Fahmi confirms former PKR senator is new J-Kom DG, third since 2023

Summary

• Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil confirms that Ismail Yusop is the new Community Communications Department (J-Kom) director-general.

• The position has been left vacant for three months after former director-general Khairuddin Othman’s contract was terminated.

• Ismail is the third person to occupy the post since 2023.

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil has confirmed the appointment of Ismail Yusop as the director-general of the Community Communications Department (J-Kom).

The appointment was made after the position had been vacant for three months. Ismail replaces Khairuddin Othman, whose contract was terminated after six months.

“Yes, confirmed,” said Fahmi briefly via WhatsApp when asked about the matter.

Yesterday, Ismail’s appointment was shared on the official Facebook page of the Malaysian National Academy.

The appointment of the former PKR senator is like “returning to the starting point” as he had previously served in the agency as its deputy director-general.

Ismail (above) is the third J-Kom director-general since Anwar Ibrahim became prime minister following the 15th general election.

Initially, this political appointment was held by former political science lecturer Mohammad Agus Yusoff, who served from February to November 2023. Ismail, at that time, played the role of his deputy.

However, Agus left the department after a video clip of two men having an indecent conversation was circulated on social media.

He denied allegations that he was one of the men in the clip, claiming he was framed.

He then resigned from the post, citing a new job offer.

Ismail had also left to assume the role of deputy director-general of the Malaysian National Academy.

‘Dubai Move’

In December 2023, Ismail claimed that there was a plot to topple Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and the government, which was dubbed the “Dubai Move”.

He had alleged that the movement arose during a vacation by Perikatan Nasional leaders and government backbenchers to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

However, opposition chief Hamzah Zainudin had since dismissed the claim and regarded it as a “useless slander”.

In response to Ismail’s allegation, Fahmi had agreed to a suggestion by Umno Supreme Council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi that there was a need to revamp J-Kom.

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