THE proposed RM85.5 million funding for the Department of Special Affairs (Jasa) announced in Budget 2021 is ridiculous, because the money could be used for more needy causes, said political analysts.

They felt that re-establishing the propaganda unit will cause a lot of unhappiness among the people as the money could be pumped into helping alleviate unemployment or given to front-liners fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.

Emir Research president and CEO Dr Rais Hussin Mohamed Ariff asked why Jasa has been so richly rewarded when the government has various communication channels at its disposal.

“In the current situation, every sen should be used properly. If the government faces communication problems in conveying strategic narratives, the government can use various existing channels.

“We have the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia, television and radio shows (RTM) and various other channels.

“The allocation of RM85.5 million is absurd and the people will not be happy with the budget,” Rais told The Malaysian Insight.

He also said that it is difficult to understand the rationale for such a move.

“The government should focus on strategic communication by improving both content and narrative in delivery.

“Once a content is built, we can spread it through the mainstream and alternative media. This is the people’s money… it comes with trust.

Perikatan Nasional revived the propaganda unit by announcing funding during Budget 2021, tabled during the Dewan Rakyat session on Friday.

Jasa was re-established after the Pakatan Harapan administration scrapped the unit when it came into power in 2018.

The list of federal expenditure under Budget 2021 saw two allocations for units under the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia.

The first is RM4 million under the strategic communications budget and an additional RM81.5 million was allocated under the government’s new policies.

Meanwhile, Ilham Centre’s head of research Dr Mohd Yusri Ibrahim is of the view that PN has a goal to strengthen its position in government.

“During the administration of the Barisan Nasional government, Jasa was used for propaganda work to strengthen BN’s position as the ruling party. Obviously PN is planning the same strategy,” he said.

However, Yusri also said the allocation was too much.

“This is much higher than that allocated by BN previously.

“In the current economic situation, the allocation is too large for a unit as small as Jasa.

“What’s more, there are other agencies with larger organisational sizes getting less funding,” Yusri said.

Political analyst from the Universiti Malaya Assoc Prof Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi said Jasa was revived because Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin is seen to be less popular.

“This is done with a lot of promotion and publicity on social media and financing of portals to raise the name of the party and PN political leaders.”

“At the same time, it is also a mechanism to counter criticism and improve the government’s image, given it is now facing a thin majority and can fall at any time,” Awang Azman said.

He said the funding should be halved as the money can be used for humanitarian causes during the pandemic.

However, a senior lecturer from Universiti Utara Malaysia, Dr Kamarul Zaman Yusoff, defends the move because he said Jasa is an important agency required to defend government policies.

Kamarul said when PH lost in several by-elections, its leaders said it was because they could not highlight their successes as a government effectively.

Now with Jasa, the PN government will be able to ensure that its policies are explained to the people, he said. – November 8, 2020.