Govt spent RM56.9m leftover for promotion this year
Putrajaya has spent RM56.9 million on advertising, promotion, and publicity this year, using funds that were meant to be spent last year.
In a statement today, the Finance Ministry said no new communications contracts were awarded this year...
Putrajaya has spent RM56.9 million on advertising, promotion, and publicity this year, using funds that were meant to be spent last year.
In a statement today, the Finance Ministry said no new communications contracts were awarded this year.
“Next year, the Madani administration will reduce spending on advertising, promotion, and publicity. We will cap it at RM100 million - half of the average spent (by the previous administration),” said the Finance Ministry.
The Finance Ministry added that between 2020 and 2022, the previous administrations allocated RM700 million for such exercises.
“The funds were used by both administrations to promote their achievements and efforts on all platforms including billboards, print media, broadcasts, and social media.
“The spending was coordinated by the prime minister’s office,” said the Finance Ministry.
On Nov 7, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told the Dewan Rakyat that his predecessors Muhyiddin Yassin and Ismail Sabri Yaakob had allocated RM500 million and RM200 million respectively for advertising, promotion, and publicity between 2020 and 2022.
The day after, Muhyiddin justified the spending because the public had to be informed about information relating to Covid-19 and economic stimulus packages.
Muhyiddin, however, accused Anwar of wasting money on billboards since coming to power.
Anwar previously told the Dewan Rakyat that his administration did not sign new billboard contracts as the existing contractors merely swapped out billboards to reflect the government of the day.
“The billboard (vendors) only replaced (the billboards) based on the agreement. The photo of the Bera MP (Ismail Sabri) with the Tambun MP (Anwar). That is all,” said Anwar.
