THE government has not awarded the second 5G network contract to any companies through direct negotiation, Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil said.

The ministry denied the contract had been awarded to Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, with Fahmi saying interested parties can bid for the tender when it is opened.

“It is a commercial aspect and the procedure would be the same as that of DNB’s (Digital Nasional Bhd). It depends on when we will establish the second 5G entity. The board of directors will make the commercial decision,” he said.

“Whoever can provide the lowest price wins. Right now there is nothing yet,” he said after officiating the World Post Day celebration at Pos Malaysia yesterday.

Fahmi said this when commenting on a statement by former deputy international trade and industry minister Ong Kian Ming, who questioned the government’s decision to award the second 5G network contract to China’s biggest telecommunications company, Huawei, via a direct negotiation.

Fahmi clarified that the speech by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during the 2023 Malaysia Information and Communications Technology Summit organised by Huawei Technologies (M) Sdn Bhd last month was taken in the wrong context because the speech was based solely on the context of the summit.

In another development, Fahmi said discussions about regulating courier base prices to sustain the industry was in the final stage and that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission would make an announcement once the decision is finalised.

“In the past we did not have a set base price, it was more of a guideline. Whether the same will be continued or a more stringent procedure introduced, will depend on the process and discussions that are going on,” he said.

Earlier, Fahmi launched a special postal stamp to commemorate the World Post Day and also flagged off vans and motorcycles using electricity in conjunction with the celebration themed “Kepercayaan Bersama: Bekerjasama Demi Masa Depan yang Selamat dan Terhubung”.

Also present were Deputy Communications and Digital Minister Teo Nie Ching as well as the ministry’s chief secretary Fauzi Md Isa and deputy chief secretary (infrastructure, telecommunications and digital economy) Sivanesan Marimuthu. – Bernama, October 10, 2023.