Pahang to ask for broadband licence

2008/09/04
New Straits Times

KUANTAN: State government-owned Pahang Technology Resources Sdn Bhd (PTR) is going ahead with its application to the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission for a high speed broadband operating licence.

Chairman Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, who is also the menteri besar, said PTR should be given the opportunity to get involved in the sector even though the Federal Government had awarded the RM11.3 billion high speed broadband project to Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM).

"We will write to the the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission to provide us a licence to operate like TM," he said after chairing the state exco meeting yesterday.

Adnan was responding to newspaper reports yesterday that the Federal Government had given the tender to implement the high-speed broadband project to TM.

"We are not upset with the decision by the Federal Government to offer the tender to TM. However, we hope the Federal Government would provide us an opportunity to be involved in preparing the infrastructure to be used by all the service providers."
Adnan said what upset him was that PTR was asked to brief the Federal Government on Aug 21 on its proposal, only to learn that the Ministry of Finance had already offered the tender to TM.

"Sources told me that the letter of offer was given to TM on July 25."

Adnan still hoped that the Federal Government would give PTR a licence, like it had to TM.

"This licence is not for me, but for the state government, as a source of revenue," he said.

Asked whether PTR would be competing with TM if it were given a licence, Adnan said that was not an issue. He said competition in an open market was not bad, but just the opposite in fact as it would result in better services to users.

Adnan also said he may contest the Umno Youth chief's post at the party elections in December after receiving support from members and friends.