This is a personal opinion.
I am writing this as a consumer who has lost hope in MCMC. Over the years, MCMC appears to be a tool of the previous BN-Government to crack down alternative online media, hunt down people wrote something negative about the former Prime Minister, among others.
What happened to fixing the broadband issues in this country? Solving consumer issues? Getting the Telcos and ISPs to work together?
What happened to MCMC?
I remember the days when Dato’ Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi was the Chairman of MCMC, a lot people in industry was afraid of him, especially the Telcos. The Telcos were continuously being fined for its failure to comply with regulation (prepaid registration, poor coverage related) and the funds of Universal Service Provider (USP) were being used to aggressively improve rural coverage, among others. The Industry was moving, towards the right direction.
I am not saying Dato’ Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi did an excellent job. In 2010, Telekom Malaysia launched its HSBB powered Unifi service. The HSBB network is part of the National Broadband Initiative (NBI) but it was mainly operated by a single ISP- Telekom Malaysia. ISPs such as Maxis, Digi, Time dotCom were never part of it initially. I guess Dato’ Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi did what he could as a Chairman, since most of these deal probably happened at the Ministry level.
In December 2014, Dato’ Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi was asked to leave MCMC, his contract was not renewed. In fact, I think he had another year left in the contract but was asked to leave early. He was replaced with Tan Sri Dr Halim Shafie.
Since then, in my opinion, the Industry was a mess.
The new Chairman is not media friendly (MCMC itself is not media friendly, they are only “friendly” with Bernama which is part of Kementerian Komunikasi dan Multimedia or KKMM), and there are no clear direction in the Industry. The Telcos don’t seem to work well with each other. There weren’t many collaboration because MCMC wasn’t the center of it anymore.
TM managed to work on HSBB phase 2, getting RM500 million from the Government and easy approvals from local councils to lay down their own fibre while the other ISPs gets a hard time to lay their own fibre and build their base stations. Apart from that, TM gets to charge a high fee for Unifi despite the Government owns part of the HSBB network. No one in MCMC complained, well not in the public space or within the industry.
Telekom Malaysia is a Government-linked company (GLC) and the HSBB project is a public-private partnership with the Government (although I am not sure how TM is a private company here). How hard is it for MCMC/KKMM to bring down broadband prices?
But afraid not, there are other things that MCMC is good at- cracking down people/organisation who posted things about 1MDB and those who publish fake news as defined by MCMC/KKMM. MalaysiaKini office was raided (Mkini now a mainstream media), former opposition MPs were targeted, a number of websites including Sarawak Report were blocked in Malaysia. (I still can’t find the list of websites blocked in Malaysia, where is the list? MCMC has to disclose this and reasons for the block.)
At the same time, how many times did MCMC raided Utusan Malaysia and TV3 offices? These companies have lost in lawsuits for spreading lies. Why practice double standard?
Oh, let’s not forget about the 46.2 million Malaysian mobile users data from 2014 that was on sale for merely 1 Bitcoin. The leak leads to MCMC’s Public Cellular Blocking Service. However MCMC has yet to come clean on what actually happened. Where are the people who are responsible for this?
Another thing I want to highlight are KL Converge and Sebenarnya.my.
KL Converge was a waste of time and money. It was poorly promoted, no one talked about it, I didn’t see any innovation and it wasn’t truly educational. From the rumours I heard, even the Telcos didn’t voluntarily participated in it.
The Sebenarnya.my portal is a big joke. Its a portal about the truth and its objective is to fight fake news. However, there’s isn’t a single posting about 1MDB on the site until today, because now we know the truth about 1MDB, its not a lie. Reporting the truth——–isn’t that what the media companies do (well mostly the non-Government owned media) ?
I want to know who is paying for program Siri Jelajah Sebenarnya.my which took place across 25 locations nationwide? And for what, you go to the people and tell them not read alternative media, just read Sebenarnya.my? Most of the people in rural areas don’t even have broadband connectivity, poor mobile coverage everywhere and expensive fixed broadband service but MCMC have money to spend on this useless website?
