The EU and US have warned Malaysia over risks to national security and foreign investment as the government finalises a review of its 5G rollout that could allow China’s Huawei a role in the country’s telecoms infrastructure.
Envoys to Malaysia from the US and EU wrote to the government in April after it decided to review a decision to award Ericsson a RM11bn ($2.5bn) tender to build a state-owned 5G network. The envoys’ letters have been seen by the Financial Times.
The 5G review, which was due to be completed by the end of March, has become a test of whether Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s new government can deliver stability after years of political chaos, as well as its ability to juggle relations with the west and China.