Guan Eng: If it's data centre, why FB and Google chose Indonesia then?

 

Former finance minister Lim Guan Eng expressed scepticism at the government's reasoning on why Facebook and Google had skipped Malaysia in their new internet undersea cable linking Singapore and Indonesia to North America.

Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong (above, left) said yesterday that the reason the tech giants picked Singapore over Malaysia was that Facebook had already built a data centre there and Malaysia had lacked data infrastructure.

However, Lim said that the reasoning did not explain why the tech giants were willing to connect the undersea cables to Indonesia.

"If that is the case, then why was Indonesia also chosen over Malaysia? Clearly, Wee is not only deceiving himself but also the public," Lim said in a statement.

He also criticised Wee for trying to blame the previous Pakatan Harapan government over the snub.

"Wee blamed the Harapan government for the lack of data infrastructure because between 2018 and 2019, Malaysia was wasting time and money on outdated ideas to develop flying cars instead of data centres and the industrial revolution 4.0.

"Wee is actually criticising his own ministerial colleague Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof, who originated the idea of flying cars and is still continuing with his pet project. What happened to Perikatan Nasional cabinet unity and collective responsibility?"

Lim said Wee should not disclaim responsibility and blame other quarters for Malaysia losing out.

Yesterday, Wee maintained that his decision to reinstate the cabotage policy was not the reason why Facebook and Google had skipped Malaysia in the undersea cable project.

Previously, the Harapan government had lifted the cabotage policy on foreign ships engaged in the repair of undersea cables.

Facebook, Google, Microsoft and MyIX had last year appealed to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to restore the policy, stressing that this was necessary to ensure speedy recovery of the undersea cables and ensuring minimal internet downtime.

They also said only one local company was capable of doing repairs and the cabotage policy will lead to a monopoly.

However, Wee has remained firm on reinstating the cabotage policy and disputed claims of monopoly. - Mkini