I have been following the news about the Celcom (Axiata) and DiGi (Telenor) proposed merger of late and I can’t be more excited about it.

There are so many benefits from it but the biggest would be the faster introduction and rollout of 5G network nationwide. 5G delivers vastly increased capacity, lower latency, and faster speeds that can greatly help in Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous vehicles, healthcare and so much more.

But it is never cheap for telcos to replace all their hardware each time when adopting a new technology standard.

I doubt Celcom and DiGi, separately, have the capital to introduce it in the near future. Maybe only after two to four years, these companies may rollout the feature.

If the merger goes through and Merged.co is set up, the mega telco now would have the funds to roll out 5G soon afterwards. Maybe even the first telco in Malaysia.

Even two major mobile networks in USA, T-Mobile and Sprint are merging and both chief executive officers appeared together to announce if the merger goes through, they can roll out 5G very soon.

However, many of my friends both online and in real life have concerns if there will be an increase in prices after the merger.

I doubt Telenor would do that because it is not their style at all, and the best example is DiGi. Since the Yellow telco first burst into the Malaysia over two decades ago, they have been considered market disruptors because of their aggressive and highly competitive prices.

On numerous times, there were literally price wars where DiGi kept slashing its prices when another Telco tried to match or better their lower prices.

I am confident that after this merger, Merged.co will still offer competitive prices while improving its mobile coverage, better network speed and quality. Looking forward for a new telco player in new clothes, a much better one that is.

KOTA KINABALU: Former chief minister Yong Teck Lee has warned that the legal tussle involving the Sabah government over the purchase of timber concessionaire Sabah Forest Industries (SFI) Sdn Bhd may spook investors’ confidence in the state.

He said the SFI issue, which has been ongoing for a year now, would scare away potential investors whom the state government has been seeking to attract.

Continue reading “Legal tussle over timber concessionaire will spook investors, says ex-Sabah CM” →

Established in 1982, Sabah Forest Industries Sdn Bhd (SFI) is one of the largest timber growers and wood processors in Malaysia.

At present, the group manages a 712,000-acre forest estate in the south-western part of Sabah. Of the total forest land under its management, about 683,000 acres are operated under a 99-year concession granted by the state government from 1996, while about 29,000 acres are owned by SFI.

Continue reading “Group manages 712,000-acre forest estate in Sabah” →

A showdown between politics and business is set to unravel in the “Land Below the Wind”.

Centred on Sabah’s lucrative timber industry, a legal tussle has begun involving the Parti Warisan Sabah-led state government, financially-struggling timber concessionaire Sabah Forest Industries Sdn Bhd (SFI), SFI’s receiver and manager Grant Thornton Consulting Sdn Bhd and Pelangi Prestasi Sdn Bhd, a company related to one of the richest bumiputras in Malaysia, Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Albukhary.

Also Involved in the suit is China pulp and paper company Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing Ltd.

Continue reading “Tycoon in legal tussle over timber licences” →

Dengar kan, baru-baru ni, syarikat Axiata, (ibu syarikat Celcom) ada cadang nak bergabung dengan syarikat Norway Telenor (ibu syarikat Digi) nak wujudkan sebuah (super) syarikat baru. Ini merupakan suatu peristiwa penting dalam sejarah Malaysia; sebelum ini, syarikat Malaysia berada di pentas antarabangsa melalui industri minyak dan gas, perhotelan, atau perbankan. Ini merupakan di antara industri-industri yang terbesar pada abad ke-20 sehinggalah baru-baru ini.

Kini pada abad ke-21, dunia telah berubah dan disambung dengan teknologi canggih. Syarikat-syarikat seperti Birkshire Hathaway, J.P Morgan, dan Johnson & Johnson kini diganti dengan syarikat teknologi seperti Apple, Google, dan Facebook di kedudukan teratas senarai syarikat terbesar mengikut modal pasaran (market capital).

Apple, Google, Facebook. Mampu ke Malaysia nak bertanding?

Jawapan mudah: Tidak. Tapi meh sini saya cerita sikit.

Axiata ni banyak aset dia serata Malaysia dan Asia tenggara, Axiata di antara syarikat telekomunikasi terbesar di rantau ni- tapi situ je lah kemampuan dia. Soalan yang kita perlu tanya ialah bagaimana kita nak keluar dari menjadi jaguh kampung, dan menyertai perlumbaan juara bertaraf dunia?

Ni lah yang dilakukan oleh Axiata. Demi wawasan untuk menjadi di antara syarikat terbesar di dunia, sebuah penggabungan kini sedang dilakukan bersama Telenor, sebuah gergasi dunia telekomunikasi dengan pendapatan tahunan lebih USD 14 billion setahun.

