencies, they were all “inadequate”.

“We are looking for a team of storytellers. There are many National Security Council stories that are not out because we only rely on press conferences and one or two ministers,” he added.

The minister, however, declined to give assurances that the staffing for JComms will not be “nominated” by political parties when questioned by Teo Nie Ching (Kulai-PH).

“I cannot stop nominations but they will go through the usual process of applications and interviews,” said Saifuddin.

But Teo repeated the question and asked: “If you are going to hire through the normal Public Service Department (JPA) system, why allow for nominations?”

Before it was closed by Pakatan Harapan in 2018, Jasa was headed by Umno leaders Mohd Puad Zarkashi and Faisal Ismail Aziz. – November 25, 2020.