No one knew of DNB’s operations when I first took over, says Fahmi

 

Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil said neither his ministry nor the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission had any understanding of Digital Nasional Bhd’s operations when he first took over. (DNB pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: 

Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil today revealed that both his ministry and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission were completely unaware of Digital Nasional Bhd’s operations when he first took on the portfolio.

While wrapping up the debate on his ministry’s 2025 budget, Fahmi said it was “horrifying and concerning” to find out that no one had a clear understanding of DNB’s activities at the time.

“When I took over… even the then deputy secretary-general of the Treasury had no visibility into the activities of DNB despite it being a Minister of Finance (Incorporated) company,” he told the Dewan Rakyat.

“But when it was under my purview, those were some of the things we looked into.”

Fahmi’s comments came in response to questions raised by several MPs regarding DNB’s budget and the rollout of Malaysia’s 5G networks during the debate.

Specifically, Hassan Karim (PH-Pasir Gudang) questioned the allocations for the first and second 5G networks and asked whether it was true that the Muhyiddin Yassin-led Perikatan Nasional government had allocated RM16.5 billion of public funds for DNB’s first 5G rollout.

He further asked how much of this sum had already been spent.

Hassan’s queries followed revelations from U Mobile Sdn Bhd chairman Vincent Tan that the PN government insisted on a single 5G network, which would be managed solely by DNB.

Tan revealed that RM4 billion had already been spent on the project, with an additional RM12.5 billion planned through various contracts over the next 10 years.

Fahmi was appointed communications and digital minister on Dec 3, 2022, and DNB remained under his purview at the time.

However, following a Cabinet reshuffle last December, the ministry was split, and Fahmi was reassigned to the communications ministry, while Gobind Singh Deo took on the digital ministry.

DNB officially came under the digital ministry on Jan 10 this year. - FMT