Jasa allocation can be better used to extend MOH contract staff, says Shafie

 

PARLIAMENT | The RM85 allocation to revive the Special Affairs Department (Jasa) could be better used to extend or absorb current Health Ministry contract staff, former Sabah chief minister Shafie Apdal said.

Based on his experience in government, the Semporna MP said Jasa's intended role could be played by the Community Development Department (Kemas).

"Contract staff at the Health Ministry must be extended or absorbed. They are national heroes; they must be given worthy recognition.

"In the current situation, why should Jasa be given such a large allocation? Whereas Jasa's role could be played by Kemas," Shafie said during his debate on the Supply Bill 2020 in Parliament today.

The issue of allocations to revive Jasa has been highlighted by various MPs since the start of the budget debate last week, from outright rejection by Opposition MPs to others in government who argued that the propaganda unit was a necessary addition to existing information channels.

Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, as the BN backbenchers chief, previously argued that the RM85 million figure was "unacceptable" in current times, proposing instead that the amount be revised to a similar sum during BN's era, at around RM30 million.

'Lower allocations for Sabah, Sarawak'

Shafie, meanwhile, also called on the government to provide more allocations for Sabah, in line with the increase in the federal budget to RM322 billion.

"I hope that Sabah, as a large area with a population close to four million, should be given a more appropriate amount because there we have a high number of people in abject poverty, despite being rich in natural resources," he said.

Separately, Larry Sng (Harapan-Julau, above) noted the reduced development allocations for Sarawak and Sabah under Budget 2021.

"The dedicated development allocation for Sarawak from the overall federal development expenditure is down from 7.8 percent in Budget 2020 to 6.5 percent in Budget 2021.

"Sabah, meanwhile, saw a drop from 9.3 percent to 7.4 percent," he said.

Sng further cited a separate written reply that the reduced allocation for Sarawak was influenced by additional expected income paid to the state in the form of petroleum sales and service tax.

"The government must take the approach that Sabah and Sarawak are equal partners of the peninsula states.

"Although the division for Sarawak is not at one-third (of federal expenditure), the government must move towards that, instead of reducing the percentage of allocations," Sng said. - Mkini