J-Kom's loyalty to government, not political parties, says its DG

The Star

31-05-2025

JOHOR BARU: The Community Communications Department (J-Kom)'s loyalty is to the government of the day, not any political parties, says its director-general Datuk Ismail Yusop.
Ismail, who was appointed to the role in January, stated that the department is an apolitical agency that follows the same processes as any other government department and agency.
"This is a government agency, and its responsibility is to take care of the government of the day, not any political parties.
"Even the appointment of officers under J-Kom must go through the Chief Secretary's office and the Public Service Department," he said during a press conference at the Madani Rakyat Programme here.
He added that he had also gone through the necessary vetting process, including a medical check-up, before his appointment was approved.
Ismail said this in response to a question about his efforts as the new director-general to improve public perception of the agency.
The former PKR senator said he hopes to improve the public perception of the agency, which was previously under the Prime Minister's Department and is now under the Communications Ministry.
'I have also reminded J-Kom officers that their job is to serve the government of the day, whoever that may be.
'If they want to take care of their party, then they should just stay at the party.
'I am also a party man, and I am not embarrassed to admit it, but once you are in this agency, then you need to follow the process,' he said.
The agency has long been marred by controversy, with two directors-general removed in just over two years, and questions have also been raised about whether it should exist at all.
During the recent PKR party election, the agency was accused of instructing its staff to share campaign content of certain party leaders.
In a statement on May 25, Ismail denied the allegations, stressing that all staff were carrying out their duties professionally and with integrity.