- U Mobile menang the contract to roll out the second 5G network
- Free WiFi to more Malaysia Airlines’ aircraft
- Vietnam’s data centre boom may be short-lived.
IN Malaysia
MCMC awards the second 5G network deal to U Mobile
The Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), in a quite surprising move, has granted the relatively smaller and majority foreign-owned telco U Mobile as the champion for the second 5G network operator. In MCMC’s statement on the award to U Mobile, it stated that U Mobile can collaborate with other mobile network operators to roll out its network. Is MCMC not confident that U Mobile can deliver on its own?
Source: https://m.malaysiakini.com/news/724739
Upon the announcement by MCMC, the news has not been well received by some other telcos, for obvious reasons. Maxis Bhd, the majority local-owned telco, will engage with MCMC to understand the logic behind its selection of the mobile network operator to implement the nation’s second 5G network. The puzzled Maxis also try to comprehend why U Mobile is being chosen, padahal Maxis is infra-ready to roll out the second 5G network, with more than 11,000 mobile sites nationwide, where most of them are already fiberised. CelcomDigi is also quite confused with MCMC’s decision and just gives a simple ‘noted’ reply, akin to any pissed girlfriend that lost an argument with her boyfriend.
WISE Highway is ‘copy-paste’ the PLUS Highway’s playbook – an ultra-long concession period in return for building highways
Works Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi announced that the 60.88 km West Ipoh Span Expressway (WISE) project, which will reduce the congestion at PLUS Highways by 40%, will be awarded to the project’s concessionaire, East Coast Road Sdn Bhd (ECR). The WISE project will be fully privately funded and in return, ECR will receive a 55-year concession agreement (including a four-year construction period), enabling ECR to charge a toll rate of 23 sen per km. As compared to the North-South Expressway (PLUS) which runs adjacent to the planned WISE highway, PLUS highway only charges motorists 11.15 sen per km.
The true stink in this WISE deal is that it is not transparently stated that the contract has been awarded via an open bidding process or otherwise, even though no public funds will be utilised. Other than that, based on ECR’s website, there is no track record of highway construction exhibited by the company, casting major doubt on this RM6.2 bil project. Even companies such as Maju Expressway Sdn Bhd, which has a proven history in building highways can also terciduk, having failed to deliver the MEX Highway’s KLIA extension due to cashflow issues. However, ECR does boast prominent individuals in its senior leadership lineup, including the former Director General of the Public Service Department, Borhan Dollah as its executive director.
Shorts
- Following the rollout of free unlimited WiFi on its widebody aircraft last year, Malaysia Airlines will extend the privilege of the service to its Boeing 737-8 fleet by the end of this year. At the moment, Malaysia Airlines has four 737-8 aircraft, to be expanded to a fleet of 25 by 2026. What other ways to solve flight delay issues other than giving away freebies such as WiFi.
- Do you think being a mere millionaire is enough for you to say bye-bye to the 9-5 and retire? Think again as according to HSBC’s Quality of Life Report 2024, rich or affluent Malaysians need an average of RM3.61 mil (USD830,000) to retire. The survey defines affluent individuals as those having investable assets of USD100,000 to USD2 mil. Interestingly, as per the survey, about 73% of Malaysians polled say that they are financially on track to meet their retirement goals. Malaysia truly has a bipolar scene – while the middle class sedang pening kepala amidst new reality of reduced subsidies, the top echelon of the population is easing its way towards retirement, without any major issues.
Around the S.E.A.
US Election Day is here
Today will be the final polling day for the United States, where the frontrunners – Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamal Harris will fight their way to the coveted seat in the White House. Polls show Harris and Trump running neck and neck nationally and in the battleground states. Pay extra attention to the state of Pennsylvania as it will be the key decider whether the US will turn red or blue after the polling stations close.
Source: https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/732679
So, for Southeast Asia, a Trump-led or Harris-led US is better for us? Although the expectation is low no matter who wins but Kamala Harris seems as the better option. This is because during the election campaign trail, Donald Trump hinted at another trade war, massive tariff hikes and a weaker US dollar which could negatively impact the competitiveness of Southeast Asian exports. Although the foreign policies of Kamala Harris are still unclear, but she is the more predictable, less aggressive option. As per the statement of Malaysia’s Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong, the difference between Harris and Trump is a matter ‘not of direction, but intensity’.
Vietnam’s new law may be bad news for investors
Chairman of the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), a trade association representing big tech companies including Meta, Google and data centre operator Equinix, stated that Vietnam’s planned new law on tightening data protection rules and limiting data transfers abroad will jeopardise the country’s potential to become a regional player in the data centre industry. Under the draft law, companies will have to share data with Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party and state organisations. Prior to the announcement of the draft law, Google was considering setting up a large data centre in southern Vietnam. One man’s problem is another man’s opportunity. Delapan what are you waiting for, quickly lobby these agitated investors to set up data centres in our own backyard.
For your EYES only
Khazanah Research Institute just released an interesting study on the power of ‘kabel’, amidst the rising class war within Malaysian society. Timely.
Social capital’s influence on education is under-researched in Malaysia despite its potential to reinforce existing inequalities due to socioeconomic differences. As such, there is a clear opportunity for further research on this topic.
KRI’s latest article aims to shed light… pic.twitter.com/JjoJGVoQBY
— Khazanah Research Institute (@KRInstitute) November 4, 2024
