KUALA LUMPUR – Khoo Poay Tiong (PH-Kota Melaka) has called for a shake-up at the community communications department (J-Kom), saying the unit has fallen short in conveying the government’s messages to the public.
Khoo said many people were missing out on key policies because J-Kom’s online reach was limited.
He pointed to the department’s own social media output, highlighting the director-general’s podcasts which, he said, received fewer than 50 views on YouTube.
“If this continues, we will not achieve our goals,” he told the Dewan Rakyat during the debate on the communications ministry’s budget today.
“We must make changes so that government messages reach the grassroots. Many people still do not receive accurate and truthful information from the right sources.”
Khoo warned that weak communication had real consequences, citing the Sabah state polls as an example, where many voters were allegedly unaware of federal assistance.
He also highlighted the cheap airfares for Sabah students returning home, saying it was key information that many Sabahans had missed.
He urged the government to revamp J-Kom so its messages can “reach far more people, and fast.”
Khoo further said J-Kom’s lack of effective messaging had allowed false news to spread unchecked. – November 24, 2025