The government will shut down the controversial Special Affairs Department (Jasa) next month, which, according to a report, would put up to 800 contract workers out of jobs.

The Malaysian Insight quoted the propaganda unit’s director Faisal Ismail Aziz (above) saying that Jasa will be dissolved on Oct 15.

As a result, he reportedly said that about 800 contract workers will be retrenched, while 300 civil servants will be transferred back to the Public Service Department and eventually redeployed.

He had also claimed that the 800 contract workers were not political appointees and should not be victimised.

“If the new government wants to transfer political appointees out, this I can understand and there would not be a problem.

“But not all Jasa staff were political appointees,” he was quoted as saying.

He reportedly said that most of the contract staff only earn between RM2,000 and RM4,000 depending on their rank, and it would be harsh to retrench them.

In addition, Jasa’s dissolution would be unwise because the department played a vital role gathering feedback from the ground and explaining government policies to the people, he added.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had announced the dissolution of five different government bodies including Jasa on May 23, following his first cabinet meeting after the 14th general election.

Jasa, a unit under the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia, had previously been accused of being a propaganda unit used to attack opposition leaders. 

De facto Law Minister Liew Vui Keong told the parliament that the government will end the contracts of over a third of the 17,942 government officers hired on contract basis.

As many as 3,242 of these will be terminated because their project or task have been completed or discontinued, while 2,934 will be terminated when their contract ends.

Meanwhile, 11,394 officers will be retained, 85 will be given other placements, and 277 were under consideration.