YOURSAY | Despite 5G spectrum award retraction, questions remain

YOURSAY | ‘Saifuddin, why did you sign the ministerial order in the first place?’

Saifuddin aborts directive to grant 5G bands without tender

Annonnymous 080: “Based on technical and legal issues as well as the need for transparency, I have ordered the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) chairperson to immediately cancel the directive and determination and to review the instruments.”

This is the ‘butt end’ of the story. The main question lingers. Why did you, Saifuddin Abdullah, sign the first ministerial order? This surely calls for MACC's investigation.

Even before the public were to know, these telco (telecommunications company) heads were already communicating to their major shareholders of the approval, which slightly jacked up the share price of listed telcos.

Saifuddin, you have earned more shame as days pass by.

Annonymous: Ask any idiot and he will tell you that the fact is when there is no open tender or transparency for a multi-billion ringgit project, and the party, or the prime minister. in power solely and unilaterally decides on such huge projects, it simply means corruption.

The same 60 years of evil practice under the same regime, these traitors are serving their own selfish interest and not for the rakyat and country.

Should the Pakatan Harapan government regain power, there is still a little hope in salvaging whatever is left to save the country.

Otherwise, the country will be destroyed forever.

Anonymous_Reader: Another U-turn embarrassment to add to the “capability” of the U-turn government.

The only U-turn I wish to celebrate is the return of a legitimate government, democratically elected by people's votes.

Anonymous_1cfb3ab6: The fox got caught in the hen house - trying to dish out contracts quietly and give out a contract to tycoon Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary.

We might as well give the fifth contract to a young, energetic and creative company like Time Dotcom or Green Packet.

Or even invite foreign operators to bid since we need foreign direct investment, don’t we? This minister is nothing but a coward, traitor and a person of zero integrity.

Anonymous 2427371469343238: The ministry tried to pull a fast one but couldn't get away with it - eagle eyes are everywhere.

The only reason Saifuddin didn't go ahead is that he knows Perikatan Nasional (PN) is wobbly and his position may not last long.

JD Lovrenciear: PN, you cannot even handle this award process. How on earth will you govern an entire nation?

We should not let this slip under the carpet even though the back-pedalling aims to make look good a suspect effort.

MS: Saifuddin, 18 instruments presented to you; by who exactly? And you did not question the one who presented them? Did you ask a fundamental question about the due process, about conflict of interest?

Maybe you should ask senior minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to come up with another standard operating procedure (SOP). At this rate, you might become a "no-questions-asked" minister like former prime minister Najib Razak.

Rupert16: A few months after grabbing power, it looks like the backdoor PN government is already putting their hands in the public tills.

First, the appointment of MPs and supporters to head government-linked companies (GLCs) and government agencies and now Saifuddin is trying to do the same through direct negotiations with the interested parties which can give rise to corruption.

Shame on you, Saifuddin. I am glad that the Harapan MPs picked this up and raised the red flag.

Headhunter: This proves that the people are the master. We must be courageous to speak up when politicians try to play dirty to enrich themselves and their cronies.

Nobody is going to speak for us if we keep silent. The opposition must play their role without fear or favour.

Newday: Well done to Harapan. You cannot let this non-elected mob get away with circumventing open governance.

This is a major embarrassment for the minister who signed the directive. One must remember that much of the due diligence work was done while Harapan was in power.

Follow proper procedures and there will be no issues from anyone. So far, you have shown it is back to closed shop and books in awarding tenders. This must stop.

Anonymous_1543386425: Yes, right decision. It’s good that Saifuddin realised his mistake and remedied it.

It is always in the country's interests that 5G should be under open tender so that it is awarded to the right companies who could implement this new technology without delay and throughout Malaysia, including its rural areas.

RR: When some politicians - rakyat call them “frogs” - realise their blunder under the bad influence of hardcore traitors and want to return to a progressive and judicious political party, they should be accepted and put under rehabilitation to adhere to the principles of democracy to manage a corrupt-free multiracial and multi-religious nation like ours.

Saifuddin is a case in point as he is known for his integrity in the previous government and is trying to maintain that integrity in calling now for an open tender for the 5G business.

Gaji Buta: Caught with your pants down. No choice but to backtrack.

After all, in Malaysia, if you fix your mistake, it is considered forgiven, like a thief who returns the money he stole, or even part of it. The original fault is irrelevant, even if intentional. - Mkini