Ni 5 sebab kenapa penggabungan Axiata-Telenor mampu melonjakkan nama Malaysia ke arena global.

1. Juara Dunia

Penggabungan ini mampu melonjakkan syarikat Malaysia ini serta anak syarikatnya seperti Celcom ke pasaran global yang baru. Gabungan kedua-dua gergasi telco ini akan melihat suebuah kuasa yang mampu menyaingi pemain digital di pasaran antarabangsa.

2. Beribu Pejabat di Malaysia dengan kepimpinan tempatan

Mempunyai salah sebuah syarikat telekomunikasi terbesar di dunia dengan HQ di Malaysia pastinya sesuatu yang diperlukan oleh negara ini terutamanya ketika kami sedang dalam perjalanan menjadi Harimau Asia yang bangkit kembali. Dalam cadangan ini telah ditetapkan bahawa kepimpinan gabungan ini adalah warganegara Malaysia. Jelas dilihat bahawa kepentingan negara dijaga.

3. Perkerjaan teknologi canggih untuk bakat tempatan

Presiden dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Axiata Tan Sri Jamaludin Ibrahim memberi jaminan bahawa tidak akan ada pemberhentian pekerja dalam usaha membentuk satu daripada terbesar syarikat infrastruktur mudah alih di Asia, Malah ia akan melatih kakitangan tenaga mahir tanahair di sektor industri 4.0, IoT, AI, serta ekonomi digital. Kata Tan Sri Jamaludin, “Di bawah perjanjian ini, tidak akan ada kerja pemberhentian. Tidak boleh dielak, apabila anda menggabungkan syarikat, akan ada fungsi yang bertindih. Langkah pertama kami adalah untuk melatih semula mereka,

4. Pusat Inovasi di Malaysia

Sebuah pusat Inovasi bertaraf dunia telah disetujuiu oleh kedua-dua pihak sebagai sebahagian daripada rancangan penggabungan. Pusat Inovasi ini yang dijangka menjadi yang terbesar di rantau ini, akan menerima pembiayaan kira-kira RM100 juta setiap tahun untuk membangunkan produk dan penyelesaian sekitar Internet Perkara, Kecerdasan Buatan, Robotik dan 5G antara lain yang boleh membuat teknologi sedemikian boleh diakses di harga yang lebih menarik.

5. Gergasi Asia = gergasi dunia

Gabungan Axiata-Telenor ini bakal mewujudkan salah satu syarikat infrastruktur mudah alih terbesar Asia dengan operasi sehingga 60,000 menara seluruh benua ini serta melibatkan lebih kurang 300 juta pelanggan mudah alih. Jauh lebih besar jika dibandingkan dengan AT&T (USA) yang mempunyai hanya 153 juta pelanggan.

Pagi ini (May31), Pengurus Besar FELDA Datuk Dr Othman Omar ditemu ramah dalam rancangan Selamat Pagi Malaysia TV1 mengenai Kertas Putih FELDA.

Dalam segmen Selamat Pagi Malaysia bertajuk “Kertas Putih FELDA Inisiatif Bantu Peneroka” Dr Othman menggelarkan Kertas Putih sebagai satu pelan jangka panjang bagi FELDA serta peneroka.

Continue reading “Gaji tinggi, idea menyedihkan” →

The efforts by the Sarawak Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCC) to promote foreign investments must be applauded. However, precautions must be taken to ensure that only Quality Investments are allowed into the state.

What are Quality Investments? Quality Investments are those that meet the long-term socio-economic aspirations of the state in terms of providing continued economic value i.e. revenue for the state, continuous growth in employment opportunities, the sustainability of businesses through safe environment-friendly standard operating practices. In other words, bringing ‘Real Value’ to the people on the ground to enhance their quality of life.

Continue reading “Do It Right, Do It Sincerely, SCCC” →

Harapkan pagar, pagar makan pagi

The unethical practices of international accounting firms should not be tolerated. All State and Federal governments must review the role and operations of international accounting firms that are involved in federal, state and private projects to ensure ethical practices and professionalism. Any unethical practices, including lack of transparency, questionable practices shall not be condoned and reported to the MIA.

Continue reading “MALAYSIANS MUST STOP THE UNETHICAL PRACTICES OF THE “INTERNATIONAL ACCOUNTING FIRMS’”” →

It is amazingly clear that people, whoever it may be, can change to suit their convenience and surroundings. This speaks volumes about the person’s credibility.

What is disappointing is that lawyer cum politician, Christina Liew, who had been championing the cause of Sabah Forest Industry Sdn Bhd (SFI) employees, has turned her back to the same group of people by keeping silent and ignoring their pleas. SFI is today undergoing a legal tussle that would result in employees losing their jobs.

Continue reading “Where are you, Christina, when you’re needed the most?” →