GERAKAN president Datuk Dr Dominic Lau Hoe Chai has joined his fellow Perikatan Nasional (PN) peers in attacking the Community Communications Department (J-Kom) and its director-general (DG) Datuk Mohammad Agus Yusoff who only took up office on Feb 2.
In his senatorship capacity, Lau questioned the unity government in Dewan Negara yesterday (March 30) as to why a substantial allocation of RM12 mil was set aside for J-KOM and how the allocation for development will be used by the agency under the Prime Minister’s Department.
“Is J-Kom entrusted to look after the image of the unity government when its DG Agus seems to have become the unofficial spokesman of the unity government?” he asked when debating on the Supply Bill 2023.
“I’m saying this because when the people want to know why the PM (Anwar) failed to meet the Saudi King during his trip to Saudi Arabia, he straight away issued a statement blaming the opposition.”
Added the Penang-born Lau whose Gerakan party is the smallest and only non-Malay party in PN: “Next, he (Agus) seems to keep himself occupied by initiating moves to block actions seen as threatening the unity government.”
For the record, Agus has previously described Anwar’s visit to Saudi Arabia as a success amid criticism by the Opposition block which deemed it as both “a failure and wastage”.
Lau further advised the former Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) lecturer to understand the true purpose and function of J-Kom’s establishment by the government.
“I want to remind J-Kom that its listed functions clearly show its aim is to build the community, developing the community and leading the community,” noted Lau who succeeded Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong as Gerakan’s president in November 2018 and appointed as a Senator under the PN ticket in November 2021 (till November 2024).
“Instead of being a spokesperson for this unity government, so I am asking the relevant minister to explain how the allocation of RM12 mil (for J-Kom) can be used,” he added. – March 31, 2023
