Rajiv for Malaysia

Six months ago today marks the first public outcry of the Malaysian telecommunications subscribers when it was brought to light that eight telecommunication companies met and decided to raise mobile prepaid prices by 6% owing to government service tax being passed on to their subscribers. Though within their corporate rights to raise prices and/or pass on government taxes to their subscribers, their action showed utter disregard for the law.

Section 133 of the Multimedia & Communications Act of 1998 clearly states that any licensee shall not engage in any conduct which has the purpose of substantially lessening competition in a communications market. Furthermore, Section 135 of the same prohibits every telecommunication company to enter any understanding, agreement, or arrangement that provides for rate fixing. These, among others, are just examples of the laws that the telecommunication companies in question have deliberately and blatantly ignored for the sake of profit, without considering the welfare and the joint interests of their subscribers.

Six months ago the angered consumers' opinions prevailed and resulted to a temporary amnesty. While the amnesty provides that the 6% increase not be implemented, this does not absolve the involved telecommunication companies of the legal consequences of their actions, which is an obvious breach of the law.

If these telecommunication companies can meet and collude to unilaterally raise the market prices without fear of persecution, the government must investigate if such actions have been done in the past. If no investigation or action is taken, we would repeatedly see this practice of price fixing to the benefit of the companies but detrimental to the public's interests. I, and millions more who are these companies' subscribers, strongly urge the government to act immediately and investigate the unscrupulous collusion.

Half a year has passed and yet the prevailing question still remains. Why hasn't the government, specifically the Malaysian Communications & Multimedia Commission, and its minister YB Dato' Seri Utama Dr. Rais Yatim investigated and/or released the results of the case despite Member of Parliament, YB Tony Pua's, call to action requesting the government to protect the public? Who then are the stakeholders that the government prioritises to protect, the few corporate giants or the millions of the rakyat clamouring for their rights to be protected?