Abolish J-Kom, save govt RM13mil, says opposition MP

 

Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman said J-Kom failed to properly fulfil its duty as Putrajaya’s communications arm.

KUALA LUMPUR: An opposition MP has called for the community communications department (J-Kom) to be abolished, saying it failed to explain several issues, including the increase in the cost of goods.

Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman (PN-Kuala Krai) said doing away with the communications arm of the government would also help Putrajaya save some RM13 million.

Latiff said apart from failing to explain the increase in the price hikes, J-Kom had also failed to explain the conflict in Palestine which has led to polemics.

“I suggest we dissolve J-Kom as it has failed to function properly.

“It’s not helping the government win support, nor is it operating as a propaganda department as hoped,” he told the Dewan Rakyat when debating the 2024 budget at the committee stage.

In September, media and political experts told FMT that the government should either abolish J-Kom or at the very least overhaul its operations.

They said this after Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim acknowledged the government could have done a better job communicating with the public in the lead-up to the six state elections in August.

The Perikatan Nasional-led government in 2020 had rebranded the special affairs department, or Jasa, which is under the Prime Minister’s Office, to J-Kom.

However, then communications and multimedia minister Saifuddin Abdullah said J-Kom would not operate as a propaganda machine for the government. - FMT