KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's 5G rollout by Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) is not the same as the controversial 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) project, says Yamani Hafez Musa.

       The Deputy Finance Minister said that the project was different in terms of its tender process as it was conducted based on global standards by professional independent services body Ernst & Young Consulting Services Sdn Bhd.

       Yamani Hafez said this in response to a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (PH-Port Dickson) who asked the ministry to reveal the awarding of project to avoid it from becoming like 1MDB.

       Fahmi Fadzil (PH-Lembah Pantai) then stood up to interject, saying that 1MDB also had used the services of Goldman Sachs.

       "They are also professionals, you cannot use the argument," said Fahmi.

       Goldman Sachs had agreed to pay more than $USD2.9bil to US regulators to resolve probes into its central role in the international 1MDB scandal.

       To this, Yamani Hafez explained that Goldman Sachs had raised bonds and not an open tender.

       "This is an open tender. There is a big difference. They (E&Y) have four panels of more than 50 local and international experts from more than 10 countries that have experience in implementing 5G networks," said Yamani Hafez.

       "And the tender process started with an initial evaluation on 14 network equipment provider companies.

       "From there, only eight companies were shortlisted to bid in the tender," he added.

       Yamani Hafez then said that out of the eight companies, only four had filed in the final tendering process, adding that it had undergone strict vetting by a tender evaluation team and the DNB board.

       He also noted the most stringent governance standards and practices had been applied during the whole tendering process.

       Anwar then stood up to demand the government to be transparent in each step of the process as well as on how it had made the final decision.

       To this, Hafez Yamani reiterated that Goldman Sachs was directly appointed to raise bonds in the case of 1MDB.

       "For DNB, we are doing it through an open tender," he said.

       He added that engagement sessions will be held with both government and opposition MPs to allow DNB to give a clearer picture and answer all queries directly.