PARLIAMENT | Gobind Singh Deo (Pakatan Harapan-Puchong) has questioned the government’s priorities in allocating RM85.5 million to revive the Special Affairs Department (Jasa) when state broadcasting network RTM is allegedly short on funds.
Debating the Budget 2021 this afternoon, the former communications and multimedia minister proposed that public money was better spent upskilling existing ministerial staff rather than setting up a new “propaganda unit”.
“I want to ask the government about problems faced by RTM piecemeal workers. Payments and salaries have been delayed supposedly because there are no funds.
“But here we see such a large amount is to be allocated to reviving Jasa.
“How does this encourage existing ministry staff to continue carrying out their duties well and so we can organise and bring needed information to the people? Especially during the Covid-19 pandemic?” he asked.
He also compared Jasa’s budget to the 37 percent budget cut suffered by the Attorney General Chamber’s prosecution department.
The department had been crucial in assisting the government in prosecuting the 1MDB trials, he pointed out.
“This raises questions,” the lawyer said.
What about 1MDB asset recovery?
During his speech, the DAP lawmaker also questioned what was being done to recover assets alleged to have been stolen by fugitive Low Taek Jho.
Known as Jho Low, he recently made headlines after a leaked recording showed he attempted to strike a deal with the previous Pakatan Harapan administration for legal immunity.
The audio clip also heard him claiming he had committed no wrongdoing in the 1MDB scandal.
Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador has since offered Low - who has been on the run from authorities for months - “safe passage” back to Malaysia.
Gobind stressed that recovering stolen assets was just as important as capturing Low.
“What steps is the government taking to recover the money that was stolen? How are we going to ensure he returns to Malaysia?
“Yes, we can take action on him if he is guilty but what about the assets that he stole?
“The government has been silent on this and now the IGP has asked him to come home,” he remarked. - Mkini
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