Enough with all these.
The truth is, I wrote this post because there are couple of things I want MCMC to do. MCMC has created fear among us and this should stop, we shouldn’t be afraid of our regulator. Here’s a short list to do:
1. Stop censoring the Internet and start educating people. Surprisingly, a number of ISPs has unblocked Sarawak Report website, Medium.com and other non-pornographic website since 2-3 days ago (I wonder if MCMC gave the order). MCMC, its not your job to regulate the Internet, in fact, you can’t. I hope to see more funds being allocated for educating people on how to use the Internet, and for Parents and Kids to be safe online. A number of Malaysians are being cheated on social media, you have to do something about that, something that works because it hasn’t stopped.
2. Stop becoming a Political Tool. As a regulator, your serve the people, stick to your objectives which are related to multimedia and communications. Matters of politics are none of your business unless it is something against the existing law. If you are asked to do something that is wrong, example, by KKMM, you should stand up and say No. Stop being used for the wrong purpose and act accordingly to the law.
3. Set up educational booths everywhere. You have so much funds for Sebenarnya.my, why not use it for something more meaningful. Distribute flyers that talks about the Do and Don’t on Internet. Take feedback and complaints from the public. Engage people on the Facebook page of Maxis, Celcom, Digi and U Mobile. Give more powers to the MCMC Consumer Protection and Complaints Bureau to fine the Telcos for poor services, etc. Develop programs to educate people on mobile and broadband plans.
4. Get all ISPs to be part of HSBB, for real, bring down broadband pricing. It is your duty to bring all Telcos to the table, not TM since HSBB is a National Broadband Network. You also need to control and regulate the pricing of HSBB and not let TM decide it. TM needs to choose between operating the HSBB network and offering Unifi service, it cannot be allowed to do both. Long term contract plans can be abolished if users are willing to pay for installation and get their own routers. Why are you not championing user’s right?
5. Be Transparent. Malaysians are not stupid, we know about the billions of funds that you have. Isn’t it your responsibility to be accountable? You have to disclose up to date information about how much you spent and where did the money ago. Keep in mind, you are not a private company and you are merely managing these funds on behalf of the public.
P.s: I hope all the money is accounted for in MCMC. Hope nothing happens like RM1 billion goes missing or misused.
These are among the things I want MCMC to do apart from fixing their crappy website, poor handling of complaints, stop spamming Malaysians and a long list.
Regarding the MCMC website, among the reason why its a crappy website, I will give you this. This sub-MCMC Contact Directory page is still showing Dato’ Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi as Chairman. He left MCMC close to 4 years ago. Screenshot below and Google cache link:
The MCMC website has a complicated navigation, it hard to find information. Its a shame that a Communication and Multimedia regulator can’t get its own website right.
Oh, and to accomplish the above, I hope to see a new management at MCMC. All the existing top management people in MCMC should resign immediately, like right now. We need a better regulator who would do things right for Malaysians.
