The Malaysian Insight

TWO propaganda units from the former Najib Razak administration – National Communication Team and Brandworth Corporation – are among several agencies under the Prime Minister’s Department dissolved yesterday.

The dissolution is part of the PMD’s rationalisation plan that will be announced by Putrajaya today in conjunction with the swearing-in ceremony of the full cabinet. 

A reply from the chief secretary to the PMD on its agreement to the rationalisation plan was sighted by The Malaysian Insight.

The National Communication Team, once led by New Straits Times Press chief executive officer Abdul Jalil Hamid, actively issued statements on behalf of Najib during the peak of the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal. 

Brandworth Corporation was helmed by Ahmad Farid Ridzuan, former CEO of media conglomerate Media Prima Bhd.

Farid joined Najib’s media team in 2010 and backed the former Umno president during the 13th and 14th general elections.

Other agencies to be shelved include Malaysia Innovation Agency, Institut Wasatiyyah Malaysia and Socio-Economic Research Institute (SERI).

All advisers to Najib and ambassadors with a minister’s status, such as former cabinet members Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, S. Samy Vellu, Ong Ka Ting and Rais Yatim, have been relieved of their duties.

Some of these advisers’ offices and agencies have ceased functioning since Pakatan Harapan won on May 9 and took over Putrajaya from Barisan Nasional. 

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said on May 23 after PH’s first cabinet meeting that several departments and agencies will be dissolved.

These include the Land Public Transport Commission, National Professors’ Council, Special Affairs Department and Federal Village Development and Security Committee. 

Twenty-six agencies continue to function under the PMD, including four placed under the Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption Centre.

They are the National Integrity and Good Governance Department, Institut Integrity Malaysia, Public Complaints Bureau and Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission. 

A total of 40 departments and agencies have been moved to other ministries.

1Malaysia for Youth will be rebranded and placed under the Youth and Sport Ministry while Al-Hijrah and Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (Ikim) have been moved to the Islamic Development Department Malaysia (Jakim).

Permata, an early childhood education programme spearheaded by the wife of the former prime minister, Rosmah Mansor, has been relocated to the Education Ministry.

Agencies involved in Bumiputera economic development, such as Yayasan Peneraju Pendidikan Bumiputera and Unit Peneraju Agenda Bumiputera (Teraju), were moved to the Economic Affairs Department. – July 2, 2018.