KOTA KINABALU – Two days after announcing plans to purchase 250,000 Covid-19 vaccine doses to help the Sabah government upscale its roll-out, Qhazanah Sabah Group is now set to improve the state’s internet connectivity.
The state’s wholly-owned investment arm has inked a deal with the state government giving Qhazanah Sabah Group exclusive rights to lead the development of telecommunication infrastructure in Sabah.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor said the state government aimed to overcome internet connectivity challenges with much-need telecommunication facilities, especially for rural areas.
Common Tower Technologies Sdn Bhd (CTTSB), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the state government, is in charge of upgrading and building new telecommunication towers in Sabah.
“Through CTTSB, the state government will be upgrading more than 2,000 telecommunication towers and building 400 new ones under the National Digital Network Plan (Jendela).
“It is also one of the largest independent tower owners and operators in Malaysia.
“The company owns, operates, and manages 257 telecommunication towers in Sabah following its appointment to undertake the TIME2 Project in Sabah in 2005,” said Hajiji.
Some RM3.5 billion is reportedly required for the project.
The agreement was sealed with state secretary Datuk Seri Safar Untong signing on behalf of the state government while Qhazanah Sabah was represented by CTTSB chairman Ghazalie Ansing.
The signing was witnessed by Hajiji together with Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin and Qhazanah Sabah Chairman Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak.
Also present were Qhazanah Sabah executive director Mohd Shukor Abdul Mumin, Qhazanah Sabah chief executive officer Ahmad Rizal Dahli and CTTSB chief executive officer Mikail Sungiau Abdullah.
On Saturday, Qhazanah Sabah Group signed an agreement to procure 250,000 doses of the Sinovac CoronaVac vaccine from Pharmaniaga.
The cost of the vaccines and whether it will be sold to the public were not disclosed.
But a statement issued on the matter noted that some 125,000 people would benefit from the procurement. – The Vibes, August 9, 2021
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