KUALA LUMPUR – Amid Hari Raya festivities, former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak wasted no time slamming Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah following the latter’s announcement of free calls from 10pm last night to 10am today.
“Many telco subscription plans include unlimited calls. It’s been there for a long time. During the festive season, many do switch to video calls.
“It is more meaningful to provide free data for the first three days of Hari Raya so that consumers can make video calls and to encourage them to stay at home to avoid violating the government’s call for Raya visiting, compared with the usual offer of free calls close to midnight.
“Hopefully, the ministers and billion-ringgit-making telcos will consider this. This is 2021,” Najib said in a Facebook post today.
In a separate development, Najib’s Facebook account page has been reportedly inaccessible in the past hour. Checks reveal while links to individuals posts are accessible, his Facebook account page link remains inaccessible due to unknown reasons.
As of 1.35pm, access to Najib’s Facebook page account has been restored.
Najib’s riposte comes after Saifuddin had earlier announced that local telecommunication companies will provide free calls to all networks nationwide from 10pm yesterday to 10am today in conjunction with Hari Raya.
Saifuddin said that the facility, mobilised by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, could be enjoyed by all customers of Celcom, DiGi, Maxis, REDtone, TM Unifi, TIME dotCom, Tune Talk, U Mobile, Yoodo and YES.
He added that the initiative is to help Malaysians connect and strengthen ties with loved ones and friends, even though visiting activities are not allowed under the movement control order, which comes into effect from yesterday until June 7 to curb the spread of Covid-19. – The Vibes, May 13, 2021
