Petition won't stop me from doing my duty, says Gobind

Kamles Kumar Kamles Kumar Updated 5 years ago · Published on 21 Nov 2018 6:43PM · 5 Comments

Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo says it is his duty as a minister to question and try to improve things. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, November 21, 2018.

DESPITE an online petition demanding his removal from government, Gobind Singh Deo said he will continue to fight for better telecommunications services in the country.

The communications and multimedia minister said this was despite 10,000 people signing an online petition over his criticism of service provider Telekom Malaysia (TM).

“Anybody has the right to petition, go ahead. But my advice to all of them and all the telcos is simply this: improve and all of Malaysia will support you. 

“I will not stop speaking out for the people of this country. I will not stop doing my duty as a minister,” Gobind said at the Parliament lobby today. 

The DAP lawmaker added it was within his purview to try to improve the conditions of telecommunications companies to better serve Malaysians. 

“My duty as a minister is to question and try to improve things. Find ways to actually improve all those matters that come under my ministry,” Gobind said. 

He also refuted claims that he was being unfair to TM, saying he was merely raising questions most Malaysians were asking.

The petition, which is being shared widely on social media by TM staff and those concerned, said that TM’s share price has dropped since Gobind assumed ministership.

Gobind had admonished TM on Twitter, urging the company to be more sensitive to customers and calling for greater transparency in its communications about problems and solutions.

“Whatever the cause, TM should value their customers and respond. Being quiet isn’t an option especially where there are many Streamyx users,” he had tweeted on Saturday.

In mid-October, The Edge reported that TM’s share price had been on the decline since the new government took over, losing RM12 billion in market capitalisation since then.

The slide began with Gobind’s announcement that the four major telecommunications companies – TM, Maxis Bhd, TIME dotCom Bhd and Celcom Axiata Bhd – have to agree on mandatory standard access pricing (MSAP) so that consumers could enjoy lower fixed broadband prices.

TM is the largest fixed broadband market player and stands to be the most impacted. 

But complaints about its service also formed the highest number of reports lodged with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

MCMC said it received the most (21%) complaints about TM involving its Unifi coverage, service disruption, billing disputes and service delivery.

Complaints against TM have gone up 43% from last year.

The latest blow to TM shares came on Monday, with the sudden resignation of its acting group chief executive officer Bazlan Osman, some five months after his appointment to the post to replace former CEO Shazalli Ramly.

TM shares fell 4.62% to RM2.27. Before the May 9 elections, it had been trading at RM5 per share. – November 21, 2018.

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Comments

  • Well done Minister....Malaysian Rakyat are your floor...we are with you Dear Minister....carry on the struggle to whittle away those useless imbeciles of the Nation....

    Posted 5 years ago by Hantoo Blacklord · Reply

  • Keep at it Gobind!

    Posted 5 years ago by Mo Salleh · Reply

  • YB Gobind please keep up the good work.. you have won the hearts of many... many fail to realise that making communication cheap and available to all at competitive prices is an uphill battle...do not buckle do not back down ....

    Posted 5 years ago by Vickers T · Reply

  • Yes.. continue the struggle to improve our telecommunication and Internet services, at a more cheaper prices - those greedy telcos are always looking for easy money despites the many complaints against them!! We the rakyat support you - the so called 10,000 is a bluff - mostly by TM lazy workers!

    Posted 5 years ago by Mohd Nordin · Reply

  • Keep up the good work.. be totally transparent. Malaysians have been unfairly treated by the telcos. Its time they buck up

    Posted 5 years ago by Jon Lang · Reply