Department of Special Affairs connectivity launched in Labuan

LABUAN: The Department of Special Affairs (Jasa) has set up a platform to stabilise and strengthen the role of the social media committee or Jasa Connectivity here, the second parliamentary constituency after Terengganu.

The agency’s social media platform through the application of WhatsApp and Telegram was set up to address the proliferation of unfounded allegations about the government on various social media platforms.

Its director- general Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi said through the JASA Connectivity, members in the group would be able to receive government’s updates at least four times daily.

“By setting up the platform with committee members comprising community leaders, non- governmental organisations ( NGOs) leaders and media representatives, we should be able to explain government policies and current development issues to the people at the grassroots level effectively in real time,” he said at the launch of the Jasa Connectivity Labuan Saturday night.

Mohd Puad, who is also Umno supreme council member, said the agency was facing great challenges, especially in transmitting information on government policies and related activities in real time.

“We found out that many government activities or programmes aimed at helping the people had been misconstrued due to the widespread of inaccurate information, deliberately posted on the social media by certain irresponsible parties,” he said.

He said the establishment of Jasa Connectivity was a new approach of the agency to defend and serve the government of the day.

Labuan Member of Parliament Datuk Rozman Isli believed the platform would benefit the government in the long run to counter various allegations. — Bernama