19/12/2025

Editorial T: 03-7784 6688 F: 03-7785 2625 E: sunbiz@thesundaily.com Advertising T: 03-7784 8888 E: advertise@thesundaily.com

SCAN ME

FRIDAY | DEC 19, 2025

Selangor starts rolling out dark fibre network

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia must accept the reality that the country can no longer be overly dependent on dividends from Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas), as the national oil company operates as a commercial entity whose performance is closely tied to global oil prices. He said Petronas’ dividend payments to the government are determined by market conditions and the performance of the oil and gas industry, which remains subject to volatility amid an uncertain global landscape. “Petronas is a commercial entity. The dividend depends on the performance and the price of petroleum. We have to accept reality. “The country, in order to move forward, cannot be too dependent on Petronas’ offerings,” he said during a one-hour briefing with 92 local and international media editors-in-chief here on Wednesday. The prime minister said this in response to questions on whether the government is concerned about the state-owned oil com pany’s declining dividend payout and whether the trend is expected to continue. Anwar said that while the government naturally seeks higher dividends to support national development, such expectations must be balanced against pre vailing global conditions in the oil and gas sector. “As much as we want more dividends, we also have to look at what is happening globally and within the oil and gas industry,” he said, adding that Malaysia must focus on creating new business entities and economic drivers that can generate sustainable revenue for the government going for ward. Petronas, the country’s sole Fortune 500 company, is the single largest contributor to government coffers. The Finance Ministry, in its Fiscal Outlook and Federal Govern ment Revenue Estimates 2026 Report, said that for next year, the government expects a RM20 billion dividend from Petronas compared with the RM32 billion the company has committed to pay for 2025. Speaking to reporters following the Budget 2026 presentation in Parliament in October, Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said the government is working on the assumption that oil prices will range from US$60-US$65 (RM245-RM266) per barrel next year, dragging down petroleum related revenue. – Bernama PM: Petronas dividends subject to oil market’s performance

BY HAYATUN RAZAK sunbiz@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Capital A Bhd’s air logistics arm, Teleport Commerce Malaysia Sdn Bhd, has been appointed as the exclusive general sales agent (GSA) for China Central Longhao Airlines Co Ltd (Air Central China). The appointment deepens the relationship between both entities on the back of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed at the Zhengzhou-Kuala Lumpur Air Silk Road Forum in September between SHAH ALAM: Selangor has begun rolling out its state-owned dark fibre network, covering an estimated 889km statewide, at a projected cost of RM500 million to RM800 million, with completion targeted within three years. Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said the rollout is starting with a pilot project in Cyberjaya and is being led by Smartsel Sdn Bhd, the Selangor state government–owned digital infra structure company, in partnership with OCK Group Bhd. Under the current model, capital expenditure is undertaken by OCK, while the fibre infrastructure will be jointly owned by the state government and commercialised through part nerships, with clients connected. “This first model will serve as proof of whether a public-private or hybrid model is sustainable for fiberisation projects,” he said at a press conference after launching the Cyberjaya Fiberisation Project yesterday. Amirudin said the network is expected to support data centre expansion, attract high-value digital investments and strengthen Selangor’s position as a regional digital hub. He said Cyberjaya was selected as the starting point because it is a key hub for data centres and companies that rely heavily on high-speed connectivity. “The first phase covers about 40 kilometres in Cyberjaya, of which four kilometres have already been completed,” he said. The fibre infrastructure will be leased to data centres, enterprises, and licensed network operators, in line with growing demand for high capacity, resilient connectivity. Under the state budget, an allocation of RM1 million to RM2 million has been provided for Menteri Besar Selangor (Incor porated) to develop a compre hensive master plan for the state wide fibre rollout to be shared with strategic partners, starting with OCK. Although the project was initially announced to commence in 2026, Amirudin said specific components have already been piloted, allowing implementation to begin in 2025, with full execution expected within three years. He said the next phase after Cyberjaya will be Shah Alam, where about 178km of fibre routes have been identified. “We also see opportunities to

ment phases, with a total capacity of up to 864 fibre cores per cable. OCK will leverage its expertise and experience in fibre deployment and connectivity to finance and imple ment the project under a revenue sharing model with Smartsel. The completed infrastructure will be leased to data centres, enter prises, and licensed operators, in line with rising demand for high capacity, resilient data connectivity in Cyberjaya, particularly to meet global hyperscaler standards. The BAF ormalises the shared intent of Smartsel and OCK to establish a long-term strategic part nership in support of Selangor’s digital agenda. It also formalises a long-term strategic partnership between Smart sell and OCK in support of Selangor’s digital agenda, including potential collaboration in statewide fibre rollout, in-building 5G coverage, network operations and managed services, digital platforms and green and renewable energy integration.

o Cyberjaya start for 889km statewide link costing RM500m-RM800m, which is targeted to be completed within three years

for the development, operation, and maintenance of fibre optic infra structure in Cyberjaya. The launch ceremony and exchange of agreement documents were officiated by Amirudin, marking the Selangor state govern ment’s commitment to developing digital infrastructure as a core public utility, on par with roads, water supply and electricity. In accordance with the MoA, Smartsel is collaborating with OCK Datawave to develop and operate 41.1km of underground fibre optic infrastructure in Cyberjaya. The project will be implemented through the construction of high density polyethylene ducts and fibre optic cables across four develop

connect Selangor to the world, particularly through potential sites in Banting that were previously proposed as submarine cable landing points, which is an im portant requirement for global connectivity.” For construction works, including open-cutting activities, the state will leverage existing corridors such as railways, highways, water pipelines and electricity routes to minimise disruption, with state-owned land facilitating co-ordination. As part of the project imple mentation, Smartsel has entered into a business alliance framework (BAF) with OCK and a memo randum of agreement with OCK’s subsidiary, OCK Datawave Sdn Bhd,

Amirudin (third, left) officiating at the launch of the Cyberjaya Fiberisation Project yesterday. Second from left is Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporated) group CEO Datuk Saipolyazan M. Yusop and third from right is OCK Group non-executive chairman Datuk Syed Norulzaman Syed Kamarulzaman. – BERNAMAPIC

Teleport appointed exclusive general sales agent for Air Central China

Teleport and Air Central China. Teleport, Southeast Asia’s inte grated e-commerce logistics specialist, will be commercially man aging Air Central China’s freighter capacity from India, namely Chennai and Delhi, twice weekly respectively to Zhengzhou, with its first flight set to take off on Jan 5, 2026. Teleport CEO Pete Chareon wongsak said the company appre ciates Air Central China’s vote of confidence in appointing Teleport as

its exclusive GSA in India. “We take that as a validation of our regional and operational experience to manage their freighter capacity from India into China commercially. For Teleport, this further strengthens our network by expanding new capacity for us with direct access from India into the heart of China. “What makes this stronger is the direct onward connections into key cities in China from Zhengzhou, such as Guangzhou and Shenzhen,

among others, which opens up more direct market access for businesses in India to seamlessly distribute their cargo across China,” he said in a statement. Teleport expects to move a broad range of general cargo, pharma ceuticals and perishable goods with the extended cargo connectivity into key domestic cities across China under a single through air waybill, providing efficient, seamless end-to end movement.