‘KKMM and MOF always work together’

PETALING JAYA: The Communications and Multimedia Ministry (KKMM) and the Ministry of Finance (MOF) have always worked together on various matters, including in the implementation of the 5G single network or Single Wholesale Network (SWN) concept through Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB)

Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa (pic) said any major decision would be made by the Cabinet, meaning that it was a collective decision.

“There’s not one ministry which does everything so we must always accept that and must always recognise the principle of collective responsibility.

“We make (any decision) together and there’s no problem at all and we will continue to work together, we will continue to consult and we will continue to do things the proper way for certain decisions. Neither my ministry nor Treasury makes the decision alone.

“Major decisions will be made by the government,” he told reporters after launching a telecommunications service company Unbox Malaysia here yesterday.

He said the KKMM and MOF had agreed to prepare a joint paper on issues involving 5G and DNB so that the Cabinet can make a decision.

Pending that, programmes involving implementation of 5G would run as usual, he was quoted as saying by Bernama.

According to Annuar, Tengku Zafrul had contacted him first before making the explanation.

“I always engage and consult with the Finance Minister and before he posted the explanation with regards to the (5G) issue that was raised in Parliament, he had contacted me and I agreed on the clarification,” he said.

On Friday, Tengku Zafrul was reported to have said that the single 5G network or SWN concept had been discussed jointly between the MOF and KKMM in the Cabinet since 2019.

He was clarifying a statement by Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin in Dewan Rakyat last Thursday that there was no consultation with KKMM on the appointment of DNB to undertake the deployment of the infrastructure.