No new allocation for advertisements, promotion for Malaysia MADANI this year - PM

KUALA LUMPUR: No new allocation will be provided by the government for publicity and promotion of announcements and achievements of the MADANI Government and the Prime Minister this year, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Instead, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today said his MADANI Government is only utilising the balance of the allocation approved and signed under the previous government led by his predecessor Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said this includes the allocation for the installation of billboards and publications of government policies such as on Malaysia MADANI, MADANI Economy framework and Budget 2024.

"Between 2020 and 2022, the government has spent RM700 million on promotional advertisements and publicity. This means that RM500 million was spent during the administration of the Honourable Pagoh MP (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin) and the rest during the administration of the Honourable Bera MP (Ismail Sabri).

"Honourable Bera MP did not spend as high, hence the balance (of the allocation). That's why in 2023, there was no allocation given, we are just utilising the balance of the allocation and continuing what was already approved while he was the prime minister.

"For me, spending RM700 million or more than RM300 million a year is just too much and against the rules and good governance," he said in reply to P. Prabakaran (PH-Batu) during Minister's Question Time.

Prabakaran wanted to know the amount spent on the promotion and publicity of the government's achievements via all media platforms since 2020.

Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said that he had also told the ministry not to approve an allocation of more than RM100 million a year for promotion and publicity purposes, starting next year.

While acknowledging the need for explanations regarding government policies, Anwar said the government should not be burdened with additional costs for advertising and publicity.

"Government programmes, including new initiatives such as the MADANI Economy framework, energy transition, and the 2023 New Industrial Master Plan, and the budget, certainly need to be explained to the people.

"We should utilise the existing machinery and councils, as well as ministers and deputy ministers, to go to the ground and help explain to the people. This small allocation will be put to optimal use to create advertisements and publications that can provide further explanations," he said.

Anwar said he believed that this should not pose a significant issue as long as the government has clear programmes and actively engages with the people.

"After all, overspending does not align with our principles of efficient management and good governance," he added.

-- BERNAMA