Former communications and multimedia minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Aziz must be the ones to provide clarification over issues surrounding the country’s 5G rollout plan.
In a no-holds-barred press conference today, Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin said he has been unable to provide answers to the Dewan Rakyat regarding the issue as the ministry was not informed of the details of the project.
He said questions on why there was a monopoly in the 5G rollout plan, as well as the lack of Bumiputera company involvement in it, were among the issues that he had been unable to answer.
“This project involves almost RM20 billion which means if anything happens, it is this ministry and the people who would have to take responsibility.
“I ask these two ministers not to keep things to themselves as if it is a secret. This government has signed a Confidence and Supply Agreement (CSA) with the opposition and so we want to be transparent.
“I cannot answer questions by opposition members of parliament because I have no details of the project. I am disappointed with this situation where Saifuddin and Zafrul had only conducted discussions among themselves,” he said in parliament today.
Aside from Saifuddin and Zafrul, Zahidi claimed that Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) chairman Dr Fadhlullah Suhaimi Abdul Malek had also been missing in answering questions regarding the controversial project.
Zahidi said since Fadhlullah is involved in the project, it is only reasonable for the latter to attend Dewan Rakyat sessions so that all questions by MPs on the matter can be answered.
“I do not have information on what was discussed between the two ministers and the chairman (Fadhlullah) involved had not come to Parliament.
“When I asked his officers, they can’t answer any of the questions too. Why is there a monopoly? Why is Ericsson involved? The answers were all incomplete.
“I don’t know why the ministers want to keep this a secret. Maybe because we’re from different political parties or maybe because there are certain interests there but I need to answer the parliament here.”
Earlier in the House, opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim raised worries that the 5G rollout via DNB might be a repeat of the 1MDB mega scandal as it’s tender process has been shrouded in secrecy.
“It is good if Anwar wants to call up those involved to provide an explanation because the people need this 5G service and we are spending close to RM20 billion,” said Zahidi.
“This project is not for the benefit of only a segment of Malaysians but the entire population. They want connectivity and this service which means we must be transparent.
“I hope Saifuddin and Zafrul won’t just hold discussions between the two of them. It is better to let everyone know. It is only sensible for the Finance Ministry to provide an explanation to the people.
“We don’t want a mega project such as this to be regarded as a secret.”
On Dec 9, Zahidi told the Dewan Rakyat that the project was awarded to DNB despite objections by the Communications and Multimedia Ministry.
He also revealed that the Finance Ministry had instructed the Communications and Multimedia Ministry to award the contract to DNB without any consultation.
Unlike other countries that allow telcos to set up their own 5G infrastructure, the government had decided to form a special purpose vehicle, DNB, to build the new spectrum.
Telcos had previously complained over the supposed lack of transparency on the project.
In July, DNB signed a contract with Ericsson to design and build the 5G infrastructure for RM11 billion.
Neither DNB nor MOF has told the public how it plans to finance the project. – NST ONLINE
