Khoo said many people were missing out on key policies because J-Kom’s online reach was limited.

He said the problem was clearly reflected in J-Kom’s own social media output, pointing to the director-general’s podcasts which he said received fewer than 50 views on YouTube.

“If this continues, we will not achieve our goals,” he told the Dewan Rakyat during the debate on the communications ministry’s budget today.

“We must make changes so that government messages reach the grassroots. Many people still do not receive accurate and truthful information from the right sources.”

Khoo said weak communication had real consequences, citing the Sabah state polls as an example, with many voters allegedly unaware of federal assistance.

He cited the cheap airfares for Sabah students returning home as an example of key information that many Sabahans were unaware of.

He urged the government to revamp J-Kom so its messages can “reach far more people, and fast”.

Khoo also said J-Kom’s lack of effective messaging had allowed false news to spread unchecked.