SPECIAL Affairs Department (Jasa) strategic communications chief Faisal Ismail Aziz poured scorn on the Pakatan Harapan cabinet’s decision to shut down the propaganda unit, saying it was because the new government had no money to carry out its election promises.

Faisal said he expected the move and said the PH government needed more funds to subsidise its “impractical” manifesto.

“The government now has no money and they want to shrink the size of the civil service.

“They want to implement their impractical manifesto and reinstate the subsidies that will take up a huge amount of expenses for the country,” he told Malaysia Decides.

Jasa is among the agencies Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced would be shut down, citing political abuse.

The PH chairman said these bodies had been used by the previous Barisan Nasional government for its political agenda.

Faisal said Jasa, which employed around 1,200 staff nationwide, had played an important role in explaining government policies to the people.

He said its closure would affect some 850 contract staff under the Public Services Department.

“Actual political appointments in Jasa are only around 10 people,” he said.

Former Jasa chief Puad Zarkashi had resigned from the post before GE14 over his dissatisfaction at not being chosen as a BN candidate. – May 23, 2018.