After Turning Down Govt Post Analyst Made J Kom Dg

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Political analyst Agus Yusoff started work as J-Kom’s director-general at the Prime Minister’s Department today. (Facebook pic)PETALING JAYA: After initially turning down a government post in December, political analyst Agus Yusoff has been appointed the director-general of the controversial department for community communications (J-Kom).
In a statement, the former Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia academic said he clocked in for his first day of work as J-Kom’s director-general at the Prime Minister’s Department today.
Agus said the 15th general election (GE15) had caused rifts in the Malaysian society, adding that social media had created tension among the races.
“To restore (harmony within the nation), we at J-Kom will work to educate the community with relevant knowledge and ethics so that patriotism, tolerance and good ties among the rakyat will continue to thrive.
“J-Kom will partner and work closely with every government agency, the private sector, NGOs, youths and community leaders in this endeavour,” he said.
In December, Malaysiakini reported that Agus had turned down an offer from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to work for the unity government.
The analyst was quoted as saying he planned to remain in Indonesia, where he was teaching at the State University of Gorontalo.
Pakatan Harapan MPs had claimed that J-Kom was essentially a rebranded Jasa (special affairs department), which in the past had been deemed Putrajaya’s propaganda arm.
In 2021, then Klang MP Charles Santiago had urged the government to review the need for J-Kom, while Subang MP Wong Chen had said the department was not essential. - FMT

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