KUALA LUMPUR – As of December, 215 contracts with an overall value of RM7.8 billion have been signed by Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) with 97% (138 contracts) from the overall contract acquired through competitive bidding (limited tender).
Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil said 3% or 77 contracts were awarded via direct negotiations in 2021 when DNB was just set up with the objective of implementing a 5G network in a short period of time.
“DNB was just established in 2021 with the objective of implementing the 5G network in a short period of time.
“At that time, DNB needed the set skills which were not available and could only be acquired from suitable global companies which have the technology,” he said during question-and-answer at Dewan Rakyat here today.
He was replying to a question by Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad (PH-Kuala Selangor) on the readiness to enforce acquisition by tender, including launching the 5G project led by DNB. which has invited various controversies since it was launched.
He said the government did not propose to reopen contracts that had been signed with DNB to respect the principle of the sanctity of contract.
Nonetheless, he gave assurance that all contracts on the matter in future will be conducted through open tender.
Fahmi said the ministry is also studying and tightening DNB’s governance so that the best standards are adopted by the company.
Replying to Dzulkefly’s supplementary question about DNB’s quality of service (QoS), Fahmi said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission Act 1998 will always regulate and audit the agency to assure service quality.
He said the provisions of the Communications and Multimedia Act will also be used against any service provider including DNB if the QoS is not satisfactory. – Bernama, March 28, 2023
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