More than 13,000 have signed an online petition calling on Putrajaya to abort its RM85.5 million plan to revive the Special Affairs Department (Jasa) amid tough economic times during Covid-19 pandemic.

The petition also called for Budget 2021 to be defeated if the Perikatan Nasional government refused to budge.

It is targeting 15,000 supporters and has already gained more than 13,600 signatories in less than 24 hours it was launched.

Jasa was previously an agency intended to disseminate information about government policies but gained notoriety as it morphed into...