PETALING JAYA: Putrajaya’s 5G network rollout must be reviewed, says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
At a press conference, he said this was necessary to ensure that relevant parties had followed strict procedures.
“I have instructed for it to be reviewed because it was not done in a transparent manner, with no proper tender process. Therefore, we need to review (it),” he said.
In October, former finance minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz announced that all six major telecommunication companies (telcos) had signed the access agreements (AAs) with Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB), Malaysia’s single wholesale 5G network operator.
The six telcos are Maxis, U Mobile, Celcom Axiata, Digi Telecommunications, YTL Communications and Telekom Malaysia (TM).
5G coverage in the country has reached over 30% of populated areas and is on track to achieve the 80% target set by the government by 2024.
He also said that he will leave it to the authorities to investigate the apparent expenditure of RM600 billion by former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s administration without open tender.
“It’s not up to me to decide, but the finance ministry has informed me on the matter and so it will be left to investigations to see the extent of any corruption or abuse of power,” he said.
On Tuesday, Anwar said the government‘s procurement process can no longer be conducted without tenders. He said this is to ensure corruption and leakages no longer continue.
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