KUALA LUMPUR: Saifuddin Abdullah has defended the rebranded Community Communication Department (J-KOM), saying that a worldview approach based on realistic and mature thinking is needed in assessing its role.
The communications and multimedia minister said all quarters should develop a new thinking on two-way communication between the government and the people, especially at the grassroots level, in view of new challenges and needs.
“The fact is that J-KOM is not Jasa (Special Affairs Department),” he said when winding up the debate on the 2021 Supply Bill in the Dewan Negara today.
Saifuddin said J-KOM’s main task was to implement the communication strategy for the new normal.
In this regard, he said the function of J-KOM would not overlap with those of publicity agencies under other ministries in terms of target groups, programme approach and activities.
“J-KOM will also take into consideration the space for saving under this allocation in Budget 2021. This is because under the J-KOM structure, it is placed in districts throughout the country compared to Jasa which was previously present in all parliamentary and state assembly constituencies,” he said.
On internet and broadband service, Saifuddin said the RM500 million allocation for the National Digital Network Plan (Jendela) was for the provision of fibre optic-based broadband coverage.
He said the use of very small aperture terminal (VSAT) technology did not come under the scope of this project.
“The technology used is fibre-optic infrastructure which can give high speed fixed broadband delivery at a minimum of 100 megabits per second (Mbps) to 1 Gigabit, according to customer demands,” he added.
Saifuddin also said his ministry always disseminated information on government aid for the people through the television and radio platforms, namely RTM, Information Department (JaPen) and Bernama, as well as news media channels.