KUALA LUMPUR — The Education Ministry (MoE) has resumed negotiations with YTL Communications Sdn Bhd, the contractor of the 1BestariNet project, to resolve ongoing issues regarding its communication towers.
The ministry expects to finalise recommended solutions to be presented to the cabinet soon, Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh (Taiping-PH) told the Dewan Rakyat today.
Wong said that although YTL Communications’ contract for 1BestariNet ended on June 30, 2019, there are still several issues regarding the rental rates and electricity charges for communication towers which have yet to be resolved.
“For the record, the MoE planned negotiations to resolve these problems, but it came to pause following a judicial review action against the federal government.
“Consultations continued after the withdrawal of the judicial review application on October 5, 2021, which was a condition set by the federal government.
“At this time, the MoE is finalising recommendations to resolve this issue and will present it to the cabinet through a memorandum,” Wong said during the Dewan Rakyat’s question time.
The deputy minister said although the contract for the 1BestariNet project, ended in 2019, the communications towers built to improve internet access for schools under the project are being used for commercial purposes.
Describing this as a “legacy problem”, Wong said the present government is committed to resolving the issues inherited from previous administrations.
Additionally, given that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is investigating payments related to the 1BestariNet project, Wong also said the MoE will cooperate with the authorities on the matter.
Wong was replying a question by Datuk Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah (Langkawi-PN) who asked about the current status of the 1BestariNet project.
In a supplementary question, Mohd Suhaimi said despite the outcome of the project, which the ministry ended earlier that its original 15-year service contract, subsequent contracts awarded to YTL by the federal government showed that “such companies go unpunished”.
“I feel disappointed because it’s as if there are no punishments for companies that behave this way.
“Two years after the contract ended, a waste-to-energy (plant project) valued at RM4.5 billion was given to YTL.
“In 2021, RM43.46 billion was given to YTL for the multi-lane free-flow project,” Mohd Suhaimi said.
The purpose of the 1BestariNet project, which began in 2011, was to develop internet connectivity and a virtual learning environment (VLE) platform in schools.
However, it came under scrutiny for failing to achieve its objectives, amid complaints that it failed to provide broadband access with the speed required for efficient classroom learning.
MACC in September announced it had opened an investigation into the project and YTL Comms based on reports and information, including from Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee on the matter.
The anti-graft agency’s probe centres on claims involving false details related to RM2.7 billion in payments, as well as other criminal elements under the MACC Act 2009.
MACC also noted that although the tender for 1BestariNet was originally for 15 years for a contract sum of RM4.07 billion, it was shortened to seven years and six months without any reduction in contract value.
YTL Communications, a subsidiary of YTL International Power Bhd, has said it is providing full cooperation to the MACC in its probe.
Wong, meanwhile, told the Dewan Rakyat today that after the 1BestariNet project ended in 2019, MoE developed an in-house (VLE) platform called Delima. – November 11, 2024