THE government has halved funding for its propaganda unit, known as the Special Affairs Department (Jasa), to RM40.5 million instead of RM85.5 million.

The motion to reduce funding was tabled by Deputy Finance Minister I Abd Rahim Bakri (Bersatu-Kudat) and was passed by a voice vote.

“This motion is to reduce Jasa funding from RM85.5 million to just RM40.5 million.

“This is a huge drop from the initial budget and if you were to reject this motion, its budget will go back to RM85.5 million,” said the Sabah-based deputy minister.

The rebranded Jasa, to be called or J-Kom (Jabatan Komunikasi or Community Communication Department), will be tasked with building “a community based on knowledge and patriotism”, and to “migrate” people to the digital age.

However, Rahim, did not explain why or how J-Kom could help Malaysians “migrate” to the digital age or why Malaysians needed more “patriotism”.

The deputy minister said that J-Kom will be used to build an ecosystem for the digital age, but did not explain what that entailed.

Although the opposition tabled their own motion to stop Jasa, it was defeated and the motion to reduce funding passed by a voice vote.

“It’s good that the deputy minister has repackaged Jasa but it is just a propaganda unit,” said Khalid Samad (PH-Shah Alam), adding former Jasa chief Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi, who also the former Umno MP for Batu Pahat, admitted as such.

“Jabatan Penerangan gets RM159 million a year while RTM gets RM479 million. Why do you need another unit like Jasa?” said the Amanah information chief.

“I say Jasa should get nothing for its budget and not RM40 million. Don’t use the people’s money for political objectives,” said Khalid.

Pejuang’s Mukhriz Mahathir said that Jasa was set up more than 50 years ago before the digital age and it was necessary as a way of disseminating information to rural Malaysians.

“However, it has been abused for political reasons and it’s unnecessary in this digital age,” said the Jerlun MP.

“Why not the government transfer the budget to Jabatan Penerangan instead?”

Other opposition MPs who spoke up against the motion were Mohamad Sabu (PH-Kota Raja), and Chang Lih Kang (PH-Tg Malim), Fahmi Fadzil (PH-Lembah Pantai), Fuziah Salleh (PH-Kuantan).

However, backbencher Shaidan Kassim (BN-Arau) said Jasa was necessary to counter “misinformation” by the opposition.

He denied that Jasa was a propaganda unit as “the recruitment will be through the Public Services Department”.

Backbenchers who supported the government motion were Hasan Ariffin (BN-Rompin), Nazri Aziz (BN-Padang Renggas), Noh Omar (BN-Tg Karang) and Ahmad Faizal Azumu (Bersatu-Tambun).

Jasa was set up in 1959 after the first Malayan elections to maintain political, religion and government stability.

In 2004, it was renamed Jasa, headed by Umno leaders and tasked with explaining government initiatives and programmes.

The unit was closed when Pakatan Harapan took over in 2018. However, it is being revived by Perikatan Nasional. – December 10, 2020.