Lee gesa kerajaan jelas keputusan tak jadi ambil alih Datasonic

PKR MP Lee Chean Chung has urged the government to clarify its decision not to take over Datasonic Technologies Sdn Bhd, the country's passport and identity card manufacturer. Following the request, the company was asked to submit an indicative price for the potential takeover. Lee stated that the government's decision, as announced by the Finance Ministry and the National Security Council (MKN), appears inconsistent.

He called on the Finance Ministry to explain whether they had requested Datasonic or its parent company, NexG Bhd, to submit an indicative offer for the takeover proposal. If so, the ministry should clarify which officials made the request and under what authority. If the MKN has already stated that the government has no intention of taking over the company, Lee questioned why an indicative offer was requested by the ministry at an early stage.

On August 21, NexG announced that the government was considering the takeover of Datasonic, which is estimated to be worth RM7.5 billion. According to them, the ministry was involved and had requested the company to submit an indicative price for the potential takeover in July. NexG warned that the loss of their unit could significantly impact their business operations, financial performance, and listing status.

However, the next day, MKN clarified that the government would not be taking over Datasonic and would continue to explore proactive and effective strategies to preserve national identity while ensuring the best value for money. Lee emphasized that the potential takeover of a listed company is no light matter, with government officials merely asking for a price and leaving it at that.

If the government agency had formally requested an indicative offer, there should be clear explanation regarding its basis, scope of authority, and subsequent decisions resulting from the request, he said. "Furthermore, I urge the ministry to clarify the facts and the decision-making process to prevent different agencies from sending conflicting signals, leading to confusion among the public and the market."