KOTA KINABALU – Sabah opposition parties are questioning Budget 2021’s RM81 million allocation for the controversial Special Affairs Department (Jasa), with fears that the unit under the Communications and Multimedia Ministry will be used as a tool against them.
DAP’s Kota Kinabalu lawmaker, Chan Foong Hin, said he is hesitant to support the Budget if the government uses Jasa as a propaganda arm to attack the opposition, as what has been done before.
He said Barisan Nasional in 2018 allocated RM30 million to the agency, which was then abolished by the short-lived Pakatan Harapan administration to generate “mature politics”.
“Now, not only is Jasa revived, but it is receiving more allocation next year.
“Is this not contradicting the spirit of bipartisanship, which is the wish of the people and also the Yang di-Petuan Agong, who has urged everyone to set aside our political differences and personal interests for the country during this difficult time?”
He said the Budget is supposed to reflect unity and rise above political differences.
Sabah PKR Youth chief Razeef Rakimin, meanwhile, said the Perikatan Nasional government should give allocations to help sustain the people in this trying time instead of dishing out “one-off gifts” from the national coffers.
“During BN’s rule, Jasa was a propaganda tool used by the government with only 52 employees. It was then abolished as it was a waste of the people’s money and did not benefit the country.”
He said 100,000 Covid-19 frontliners have been allocated RM50 million, meaning each will get RM500 for risking their lives.
Comparing the sum to that set aside for Jasa, he said: “It seems unfair, doesn’t it?”
He said the money can be put to better use, especially to help those hit hard by the coronavirus crisis.
“Many people have lost their jobs, or had their salaries reduced, or have been forced to take unpaid leave. Businessmen, too, are struggling with low profits.”
He said MPs from both sides of the divide should reject the Budget.
“If the opposition bloc can produce a better Budget, then why should we support the government’s Budget, which is seen to be benefiting only certain parties, and not the people?
“This is not the time to be playing politics. We must give the best to the people and country for the long run.” – The Vibes, November 7, 2020
