Minister agrees J-Kom infographic 'tone deaf'

Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil stated that he agrees that the Community Communications Department’s (J-Kom) cost of living infographic was “tone deaf”.

He added that he will be meeting J-Kom soon to discuss the matter.

“…The numbers are factually correct but the complaints were that it (the infographic) was tone deaf and I agree.

“I think J-Kom needs to review some of its modus operandi and focus on certain key areas so we will have an internal discussion soon,” Fahmi told reporters after attending the Global Conference on Communications, Culture and Contemporary Media 2023 in Bangi today.

Yesterday, J-Kom released an infographic explaining that a family of four can survive on less than RM400 worth of groceries per month, and a single person would spend just over RM200 per month.

However, it has since been amended following brickbats from netizens, with a majority of them lambasting J-Kom for posting such an “illogical” infographic.

J-Kom removed any mention of income levels but maintained the RM400 and RM200 benchmark for the family and the single person respectively in the updated iteration.

Additionally, the infographic is now accompanied by a caveat stating: “This illustrative calculation is only for goods that are (price) controlled and subsidised by the government, and does not include other items”.

Earlier, J-Kom director-general Mohammad Agus Yusoff came to the defence of the infographic, stating that it was aimed at combating “false claims”.

He said that the simulation was based on six items which are said to have gone up in price drastically, causing spending (on groceries) to increase from RM200 to RM500 a month.

The items listed on the infographic were whole chickens, eggs, rice, oil, bread and cooking gas.

Notably absent from the grocery list in both versions are fruits and vegetables.

Agus also said that J-Kom had also spoken to consumers before creating the infographic.

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