Why, despite the reported warnings apparently issued by the US and several European Union envoys to the government over risks to national security and foreign investment if Huawei is given a role in the country’s 5G rollout, does PM10 still proceed and announced on 27 Sept 2023 the switch to having a dual 5G network would allow for more effective participation by Huawei?
Was he trying to tell these foreign powers that we are a sovereign nation and it is for us to decide on our destiny?
To show the world that Malaysia does not ‘kowtow’ to big powers?
We have always known that big political powers flex their muscles and dictate to smaller countries like Malaysia to do their bidding and support their cause.
It is always either you are with us or against us.
As a small nation, we walk a very fine line when it comes to this.
And we cannot afford to offend any of them as we also depend on them for investments.
The same can’t be said when we, as a small nation, seek help from these big political powers who will ‘lecture’ these smaller countries, Malaysia included, first and then to make it look like these smaller countries will go a-begging to them for help before they even contemplate and consider their pleas.
Early in 2023 when PM10 revealed that the government will review the SWN model for the 5G rollout, it was reported that the management of DNB informed the government of the potential diplomatic pitfalls in embracing Huawei.
A senior consultant to DNB was quoted to have said Malaysia needs to worry about the opposition from the Five Eyes because we need technology and investment from the Western countries and that policymakers need to make up their minds whether all of those involved are going to act in the nation’s national interest as the US and EU sanctions on Chinese technology vendors are valid concerns.
The Five Eyes and the US and the few European Union envoys should be well aware that back in 2021 while he was still the Opposition Leader, PM10, in a video on his Facebook in July 2021 called for the government-led by then Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to make public the details of the RM11 billion contract it awarded to Ericsson while claiming Huawei could have done the job for RM5 billion.
Citing that as the cost will be borne by the rakyat, he wants these to be revealed to ensure that there is no chance of corruption, abuse of power and excessive payment of commissions, a fact laid bare in March 2023 where Ericsson agreed to pay a $206 million penalty and pleaded guilty to violating the anti-bribery provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act by the US Justice Department.
Or PM10 is hoping that by announcing the role to be played by Huawei in the 2nd network publicly, it could probably `force’ the US government and also a few of those countries in the European Union to subtly bear upon Goldman Sachs to come to a settlement with Malaysia.
Since 2018, even though he was not in the government, PM10 in an interview with the Financial Times of the UK, condemned Goldman Sachs’ role in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal as “disgusting” and demanded reparations in excess of the $600m the bank gained in fees from the state investment fund that caused the image of the country to deteriorate and is now a burden shouldered by the government because of the complicity of so many of these so-called credible, renowned financial institutions.
Again in Dec 2019, in an interview with Euromoney, PM10 was very clear and very insistent that Goldman Sachs has to pay not just what was taken but also what we lost.
Then in Jan 2023, in an interview with Bloomberg TV, PM10 urged Goldman to "come clean" and not to ignore its "moral and financial responsibilities and settle the deal with Malaysia and not just dismiss it by flexing the firm's financial muscle.
Citing that he has the mandate from Malaysians with many still struggling to live, Goldman Sachs must settle their moral and financial responsibilities.
In April 2023, PM10 was again quoted to have said the initial findings by the Special Task Force on 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) is of the view that the settlement deal between Goldman Sachs and the previous Perikatan Nasional-led (PN) government should be reviewed, is now focusing its effort on reviewing the settlement deal.
On 23 Sept 2023, PM10 issued a cautionary message to Goldman Sachs which has been taking Malaysia for granted, warning the financial giant that legal action will be taken if it fails to honour its settlement with the Malaysian government over its role in the 1MDB financial scandal and not to assume that the country will not make good on its threat of a suit against them.
Since 2018, PM10 has been consistent in seeking appropriate compensation from Goldman Sachs for their role in the 1MDB scandal which has caused the country and the people immeasurable suffering.
He has voiced out time and again since 2018 on the inadequacy on the part of Goldman Sachs in addressing their role and the damages they have caused to the country.
And time and again, Goldman Sachs appears to have ignored his calls for them to come to the table and discuss.
And by announcing that Huawei will play a role in the 2nd network, PM10 appears to be taking a slightly more aggressive stance in trying to get what he wants by saying that if he do not get it, he will proceed with Huawei.
That is political brinkmanship for PM10.
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