FMT:
Firm controlled by tycoon Syed Mokhtar among recipients of 5G spectrum
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Business tycoon Syed Mokhtar al-Bukhary |
PETALING JAYA: The government has awarded the 5G telecommunications spectrum to several firms including one called Altel, which is controlled by tycoon Syed Mokhtar al-Bukhary.
The Straits Times (ST) reported that the May 15 decision, “seemingly without an open tender”, was signed off by Communications and Multimedia Minister Saifuddin Abdullah. The decision was also unannounced.
A source confirmed the report’s claim to FMT, acknowledging that the award had been made.
In January, Bloomberg reported that Malaysia was offering airwaves for 5G networks at little cost to carriers to reduce the investment needed for the speedier wireless service.
The government – then under Pakatan Harapan – would forgo revenue from spectrum auctions and instead allocate airwaves to a consortium of carriers via a tender starting after April.
But ST said a check of the MCMC website found that no tenders were called.
Executives from various telecom firms also told the Singapore daily they were unaware of any invitations to bid for the spectrum.
“It is strange because some of the companies that were awarded are public listed. They would have to announce it to the stock exchange once they are aware as there are also hundreds of millions in fees involved,” an executive who spoke on condition of anonymity was quoted as saying.
According to ST, Maxis, Celcom and DiGi were awarded two bands of 10 megahertz (2x10MHz).
Altel, a subsidiary of Syed Mokhtar’s Puncak Semangat, was given 2x5MHz “despite being a minor player.
Telekom Malaysia was also allocated 2x5MHz.
FMT has contacted Saifuddin and is awaiting a response.
The trouble with KT is he never follow his own advice: when you have little understanding about a subject, DON'T blog as if you know a lot.
ReplyDeleteWhat's better than a GLC chairmanship position? 5G spectrum band lah...!
In January 2020 the MCMC, then under the capable Gobind Singh and PH government, already announced that the 5G licence would be awarded to a CONSORTIUM rather than individual telco companies, via open tender after April, so that there would be no duplicity in capital expenditure, thereby keeping costs low for consumers. Gobind did not want to see a repeat of the 4G spectrum, where you see Maxis, Celcom, Digi etc all having their own infrastructure.
Now the final decision to award 5G spectrum has been made, without tender, by the PN "government" on May 15.
So why did they award one of the bands to Toonsie's crony? Still harbouring hopes that Toonsie will "repent" and go easy on Muhyiddin....? Ride into the sunset with a pocket full of cash? Move his chair to the correct side in parliament?
Ha ha ha....fat hopes....
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5G consortium must not be a rent-seeker
The Edge Malaysia
January 06, 2020 12:00 pm
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC)’s decision to allocate the 700MHz and 3.5GHz spectrum bands for 5G rollout in Malaysia to a single consortium of multiple licensees is intended to lower capital expenditure by preventing infrastructure duplication seen in previous generations of telecoms networks.
Given the government’s aim to propel the country’s competitive advantage by leveraging technology — including those made possible by advancements in 5G — and cutting duplication and costs would, in theory, allow wider and faster 5G network deployment and coverage.
........the winning 5G consortium must not be allowed to degenerate into a vehicle for rent-seeking in the hands of a few well-connected private individuals.
Spectrum is a scarce resource and any benefit purely from the award (sans returns on investment in the network) should accrue to consumers or government coffers to benefit the people. Malaysia is still paying for old monopolistic concessions that the Pakatan Harapan government pledged to stop, in order to obtain the best value for the people.
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no tender? wakakaka
DeleteYes, please ask Saifuddin why no open tender like what Gobind wanted....
DeleteHa ha ha Saifuddin forced to take pang sai medicine and Lau Sai Bigtime...
DeleteToo busy politiking, no time to do work properly...
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Putrajaya cancels order to award 5G to firms after ‘no open tender’ claim
FMT Reporters -June 3, 2020
PETALING JAYA: Communications and Multimedia Minister Saifuddin Abdullah has cancelled an order to award the 5G telecommunications spectrum to several firms.
The minister said he was doing so on legal and technical grounds as well as the need to go through a transparent process.
It was earlier reported that the awards — including to a firm linked to tycoon Syed Mokhtar al-Bukhary —had been done seemingly without an open tender.
Saifuddin said 18 instruments, including the directive and determination of the use of the 700MHz, 900MHz and 2600MHz band spectrum frequency, were presented to him.
“I have ordered the MCMC (Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission) chairman to cancel the order and review the instruments immediately,” he said in a statement.
This morning, it was reported that Putrajaya had awarded the 5G telecommunications spectrum to several firms, including one called Altel, which is controlled by Syed Mokhtar.
The Straits Times (ST) reported that the May 15 decision, “seemingly without an open tender”, was signed off by Saifuddin. The decision was also unannounced.
Saifuddin made no mention of this report in his statement.
A source confirmed the report’s claim to FMT, acknowledging that the award had been made.
The previous Pakatan Harapan government had said it would forgo revenue from spectrum auctions and instead allocate airwaves to a consortium of carriers via a tender starting after April.
