Jasa to have allocation reduced after rebranding

IN a move to assuage public anger over the setting up of the Special Affairs Department (Jasa), it will be rebranded as the Community Communications Department (JKom).

In addition, its allocation under Budget 2021 will be reduced from the proposed amount of RM85.5 million.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said JKom will not operate as a political propaganda machine for the government.

He said the function of the department will be to facilitate twoway communication between the rakyat and the government.

“The department will undergo rebranding and restructuring to ensure its goal of delivering accurate information to the masses is achieved,” he said during the Budget winding-up debate.

“JKom’s priority will be to disseminate information during the Covid-19 pandemic.”

He said it has been found that there was a lack of analyses in the information conveyed to the public, especially during the pandemic.

Saifuddin said human stories behind Covid-19, such as the fatigue felt by frontliners, are few.

“We only rely on press conferences held by the Health director-general and Defence senior minister,” he said.

In reply to a question by Gobind Singh Deo (PH-Puchong), Saifuddin said the the RM85.5 million allocation would be reduced, but did not state the amount.

“I guarantee it will be reduced, but how much is being considered, I cannot give you a number yet.”

He said before Jasa was disbanded by the previous Pakatan Harapan government, the budget allocation for the agency was not something new, adding that the appointment of the department director-general and deputy would be in accordance with processes set by the Public Services Department.