PARLIAMENT | The government does not plan to move the Community Communications Department (J-Kom), which is currently under the Prime Minister’s Department, to the Communications and Digital Ministry.
Deputy Communications and Digital Minister Teo Nie Ching said, for now, there is no change unless there is an order from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to move J-Kom.
She also said the decision to place J-Kom under the Prime Minister’s Department was made by the previous government under the administration of Muhyiddin Yassin.
“The decision to move J-Kom was made in 2021; Pagoh (Muhyiddin) was the prime minister and Indera Mahkota (Saifuddin Abdullah) was the minister of communications at that time.
“I am not sure what was discussed in the ministerial meeting at that time.
“But, so far, the decision of the government is that J-Kom remains under the Prime Minister’s Department,” she said.
“In the future, if the prime minister wants to move J-Kom back, then the (digital and communications) ministry will follow the instructions,” said Teo during Question Time in Parliament.
She was responding to Lim Lip Eng (Pakatan Harapan-Kepong) who in a supplementary question had asked if the government had plans to return J-Kom to the Communications and Digital Ministry to avoid duplication of resources.
“J-Kom has communications in its name, with a mission to strengthen community engagement.
“So, my question is, should J-Kom be placed under the Communications and Digital Ministry to avoid a waste of public funds?” asked Lim.
J-Kom in its current function was rebranded from the BN-era Special Affairs Department (Jasa), often associated with government propaganda.
Earlier this month, former academician Mohammad Agus Yusoff resigned from his post as J-Kom director-general, with the announcement made several hours before being implicated in a viral video of him allegedly having a lewd conversation with another male.
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