By Nigel Edgar
KUCHING, June 8: Sarawak’s collaboration with China telecommunications giant Huawei is still going strong despite the firm being banned from using American technology on its Android devices.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg assured that Sarawak would continue to work with Huawei to improve the state’s telecommunications infrastructure, particularly on the 5G technology, to catapult its digital economy agenda and participation in the Industrial Revolution 4.0.
“We are still collaborating with Huawei. It is ongoing,” Abang Johari told reporters who were covering his visit to Assistant Minister for Rural Electricity Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi’s Hari Raya open house at Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka here today.
On May 20, Google banned Huawei from using some of its Android operating features following a ban imposed by US President Donald Trump. After that, chipmakers Intel and Qualcomm also joined the fray. Huawei devices depend on Qualcomm and Intel chips for its mobile phones and laptops.
Yesterday, Facebook announced that Facebook, together with associated apps like Instagram and WhatsApp, would not come pre-installed on new Huawei smartphones.
However, users could still download those apps from the Google Play Store.
Meanwhile, Google, in indicating that it was still reluctant to ban Huawei devices from using its tech and apps in a report yesterday, however, warned the US government that it risked compromising US national security if it pushed ahead with sweeping export restrictions on Huawei, as the technology group seeks to continue doing business with the blacklisted Chinese company.
Meanwhile, Russia was reported yesterday to have signed a 5G development deal with Huawei.
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad recently told the media in Tokyo that Malaysia would continue to use Huawei devices “as much as possible”, indicating that he would not tolerate “western bullies” threatening the East. — DayakDaily
