Many Malaysians seem to be all riled up over the allocation of RM85.5 million to the Special Affairs Department (Jasa) under Budget 2021.

The JASA allocation shld go to anti-Covid efforts or meaningful Covid relief. Is there really any question about that?
— Malik Imtiaz Sarwar (@malikimtiaz) November 8, 2020

You don’t need JASA to unite the nation. The frontliners are doing that by their devotion and sacrifices. Spend the RM80m on the frontliners, buy more PPE, more equipment, more test kits so we can do mass testing. My 2 sen.
— B4H4 B1D4R1 (@B4H4B1D4R1) November 9, 2020

THIS! I have to agree. The RM85m and RM8m allocation to JASA and PeKT respectively is unwanted for and needs to be distributed to other needs such as the frontliners as well as mahasiswa. https://t.co/CwoSX8Yjxv
— Ali Amir Razali | علي امير رازالي?? (@aliamirrazali) November 9, 2020

The RM80mil JASA allocation is obviously a red herring for more pressing items in the Budget.Healthcare gets -RM200mil in various areas while JAKIM enjoys +RM100milGod knows what other bullshit is there while we are being blindsided by JASA https://t.co/n0wqDeOT8G pic.twitter.com/NUwffYMwhy
— Fazri? (@tenoq) November 9, 2020

Reinstatement of JASA is basically admitting that the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia under @saifuddinabd's leadership is ineffective, same applies to @MuhyiddinYassin's Communications arm/Dept/expert under PMO to the point they need another dept for comms stuff.
— #EndChildMarriage - Azira ?? ? (@ladymissazira) November 9, 2020

Parliamentarians from both divides have also been speaking up on the matter with many saying that it is just not the time to be pumping in money to an agency that is essentially there to spread government propaganda.

Even former Jasa director-general Datuk Puad Zarkashi spoke out against the allocation (we have a little more info on Puad below).

“An allocation of RM85.5 million to Jasa proves that Budget 2021 is insensitive to ‘priorities’ when the country is being hit by a third wave of COVID-19 infections.

“Reviving Jasa is appropriate but providing a fourfold allocation at the time of COVID-19 is highly inappropriate,” he said when speaking to Malay Mail on the matter.

Meanwhile, in an attempt to calm the uproar, the Communications and Multimedia Ministry released a statement saying that the allocation would be used to turn Jasa into an agency that is focused on uniting the country and galvanising efforts to fight COVID-19.

In a report by The Star, the ministry said that Jasa would no longer be politically motivated and would instead focus on "engaging Malaysians of all races and religions to better develop the nation" and combating fake news that could affect national harmony.

(Other than the fake news bit, the rest seem a little like spreading propaganda, no?)

What's Jasa?

Jasa has quite a long history interesting history.

In 1959, it was actually called Badan Hal Ehwal Khas (BHEK), an organisation that was established after the 1959 Malayan general election.

BHEK was tasked to aid with political, religious and government stability.

In 1960, BHEK was later upgraded and renamed as the Cawangan Hal Ehwal Khas (CHEK) under the purview of Jabatan Perkhidmatan Penerangan or Information Services Department.

Later in the year 2000, the cabinet decided to form the Jabatan Hal Ehwal Khas (JHEK) or the Department of Special Affairs, replacing CHEK.

In 2004, the department's acronym was changed from JHEK to JASA, but the work done by the department remained the same.

After the 2018 general election, the department was abolished by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Controversies galore

Throughout the years, many have questioned the need, the allocations and the exact work that was being carried out by officials under JASA.

A report by Malaysiakini in 2017 even reported on how the matter was raised by then Pakatan Harapan president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

She questioned why the then Jasa director was paid more than the Communications and Multimedia Ministeras Jasa was supposed to be a department under the ministry.

It was revealed that JASA director-general Datuk Puad Zarkashi had a monthly salary of RM20,592, while the Communications and Multimedia minister was only paid RM14,907 a month.

In the article, Barisan Nasional Strategic Communications director Eric See-To was quoted as defending the disputed salary explaining that JASA "was needed to deal with fake news as well as lies by the opposition spread through online portals and social media."

This is also probably why many were shocked to learn that JASA was back and such a huge allocation was set aside for them in the budget.

Do we need a body to keep us united?

The need for Jasa to keep Malaysians united is quite a strange purpose.

Yes, you can and should have a body in charge of disseminating information relating to governmental policies and we should just leave it at that.

As for the sum of RM85.5mil meant for Jasa, we're with most Malaysians.

Forget about us and encouraging harmony.

Use the money for our frontliners, to improve internet connection and to help those in dire need during these very trying times.

What's Jasa And Why Is Everyone Getting Worked Up Over RM85.5mil Allocated To It Under Budget 2021?

What's Jasa?

Controversies galore

Do we need a body to keep us united?