Bersatu to open doors to 100 former Jasa staff

Some 100 former Special Affairs Department (Jasa) staff are expected to be admitted to Bersatu on Wednesday.

According to a press invitation, the group will be handing in their membership forms during a ceremony in Shah Alam.

Bersatu supreme council member Abu Bakar Yahya, who is also the political secretary to prime minister and party chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad, will be receiving the forms.

Jasa was a propaganda unit shut down by the federal government after the May 9 elections. It was formerly parked under the Communications and Multimedia Ministry.

According to the federal government's expenditure document, Jasa had 272 staff members of which approximately half are political appointees, according to PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli.

Prior to being shut down, Jasa was led by former Umno supreme council member Mohd Puad Zakarshi and Faisal Ismail.

DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang had once pointed out that Puad was paid more than a cabinet minister, allegedly with the sole purpose of protecting then prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.  - Mkini