5g Rollout Zahidi Blasts Two Ministers Over Secret Dnb Talks

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Communications and Multimedia Deputy Minister Zahidi Zainul Abidin today censured his former minister Saifuddin Abdullah and Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz for discussing Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) and the 5G network rollout in secret.
This comes after Zahidi said in Parliament last week that the Finance Ministry (MOF) had decided on DNB unilaterally, although Communications and Multimedia Minister Annuar Musa later refuted his claim.
“I am quite disappointed because former (communications and multimedia) minister Saifuddin Abdullah said he had discussed with the finance minister.
“So the ministers spoke among themselves and implemented this DNB project that involved almost RM20 billion without discussion with their subordinates. Even the deputy (minister) did not know.
“So that is why when I was answering in Parliament, I did not have the information about the discussion between the ministers because it was not informed to me,” Zahidi said in a press conference in Parliament today.
He added that Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) chairperson Fadhlullah Suhaimi Abdul Malek was also present at the ministers’ meeting.
MCMC officers below Fadhlullah were also not informed about the details of the meeting, said Zahidi, who added that Fadhlullah had not attended any meetings with him since he started answering questions in Parliament.
Former communications and multimedia minister Saifuddin AbdullahHe also does not know why Saifuddin did not inform him about the discussion with the MOF but quipped that it might be because Saifuddin was formerly from PKR and Zahidi is from Umno.
Regardless, he urged the ministers to be more transparent and open next time, especially when it comes to a mega-project such as the 5G network rollout.
“I hope in the future, ministers who have discussions with other ministers, inform that to your deputy and to the rakyat because we want to be transparent.
“This project is the rakyat’s project, and it involves RM20 billion. So the rakyat want to know about all the details, like why is there a monopoly for DNB and Ericsson, what is the mitigation plan, the risk management?” he said.
Zahidi added that secrecy in this matter would cause the rakyat to think certain personal interests are at play here.
“So, if possible, do not be secretive. If you want to be secretive, the minister should answer in Parliament, not me.
“We have to be transparent, so whoever it is, I hope it is not just a discussion between two people, where Saifuddin talks to Zafrul, both of them okay, okay, okay and then after that, the project is implemented.
“Please, I hope in the future, share the information because, for this government of the day, we want to be transparent, and so does the prime minister,” he said.
Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul AzizMOF should explain to the rakyat
Fadhlullah should also attend Parliament more often to better answer the questions related to DNB and the 5G network rollout, he added.
Zahidi also noted that he has a responsibility to the members of the Dewan Rakyat, including the Opposition, as they have a memorandum of understanding together.
There is nothing improper about the Opposition questioning DNB and the 5G network rollout, he said, as there are many lingering questions.
This includes what are the mitigation plans, the risk management, how bumiputera vendors will be involved in the project and why the contract was awarded to Ericsson, said Zahidi.
He added that the Communications and Multimedia Ministry also received many complaints concerning the project.
“They don’t complain to the MOF because the perception out there is that telecommunications are under the purview of MCMC. So they come to me, but I do not know anything.
“Why? Ask the MOF. They should explain to the rakyat.
“If you want to take the project, explain to the rakyat, ‘We have taken over 5G, so don’t bring your queries to MCMC. Ask us, the MOF’,” Zahidi said.
Earlier today, Deputy Finance Minister II Yamani Hafez Musa said the estimated cost of the project was about RM12.5 billion.
However, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said he does not believe that is the true amount and urged the Finance Ministry to come clean over the actual total cost for the 5G network rollout project.
DNB chose to award the 5G network contract to Ericsson with a cost of RM11 billion after undergoing an open tender process. - Mkini

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