Saifuddin caught off guard by huge Jasa budget - report

 

Communications and Multimedia Minister Saifuddin Abdullah was caught off guard by the huge RM85.5 million allocated to the Special Affairs Department (Jasa) under Budget 2021.

Citing a Putrajaya source, The Malaysian Insight said that Saifuddin was aware of the move to revive the propaganda unit but was stunned when he learned of the large amount allocated.

"He was shocked when he saw the amount. He never asked for this much to be allocated to Jasa," said the source.

Despite this surprise, the Communications and Multimedia Ministry swiftly took steps to defend the move, which has been harshly criticised.

It said the revived Jasa would comprise members who have no political motive and the allocation provided by the government will be utilised to implement the functions and roles of the department effectively.

Saying it was an information and communication dissemination agency at a time when the country is facing the Covid-19 pandemic, it claimed that Jasa supports the principles of Rukun Negara and will play a role in creating a united country through the dissemination of accurate and authentic information.

Critics have blasted the move as the government using taxpayer funds to finance a disruptive propaganda unit.

The Malaysian Insight reported that Saifuddin has now instructed newly appointed ministry secretary-general Mohammad Mentek to investigate the matter.

Meanwhile, Saifuddin's deputy Zahidi Zainul Abidin has said that it was his idea to revive Jasa but went on to deny that Saifuddin was unaware of the decision.

"Yes, it was I who proposed to revive Jasa and Saifuddin knows about it but may have forgotten as he has many responsibilities.

"He is always active and busy, so he sometimes forgets matters that have been brought to his attention," he said.

Zahidi, who is also Padang Besar MP, said the Finance Ministry decided on the allocation after discussing with officers who previously worked in Jasa and that it was a collective decision.

He clarified the overall amount of RM85.5 million also included rehiring more than 1,000 former Jasa officers who had lost their jobs under the previous Pakatan Harapan administration, and not just to hire 80 individuals.

"So, we bring back Jasa and have allocations for the unit, but we will have to thank Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin for allowing us to do so – to protect the fate of Malay officers sacked from Jasa," he was reported as saying.

In the run-up to GE14, the unit organised talks nationwide to "correct the misconception" of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal, linked to former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Meanwhile DAP's Iskandar Puteri MP, Lim Kit Siang questioned if Zahidi was more powerful and knowledgeable than his minister.

"In view of the nation-wide uproar that the proposed revival of Jasa has caused, will Saifuddin repair the damage and take the lead in the cabinet to abort the revival of Jasa and turn the budget allocation for a special agency to promote national unity and bring Malaysians, regardless of race, religion, region or politics together as one united people to fight the Covid-19 pandemic," he said in a statement today.

He called on Saifuddin to give a firm commitment that there would be no revival of Jasa, saying it had been nothing but a propaganda and cybertrooper arm of the Najib government to defend the 1MDB scandal and to demonise the DAP as "anti-Malay, anti-Islam, anti-royalty and communist”. - Mkini