KUALA LUMPUR – Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today urged Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz not to grant the Special Affairs Department (Jasa) RM85.5 million for its revival.
Anwar (PH-Port Dickson) made the call during the Budget 2021 debate after he was asked to comment on the massive allocation for the unit, long deemed the government’s propaganda arm, that was abolished by Pakatan Harapan when it took Putrajaya in 2018.
“Your honourable Port Dickson. Do you agree if we amend and cancel the allocation of RM85.5 million for Jasa, and give the allocation in its totality to frontliners?” asked Fahmi Fadzil (PH-Lembah Pantai).
Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir (PH-Johor Baru) also raised the fact that the Housing and Local Government Ministry received an allocation of RM8.6 million to fund community-based non-governmental organisations.
He said these groups are friendly to certain political parties, and that the sum is meant to fund political propaganda.
In his reply, Anwar took a jab at Tengku Zafrul, saying the latter is not a politician and lacks experience, therefore, he could just be a pawn to more experienced and senior politicians using him when it comes to Jasa.
“The finance minister has become a political victim. He gave a ridiculous speech that no one can accept.
“He claimed to sympathise with frontliners and fishermen, and is giving them RM300 (but he took the money from the Fisheries Development Authorities Malaysia ) and cut off padi subsidies.
“However, for his political cronies to continue their dirty propaganda, he allocated RM85.5 million. He should cancel this, as well as cancel the Penggerak Community, which is receiving a one-off grant of RM8.6 million for the benefit of one minister and her cronies.”
The PKR president voiced sympathy for Tengku Zafrul for allegedly being a pawn due to inexperience, but stressed that Jasa and Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin’s Penggerak Community should not receive allocations. – The Vibes, November 9, 2020
