Anwar To Review Malaysia's 'Haphazard' 5GT Network Plan

Malaysia's newly appointed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that his administration will review a plan for a state-owned 5G network introduced by a previous government, as it was not formulated transparently, Rozanna Latiff reported for Reuters.

Photo Insert: Anwar also said his government will not roll back certain decisions made by the previous administration, but he did not identify them.

Under the premiership of Muhyiddin Yassin in 2021, Malaysia unveiled a plan for a state-owned agency to own all 5G spectrum, with various carriers using the infrastructure to provide mobile services.

The single ownership of spectrum raised concerns from the country's major carriers over pricing, transparency, and monopoly. The 5G plans will be evaluated to ensure they strictly followed procedures, Anwar said at a news conference following his first cabinet meeting.

"It needs to be reviewed because it was not done in a transparent manner," Anwar said, without giving details.

A spokesperson for Muhyiddin was not immediately available for comment. His government has defended the 5G plan, saying it will reduce costs, improve efficiency and accelerate infrastructure development.

The government will also revise and improve the 2023 budget tabled in October, Anwar said. The budget was presented in parliament by the previous government but was not passed due to the general election. Anwar also said his government will not roll back certain decisions made by the previous administration, but he did not identify them.

In another report, Coconuts said former Malaysia prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has blasted critics who claimed he stole RM600 billion Malaysian ringgit (RM) from government finances during the COVID-19 outbreak, challenging their source of the money and refuting the claims.

The Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman and Pagoh member of parliament (MP) said that Hulu Langat MP Mohammed Sany Hamzan had filed a police report against him in the case and that newly-minted Digital Communications Minister Ahmad Fahmi Mohamed Fadzil had made a similar claim.

Out of the RM530 billion, Muhyiddin said that the majority was non-fiscal and did not involve government spending, making it hard for him to misappropriate.

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