JASA budget to be slashed by half to RM40 5 mil freemalaysiatoday.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from freemalaysiatoday.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Thursday, 10 Dec 2020 04:03 PM MYT
BY YISWAREE PALANSAMY
Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz speaks during the winding-up debate on the Supply Bill 2021 in the Dewan Rakyat November 26, 2020. ― Bernama pic
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KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 10 Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri tabled a motion today to halve the allocations for the Special Affairs Department (Jasa) under Budget 2021.
Jasa, a Barisan Nasional-era propaganda unit that was disbanded under Pakatan Harapan, is being revived by the Perikatan Nasional government with a previously proposed allocation of over RM80 million.
KUALA LUMPUR: The RM85.5mil allocation for Jabatan Komunikasi Komuniti (JKom) under the Communications and Multimedia Ministry has been reduced to RM40.5mil.
This means RM45mil less for JKom, which was formerly known as the Special Affairs Department (Jasa), announced Deputy Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Bakri, who tabled a motion to reduce the allocation to RM40.5mil, which will be for the 500 contract staff under JKom.
Prior to the allocation for JKom, there were debates between MPs from both sides of the political divide, with government coalition MPs arguing in support of the controversial government department.
According to Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh (PN-Pasir Putih), it was necessary to have JKom because the department will ensure that Malaysians understand the government s agenda.
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When a whopping RM85.5 million was allocated to the revival of the Special Affairs Department (JASA) under the Communications & Multimedia Ministry under Budget 2021, Malaysians were especially critical of the massive budget.
Today, Parliament has tabled the motion for JASA budget to be slashed by almost half to RM40.5 million.
The motion tabled by Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri was approved by voice vote.
Credit: Yusof Mat Isa/Malay Mail
Bye bye JASA, hello J-Com
It is also reported that JASA will be renamed to J-Com – short for Jabatan Komunikasi Komuniti (Community Communications Department).