Budget 2021 for KKMM passed at committee level

KUALA LUMPUR: Through two motions related to the Department of Special Affairs (Jasa) which is now known as the Department of Community Communications (J-Kom) as well as a bloc vote, the Supply Bill 2021 for the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia (KKMM) was passed at the committee level in the Dewan Rakyat, today.

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun announced that 107 MPs voted in favour and 100 against, while 13 MPs were not present.

Earlier, the Dewan Rakyat approved a motion to reduce the allocation for the expansion of Jasa to RM45 million, from RM81.5 million previously, and rejected the opposition's motion to completely cut the allocation of RM81.5 million as well as another RM4 million allocated for the department.

While winding up the debate at the committee level, Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said that the government, in principle, had agreed with the proposed improvement over the piecemeal status of staff at Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) through a meeting held on Dec 4 among the Public Service Department, Ministry of Finance and Public Services Commission.

He said it involved the appointment of 397 piecemeal workers as permanent civil servants, 34 stringers and 222 of whom were retained on a piecemeal basis due to various factors, including the fact they were working part-time.

The issue was raised by Gobind Singh Deo (PH-Puchong) who is also the former communications and multimedia minister, during the debate session.

Meanwhile, Saifuddin said although the government had introduced the National Digital Infrastructure Plan (Jendela), his ministry was aware of the existing weaknesses of internet access, especially with regard to network ‘blind spots’, which affected both rural and urban areas.

He said the government would work to improve connectivity in order to meet current needs.

"We actually have plans to further improve and to do it (expand internet access) as fast as possible, although there is already Jendela, we are also thinking on how to expand the network faster," he said.

Jendela, announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Aug 29, is a five-year digital infrastructure plan under the 12th Malaysia Plan which aims to meet the people’s connectivity needs, as well as prepare the country for the transition to 5G technology.

The Dewan Rakyat sitting continues Monday.

-- BERNAMA