KUALA LUMPUR: The Dewan Rakyat today approved the amended 2021 Budget allocation for the Communications and Multimedia Ministry, which has been reduced by RM45 million.
The RM1.197 billion allocation for the ministry was passed after 107 members of Parliament voted in favour of the amount compared to 100 who abstained during bloc voting.
Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun announced that 13 MPs were not present during the voting session.
Before the allocation for the ministry was debated at the committee stage, Deputy Finance Minister 1 Datuk Abd Rahim Bakri had tabled motion to reduce the allocation for the revival of the Special Affairs Department(Jasa), which has since been re-branded as the Department of Community Communications (J-KOM).
The allocation for J-KOM was reduced from RM85.5 million to RM40 million.
The motion to reduce the allocation for J-KOM was approved after receiving a majority "yes" from members of Parliament who voted in favour of the motion via voice voting.