Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan (PN-Tasek Gelugor): The issue I raise is on administration, transparency, U Mobile’s capability and sustainability. (File photo by Zahid Izzani/The Edge)

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 11): An opposition lawmaker on Monday chided Tan Sri Vincent Tan for making "political comments" after the tycoon reportedly criticised the previous government's decision to implement 5G single wholesale network.

Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan (PN-Tasek Gelugor) urged Tan — a shareholder of mobile network operator U Mobile Sdn Bhd, which has recently won the bid to develop Malaysia's second 5G network — to "know his place" during a news conference in Parliament. He also warned that the public could "boycott" U Mobile at any time, which could bring a direct impact to the mobile network operator.

“The issue I raise is on administration, transparency, U Mobile’s capability and sustainability,” said Wan Saiful.

The comments come after Tan said “the monopolistic single network model chosen by the Muhyiddin administration was against global best practices”, in a statement carried by Free Malaysia Today and The Malaysian Reserve news portals.

U Mobile also said in a statement over the weekend that Malaysia would move away from a “monopolistic model towards a comprehensive competitive landscape” by establishing a second 5G network.

The company also highlighted its own track record, noting that it has invested more than RM5 billion in its infrastructure and now has some 10,000 network sites, which U Mobile said is on par with its peers.

On Monday, Wan Saiful also questioned the award process, highlighting the relations between Tan and the chairman of Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) as business partners elsewhere.

Wan Saiful flagged that MCMC chairman Tan Sri Mohamad Salim Fateh Din also serves as vice chairman of construction firm Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd (KL:MRCB) bidding with Berjaya Land Bhd (KL:BJLAND) for the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail project.

Berjaya Land is 73.55% owned by Berjaya Corp Bhd (KL:BJCORP), which was founded by Tan.

Last week, U Mobile was awarded the spectrum to lead the country's second 5G network over larger rivals Maxis Bhd (KL:MAXIS) and CelcomDigi Bhd (KL:CDB).