DNB instructed to engage with MPs for transparency's sake - Annuar

PARLIAMENT | Communications and Multimedia Minister Annuar Musa said he has instructed Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB), which is in charge of the 5G rollout in Malaysia, to have engagement sessions with all MPs for the sake of transparency.

This comes after Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Independent-Muar) suggested DNB hold a special briefing for MPs to explain in “meticulous detail” about the planned 5G rollout.

“Regarding what Muar raised, I would like to inform this house that in my meeting with them (DNB) recently, in the past week or so, I have specifically instructed DNB to have engagements with the MPs.

“I will follow up on this matter because they have been asked to provide detailed explanations to both the opposition and backbencher MPs.

“I feel this issue must be handled transparently and DNB is responsible for explaining all the steps they are taking (in implementing the 5G rollout),” Annuar said during his winding-up speech for Budget 2022 in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Annuar said further details about the model of DNB will be explained by the finance minister in his winding-up speech tomorrow.

This is because DNB is a special purpose vehicle (SPV) parked under the Finance Ministry.

DNB was set up by Putrajaya to build and own Malaysia’s 5G network infrastructure.

Detractors have previously questioned the need for the government to get involved in the telecommunications sector and expressed concerns about the cost of such an endeavour.