Mr Speaker sir,

I support the aims of the amendments to Section 69C of the Telecommunications Act to further promote competition in the telecommunications services market, namely, in empowering the Minister to issue a separation order to a telecommunication licensee.

Amendments to Section 69B, however, extends the power of the Minister to allow him to order remedial actions on a person who acquires the assets, business and shares in a telecommunication licensee. Accordingly, the Minister will be empowered to do so if he is satisfied that the person is ‘not fit and proper’, and that it is ‘not in the national interest’ to allow the person to continue owning the assets in the license.

Mr Speaker, can the Minister tell us – what is it that has led to this amendment granting him these extended powers? What does he consider to be ‘against the national interest’ when speaking of the telecommunications industry, if he exercises his new powers?

Can the Minister also reassure this House that the powers granted to him in this amendment of the Telecommunications Act will not be used other than to promote market competition and to tackle clear and present threats to our national security?