PARLIAMENT | Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil has issued a stern warning to 5G network equipment vendors to stop lobbying for tenders through media to build a state-owned network.
Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat today, Fahmi (Harapan – Lembah Pantai) said the government will respect the sanctity of the contract in the tender given to Swedish telecommunications giant, Ericsson, as the provider for Malaysia's 5G network deployment nationwide.
“Stop it! No more lobbying through the media. Give us space to discuss. We will not entertain, be swayed or be prejudiced. If it is signed, we will respect it.
“My team and I will not entertain any lobbying efforts made using the media - be it local or overseas - nor will we be influenced in terms of discussion, research or evaluation,” he said this during the winding-up speech of his ministry in Parliament today.
He said this when responding to a question by Chong Zhemin (Harapan – Kampar) on his ministry’s take on a report by Financial Times, titled “Huawei fights for a role as Malaysia reviews 5G tender”.
Chong cited the report that disclosed that China’s largest telecommunications equipment manufacturer, among several others, is vying for the 5G tender award.
The DAP lawmaker also sought Fahmi’s clarification on the implications towards the country’s financial status should the tender - to design and build the national 5G network - were given to Huawei instead.
In December, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim instructed a review of the RM11 billion 5G network contract awarded by Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) - an agency under the Finance Ministry - to Ericsson under the previous administration.
Anwar said the 5G plans would be evaluated to ensure they strictly followed procedures, claiming that there had been “no proper tender process”.
However, he did not specify details on the matter.
In January, Fahmi was reported as saying that the government was assessing the 5G deployment while assuring that the current rollout by DNB will not be interrupted.
The PKR lawmaker was quoted as saying by Free Malaysia Today that it was too early to say when the cabinet would make a decision but he expected “some kind of finality” within the first quarter of this year.
For the record, Ericsson is currently the sole vendor to roll out Malaysia’s 5G network. - Mkini
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