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U Mobile’s Role in Malaysia’s 5G Expansion Aligns with Equity Standards

The appointment of U Mobile Sdn Bhd to establish Malaysia’s second 5G network adheres to the equity requirements under the network facility provider (NFP) and network service provider (NSP) licences, affirmed Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil. Minister Fahmi clarified that under NFP and NSP licences, foreign equity is capped at 49%, and Bumiputera ownership must be at least 30%. U Mobile currently complies with these requirements, with plans to reduce foreign ownership to 20% to ensure stronger local investor control, which aligns with the licence conditions. On Nov 1, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) selected U Mobile for Malaysia's second 5G rollout. This decision drew attention, as U Mobile has a smaller subscriber base and less financial strength compared to larger players like Maxis Bhd and CelcomDigi Bhd. The selection process, Fahmi emphasized, was conducted through a "beauty contest" method by the MCMC, which assessed busi

Unilever Implements 'Drastic' Changes in Indonesia Amid Consumer Boycotts

 

Unilever is making "drastic" changes in its Indonesian operations, according to Chief Financial Officer Fernando Fernandez, as the company grapples with consumer boycotts of multinational brands in response to the ongoing war in Gaza. These boycotts have worsened the company's distribution challenges in the region.

Unilever, known for brands like Dove, Knorr, and Ben & Jerry's, first reported in February that Southeast Asian sales had taken a hit due to Indonesian shoppers boycotting multinational brands, linked to the geopolitical situation in the Middle East.

Speaking after delivering slightly better-than-expected quarterly sales, Fernandez said Unilever plans to make its brands more "contemporary" to adapt to the significant societal changes taking place in Indonesia. He expects improvement over the next six months.

Unilever’s Indonesian unit reported an 18% drop in third-quarter revenue, largely driven by a decline in volumes. CEO Hein Schumacher acknowledged "long-standing issues" in the country but noted that major changes in the third and fourth quarters will not yield immediate results. The company is also revamping its distribution system to stabilize prices and recover market share lost during the consumer backlash. Fernandez noted that Unilever has already regained one-quarter of its lost market share.

Despite these efforts, analysts like Warren Ackerman from Barclays remain skeptical, pointing to Unilever's underperformance in Indonesia for nearly a decade.

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