He said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s remarks on the dual 5G network were taken out of context and misunderstood by DAP’s former Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming.
“Those interested in making bids will be able to do so when the time comes.
“The (Digital Nasional Bhd) board will make a decision based on commercial interests,” he said during the World Post Day 2023 event at Pos Malaysia’s headquarters.
Last Wednesday, Anwar said a switch to a dual 5G network would allow for more effective participation by China’s Huawei, providing for both “western and eastern” technology.
Ong later expressed concern that this suggested there would be no open tenders for the second 5G network.
However, Fahmi insisted that Anwar’s remarks were made in the context of the event he was attending, which was organised by Huawei.
“I was present at the event when the prime minister mentioned it.
“The programme was organised by Huawei, so what was said by the prime minister was within the context of that event.
“(No contract has been awarded) yet as of now,” he added.
Separately, Fahmi rubbished a Perikatan Nasional man’s claim that Putrajaya is stifling free speech, saying this was baseless.
“The reality is that (under this government) no journalists have been detained, no news outlets have had their licence revoked and no broadcasters have been barred from airing (their content). So I am not sure what he is talking about.
“Any action taken by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is legal. Agencies can request for MCMC to block access to websites or accounts that come within their jurisdiction.”
While acknowledging that there is freedom of speech in Malaysia, Fahmi maintained that certain laws were in place to ensure racial harmony.
Yesterday, PN’s Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz lodged a police report against the government, accusing it of stifling free speech.
Tun Faisal, the spokesman for the Selamatkan Malaysia secretariat committee, said the government had arrested citizens who used a specific slur to describe Anwar.