Heads should roll in the departments below, in my opinion:
CHAIRMAN’S OFFICE
Tan Sri Dr Halim Shafie
IZANI OTHMAN
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
MAZLAN ISMAIL
ADVISOR MCMC ACADEMY
TOH SWEE HOE
SHEIKH RAFFIE ABD RAHMAN
UZER TAJUDIN
HUMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT AND COMPETENCY DEVELOPMENT DIVISION
KHANEEZA KHALID
STRATEGIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS DIVISION
AHMAD NOR HISHAM MOHD YUSOP
AHMAD RAZIF RAMLI
ZAHARAH JAMIL
MOHD REDZUEN ABDULLAH
AZIZUL RAHMAN ZAINAL
FINANCE, PROPERTY & ADMINISTRATION DIVISION
CHO SHI CHONG (MR)
ELLY ERNAWATI ABDULLAH
FARAH DIBA MOHD DAUD
THOMAS PHILIP THOMAS
PROCUREMENT DIVISION
MOHD HUSSIN ALI
MUHAMAD TAHIR MUHAMAD NOOR
SITI MARIAM MOHD FUAT
MOHD FAISAL MD NOR
INTERNAL AUDIT
AMIZI SHAHRULIZAN ALIAS
CORPORATE STRATEGY SECTOR
NUR SULYNA LIM ABDULLAH
CORPORATE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIVISION
NORINA YAHYA
NORZANAH JOHARI
ALYAS HAJI AMIR
LEGAL DIVISION
DEVI ANNAMALAI
NUR ISHQI HAYATI ZAKARIA
NUR ISHQI HAYATI ZAKARIA
MOHD SOPHIAN ZAKARIA
NETWORK SECURITY AND ENFORCEMENT SECTOR
ZULKARNAIN MOHD YASIN
DIGITAL SURVEILLANCE DIVISION
MAZLINA DZULFAKAR
SYED MOKHSEIN SYED MANSOR
RUZAMRI RUWANDI
HAIRUL ANUAR MAT NOR
ENFORCEMENT AND INVESTIGATION DIVISION
DATO’ MOHD SHAFIE HARUN
DATIN MAI ZAIRANI ZAINAL ABIDIN
MOHAMAD SYUKRI JAMALUDDIN
ZAIRULNAHAR ZAKARIA
INFRASTRUCTURE DIVISION
NOR AZHAR HASSAN
RIZAL ABDUL MALEK
BUKHARI YAHYA
ZAFE FAZILAH ABU BAKAR
DIGITAL COMMUNITIES AND PROGRAM COORDINATION DIVISION
NOR AKMAR SHAH MINAN
MOHD ASHRAF ISMAIL
LAUREL TAN BEE HIONG
MOHD FADHILLAH MOHD NOR
SPECTRUM AND NUMBERING MANAGEMENT, LICENSING AND ECONOMIC REGULATION SECTOR
NORIZAN BAHARIN
MARKET REGULATION DIVISION
LAILA HASSAN
JANAKKY RAJU
YEE SYE CHUNG
MOHAMAD HAIRY HALIB
SALINA GHAZALI
LICENSING AND ASSIGNMENT DIVISION
STELLA JEEVAMANI NAVARATNAM
SERVICE QUALITY AND SPECTRUM OPERATIONS DIVISION
DATIN NORAFIDAH MOHD YUSOF
ZUL RUSHDI BAKRI
Some referral links:
https://hakam.org.my/wp/2016/11/08/mcmc-raids-malaysiakini-office-seize-computers/
https://www.suaram.net/2016/11/09/mcmc-stop-abusing-power-to-investigate/
https://www.malaysianwireless.com/2017/11/mcmc-public-cellular-blocking-service/
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/424699
https://www.digitalnewsasia.com/mobile-telco/speculation-mounts-after-sharil-abrupt-exit-as-mcmc-head
https://www.tm.com.my/AboutTM/NewsRelease/Pages/TM-SIGNS-HSBB-2-AND-SUBB-AGREEMENTS-WITH-THE-GOVERNMENT-TO-FURTHER-CONNECT-MALAYSIANS-NATIONWIDE.aspx
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernama
http://www.thesundaily.my/news/2018/03/13/appeals-court-orders-tv3-pay-rm-200000-damages-lawyer-defamation
https://www.malaymail.com/s/1574173/sebenarnya.my-hits-the-road-in-fight-against-fake-news
https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2016/01/27/mcmc-blocks-medium/
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2018/04/03/may-14-decision-for-anwars-rm100m-suit-against-tv3/
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/bahasa/2018/01/18/skmm-serbu-rumah-ahli-parlimen-dap-perak/
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016/11/08/mcmc-raids-malaysiakini/
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2018/04/26/why-is-mcmc-breaking-its-own-law-asks-lawyer/
http://www.thesundaily.my/news/2018/03/06/mcmc-and-security-firm-ordered-file-defence-data-leak
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/02/16/mcmc-orders-articles-taken-down/
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/12/12/tmi-summoned-by-mcmc/
