KUALA LUMPUR: No lobbying will be entertained when it comes to the tender process related to the rollout of the country's 5G network, says Fahmi Fadzil.
The Communications and Digital Minister said the government views the issue of transparency in the tender process seriously and added that he will uphold the principle as desired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
"I want to state here in this august House, my team and I will never entertain lobbying or statements made by local or foreign media. We will not be influenced, be it on the angle of assessment, negotiation and studies on it," he said.
Fahmi said this while delivering the wrap-up speech for his ministry for Budget 2023 debates here on Thursday (March 9).
"If there is any media that hears my speech now, I say ‘stop it’, no more lobbying through local or foreign media, enough!" said Fahmi.
He urged all parties to give the government some time to make its decision until the discussion process ends.
"We will not entertain and we will not be swayed, neither will we be prejudiced. Present it in five or 10 pages, I won't even read one word.
"So, I am not reading any of that anymore, in front of me is the negotiation that needs to be done, and I will stick to that," added Fahmi.
He also revealed that the government is expected to announce the direction of the national 5G network coverage by the end of March, adding that engagement sessions with all the stakeholders are ongoing.
"For your information, an engagement session between the ministry and all telecommunications companies, (Celcom, Digi, Maxis, TM, U Mobile, YTL), Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), aims to get feedback and additional information from all stakeholders in formulating the direction of the 5G rollout.
"This engagement is still ongoing, and God willing, tomorrow (Friday, March 10), I will meet with all of them, as there are still a few matters that require deliberation, before a decision (on the direction) is made," said Fahmi.
Anwar had said that the government will implement a rigorous review to deploy the service of the 5G network in Malaysia.
He said the 5G rollout had to be reviewed and implemented in a transparent manner.
"The government will instruct that the policy be reviewed (again) as it was not done in a transparent manner (by the previous administration)," said Anwar.
Anwar claimed there was no open tender process for the RM16.5bil project, and would instruct his team to see that a strict financial process is in place to ensure things are done properly.
