According to this story on The Star - TM, ASPs in Pricing Tiff,a pro-tem association of ASPs called the Communications & Multimedia Assocation claim that TM is implementing a strategy that is unfair and anticompetitive to its members. For your information, ASPs provide their customers with computer- based services delivered via networks provided by carriers like TM. These services include hosted application software and Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications, among others.
The association claims that TM is conducting unfair business practices, stifling competition through monopoly, and breaking Malaysian laws.
“TM is squeezing us at both ends”
Zainal cited TM’s Smart Call plan as an example. He said TM’s ASP partners are charged 14sen per minute for subscriber trunk dialling (STD) long-distance calls, and resell at 18sen per minute to customers.
This gives them ™ a profit of 4sen per minute. “Our members are charged 17.5sen a minute and must resell at 18sen per minute, so we only earn .5sen a minute,” said Zainal.
Zainal also claims that TM is violating Malaysian law (Section 136 of the Communications and Multimedia Act) by forcing mandatory service packages on ASPs which also contain services that do not fit their business needs.
We have no recourse; we cannot go elsewhere because TM is the incumbent provider of these services,” he said.
Further on, TM is blantantly disregarding the rules set by the MCMC:
From the article: “TM was also instructed to keep its wholesale and retail activities separate so as not to be both supplier and competitor in the marketplace. MCMC gave TM until June 1, last year, to comply but the telco did not meet the deadline,” said Zainal. He said MCMC then ordered the suspension of TM’s calling plans and set Sept 1, last year, as a new deadline.
“Defying MCMC’s orders, TM continued to market the calling plans, and then relaunched them on Sept 1 under a different name — Smart Call,” said Zainal. “MCMC gave TM until June 1, last year, to comply but the telco did not meet the deadline,” said Zainal. “But it is the same thing, just under another guise.” Zainal said the ASP association has renewed its complaint to the MCMC.
Lastly, Zainal mentioned “We’re not just call arbitragers,” and continued by saying - “We have fostered competition, resulting in better quality and innovative services at competitive prices. We have created entrepreneurs and thousands of jobs. And we have spread our wings abroad.”
I would like to close with a comment by RedesignMalaysia.com user Andy, who first brought my attention to this article. He said - “if they can screw even their partners, like so (link to article), I wonder if they won’t stop screwing us.. 
”
Let’s hope they stop screwing everybody. It’s really starting to hurt, and its not something to get used to.
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