KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Mahfuz Omar (Pokok Sena-PH) is demanding an explanation from the government over allegations made by a deputy minister pertaining to its controversial dealings with Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB).
Mahfuz said the revelations by Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin yesterday showed that the government had been misleading the Dewan Rakyat concerning the country’s 5G roll-out.
The Amanah vice-president chiefly noted Zahidi’s remark claiming a lack of transparency in the government’s tender with DNB, contrary to statements issued in the past asserting otherwise.
“The deputy minister said there were secret discussions between the then communications and multimedia minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz on DNB, and that others in the ministry were kept in the dark.
“He (Zahidi) also highlighted the issue of a monopoly in the appointment of DNB (as the country’s sole provider of 5G network infrastructure),” he said in the Dewan Rakyat today.
“Additionally, yesterday Deputy Finance Minister II (Yamani Hafez Musa) said that the total cost of 5G coverage is RM12.5 billion, but Zahidi said it is RM20 billion. This has caused confusion in the lower House.”
On December 11, Saifuddin clarified that discussions on the implementation of the 5G single network, or single wholesale network concept, under DNB as the operator were carried out early this year during his tenure heading the Communications and Multimedia Ministry
Saifuddin, who is now foreign minister, said the discussions involving the Communications and Multimedia Ministry, Malaysia Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), and the Finance Ministry were held before the cabinet meeting on February 3.
“(The Communications and Multimedia Ministry), MCMC, and the Finance Ministry discussed the matter together before the cabinet meeting on February 3, 2021 when the decision to set up a special-purpose vehicle (now called DNB) was made.
“I was also involved in the next steps and was briefed by DNB and EY (Ernst & Young Consulting Services Sdn Bhd) further on the implementation plan,” he said.
Mahfuz persists in claiming something amiss
Mahfuz claimed that MPs may have passed Budget 2022 basing on false information provided, in particular by Tengku Zafrul when he tabled the Supply Bill last month, which included matters pertaining to the country’s 5G plans.
“It is as if we have lied to the rakyat and that the Dewan Rayat has committed an awful thing,” he said.
Citing Standing Order 36 (12) of the Dewan Rakyat for misleading the House, he urged the government to clear the air on the matter, while also questioning the status of the recently passed Budget 2022.
He also sought a ruling from Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon on the matter.
Rashid, however, told Mahfuz to write to Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun and seek a written reply on the issue.
In a press conference yesterday, Zahidi alleged that Saifuddin and Tengku Zafrul had been holding secret discussions on the 5G roll-out while leaving out other government underlings from the meetings, including him.
The Barisan Nasional lawmaker had suggested that the secrecy may be due to the fact that Saifuddin was previously a member of PKR, while Zahidi himself is an Umno man.
Among other concerns that Zahidi said must be addressed include why Ericsson and DNB are “monopolies” in the country’s 5G plan.
He also claimed that the major telecommunication companies are complaining of a lack of transparency from the government.
DNB was established in March 2021 and acts as the government’s sole provider of infrastructure for the 5G network, with Ericsson later appointed in July as the network equipment provider.
Yesterday, in announcing the roll-out of 5G, DNB also confirmed that Telekom Malaysia Bhd and YTL Communications Sdn Bhd, which own Unifi Mobile and Yes respectively, have subscribed to its offer of wholesale 5G services.
The other four major mobile network operators – Celcom, Digi, Maxis and U Mobile – have yet to agree to subscribe to DNB’s network, and have instead proposed that they be allowed to set up a second wholesale network. – The Vibes, December 16, 2021
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