In a brief media release that was published on its Facebook page and Twitter account, the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia (KKMM) claimed that it has no plan to implement such fee on consumers. The media release didn’t provide any explanation regarding the statement made by Zahidi though.
Kementerian Komunikasi dan Multimedia Malaysia Tiada Cadangan Untuk Kenakan Bayaran Perkhidmatan Bagi Pembelian Dalam Talian 9 September 2020#KomunikasiKita#KKMM#MalaysiaPrihatin pic.twitter.com/0raFYbRto3 — KKMM (@kkmm_gov) September 9, 2020 Zahidi originally stated that the government is looking to impose the service charge at a rate of 0.02%. The money will be used to improve the country’s cybersecurity infrastructure although the idea is still at the planning stage. Judging from the latest release by KKMM, it looks like the Deputy Minister has been thrown under the bus for the second time in just one day. The first such hit took place earlier today when the Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Khairy Jamaluddin revealed that Zahidi’s recent controversial remarks regarding Vevonah Mosibin have been frowned upon by the Malaysian cabinet who has also deemed them as off the point.
— Khairy Jamaluddin 🇲🇾🌺 (@Khairykj) September 9, 2020 That being said, it remains to be seen whether his recent missteps are going to cost his political career and role at KKMM dearly or be swiped under the rug as mere “mistakes”. (Main image: Anna Shvets via Pexels.)
