Follow up media statement from Khairudin Rahim, CEO of the Association of Accredited Advertising Agents Malaysia (4As)
Following our first media statement released on November 3, 2022, where the 4As had challenged an aspect of Telekom Malaysia’s procurement policy for the shortlisting of Advertising Agencies, we now wish to address TM’s response made to the press.
Firstly, our request for the removal of the two tender conditions is an appeal made on behalf of all Advertising Agencies, and not just 4As agencies as claimed to by TM.
Secondly, TM’s response that payment of the Tender Document Fee is not a requirement for Agencies to attend TM’s tender briefings is inaccurate. Participating Agencies have confirmed that a Tender Document Fee is indeed required for the tender briefing where at this briefing, TM will check if payment has been made. This is prior to each Agency being allowed to receive the tender document via email after the meeting. All Agencies who choose to submit the completed tender documents must then remit a refundable tender deposit as part of phase one submission in order to be eligible for the shortlisting process.
Thirdly, TM in its response, has regrettably chosen not to provide any counter arguments to rebut the 4As opinion that the 2 tender conditions have no correlation to whether an interested Agency is of “acceptable standards”. We therefore believe that these two tender requirements are superfluous given that TM already has in place a meticulous internal screening process led by their own eminently qualified and experienced marketers entrusted to shortlist Agencies of “acceptable standards”.
Without any counter arguments being offered, the opinion of the 4As remains. It is hereby making its 4th appeal to TM for the elimination of the two unreasonable conditions for all TM tenders involving all Advertising Agencies now and in the future.