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ReplyDeleteAnti-graft group calls for probe into award of 5G spectrum despite govt ‘U-turn’
FMT Reporters -June 4, 2020
PETALING JAYA: Anti-graft group Transparency International-Malaysia (TI-M) today urged the finance ministry to probe the award of the 5G telecommunications spectrum to several firms allegedly without open tender despite the government’s decision yesterday to retract the order.
Labelling the situation a fiasco, TI-M president Muhammad Mohan said it could have “seriously violated public procurement policies”.
Even though Putrajaya cancelled the award of the project, he added, the damage had been done.
“It is shocking that such a massive project was even allowed to be negotiated directly. Where is the governance, compliance and control within the government procurement system?” he said in a statement.
According to a report by Singapore’s Straits Times (ST), the decision to award the 5G spectrum to the firms, including one controlled by tycoon Syed Mokhtar al-Bukhary, was signed off by Communications and Multimedia Minister Saifuddin Abdullah.
Saifuddin subsequently said he had cancelled the order on legal and technical grounds as well as to ensure a transparent process.
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YOURSAY | Despite 5G spectrum award retraction, questions remain
ReplyDelete‘Saifuddin, why did you sign the ministerial order in the first place?’
Saifuddin aborts directive to grant 5G bands without tender
Annonnymous 080: “Based on technical and legal issues as well as the need for transparency, I have ordered the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) chairperson to immediately cancel the directive and determination and to review the instruments.”
This is the ‘butt end’ of the story. The main question lingers. Why did you, Saifuddin Abdullah, sign the first ministerial order? This surely calls for MACC's investigation.
Even before the public were to know, these telco (telecommunications company) heads were already communicating to their major shareholders of the approval, which slightly jacked up the share price of listed telcos.
Saifuddin, you have earned more shame as days pass by.
Annonymous: Ask any idiot and he will tell you that the fact is when there is no open tender or transparency for a multi-billion ringgit project, and the party, or the prime minister. in power solely and unilaterally decides on such huge projects, it simply means corruption.
The same 60 years of evil practice under the same regime, these traitors are serving their own selfish interest and not for the rakyat and country. Should the Pakatan Harapan government regain power, there is still a little hope in salvaging whatever is left to save the country.
Otherwise, the country will be destroyed forever.
Anonymous_Reader: Another U-turn embarrassment to add to the “capability” of the U-turn government. The only U-turn I wish to celebrate is the return of a legitimate government, democratically elected by people's votes.
Anonymous_1cfb3ab6: The fox got caught in the hen house - trying to dish out contracts quietly and give out a contract to tycoon Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary. We might as well give the fifth contract to a young, energetic and creative company like Time Dotcom or Green Packet. Or even invite foreign operators to bid since we need foreign direct investment, don’t we? This minister is nothing but a coward, traitor and a person of zero integrity....continued...
...continued...
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 2427371469343238: The ministry tried to pull a fast one but couldn't get away with it - eagle eyes are everywhere. The only reason Saifuddin didn't go ahead is that he knows Perikatan Nasional (PN) is wobbly and his position may not last long.
JD Lovrenciear: PN, you cannot even handle this award process. How on earth will you govern an entire nation? We should not let this slip under the carpet even though the back-pedalling aims to make look good a suspect effort.
MS: Saifuddin, 18 instruments presented to you; by who exactly? And you did not question the one who presented them? Did you ask a fundamental question about the due process, about conflict of interest? Maybe you should ask senior minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to come up with another standard operating procedure (SOP). At this rate, you might become a "no-questions-asked" minister like former prime minister Najib Razak.
Rupert16: A few months after grabbing power, it looks like the backdoor PN government is already putting their hands in the public tills. First, the appointment of MPs and supporters to head government-linked companies (GLCs) and government agencies and now Saifuddin is trying to do the same through direct negotiations with the interested parties which can give rise to corruption. Shame on you, Saifuddin. I am glad that the Harapan MPs picked this up and raised the red flag.
Headhunter: This proves that the people are the master. We must be courageous to speak up when politicians try to play dirty to enrich themselves and their cronies. Nobody is going to speak for us if we keep silent. The opposition must play their role without fear or favour.
Newday: Well done to Harapan. You cannot let this non-elected mob get away with circumventing open governance. This is a major embarrassment for the minister who signed the directive. One must remember that much of the due diligence work was done while Harapan was in power. Follow proper procedures and there will be no issues from anyone. So far, you have shown it is back to closed shop and books in awarding tenders. This must stop.
Anonymous_1543386425: Yes, right decision. It’s good that Saifuddin realised his mistake and remedied it. It is always in the country's interests that 5G should be under open tender so that it is awarded to the right companies who could implement this new technology without delay and throughout Malaysia, including its rural areas.
RR: When some politicians - rakyat call them “frogs” - realise their blunder under the bad influence of hardcore traitors and want to return to a progressive and judicious political party, they should be accepted and put under rehabilitation to adhere to the principles of democracy to manage a corrupt-free multiracial and multi-religious nation like ours.
Saifuddin is a case in point as he is known for his integrity in the previous government and is trying to maintain that integrity in calling now for an open tender for the 5G business.
Gaji Buta: Caught with your pants down. No choice but to backtrack. After all, in Malaysia, if you fix your mistake, it is considered forgiven, like a thief who returns the money he stole, or even part of it. The original fault is irrelevant, even if intentional.
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