TM BVDP was established in 1993 to ensure that TM’s vendors, particularly its Bumiputera vendors, move in tandem with TM’s vision and business strategy while being adaptive to the challenging business environment. Since the establishment of TM BVDP, over 400 vendors have been equipped with trainings and development, skills enhancement programmes as well as access to the market. There are currently 105 vendors enrolled in the programme and within the TM BVDP eco-system, it has created more than 8,000 job opportunities directly as their workforce and indirectly from the vendors' sub-contracts in manufacturing and services. Overall, over 3,000 Bumiputera vendors have benefitted from the business opportunities created through TM procurement process.

These Bumiputera vendors and the rest under the BVDP have contributed towards TM’s nation building roles. With the support of these vendors, more than 95% of unifi's 1.3 million customers are now on 10Mbps and higher speeds; while its wifi hotspots now connect users to over 10,000 wifi@unifi locations across Malaysia. Via TM ONE, its enterprise and public sector business solutions arm, TM has launched its Tier III Iskandar Puteri Core Data Centre (IPDC) located in Nusajaya Technology Park, Iskandar Puteri, Johor in November 2017. Together with its Klang Valley Core Data Centre (KVDC) which will be fully completed later in 2018, the inter-connected data centres form a Twin Core Data Centre solution that will house TM’s international gateway. These data centres will serve as a regional hub to cater for customers in Malaysia and the ASEAN region. In addition, through TM GLOBAL, its global and wholesale arm, TM is positioning Malaysia as the ideal gateway for the world to the ASEAN region with the successful completion of Sistem Kabel Rakyat 1Malaysia (SKR1M) in September last year.

The initial execution objective of BVDP at TM was to establish, develop and grow local vendors in producing high quality telecommunication network components to be as competitive as the imported products available in the market. TM since then has expanded the role of the BVDP to nurture local entrepreneurs that are capable to develop digital and multimedia applications for TM’s High Speed Broadband service. The BVDP has also identified highly potential Bumiputera vendors to be further developed and their performance are continuously monitored to ensure consistency. Suitable intervention programmes were also drawn out for the vendors to elevate them to the next level in the BVDP – from a Vendor Entrepreneur Development to a Strategic Partner and then a Corporate Champion.

In addition, TM BVDP also introduces the vendors’ products and services to internal and external customers via business matching initiatives, facilitates grant and financial support attainment for business expansion, and products development and improvement through innovation. TM also provides the vendors with avenues to expand their reach to the ASEAN region as well as international market.

“As a key partner in the nation building and as our support towards the National Development Plan and Bumiputera Empowerment Agenda (BEA) from 2014 until 2017, TM has distributed close to RM7 billion worth of cumulative contract value to Bumiputera vendors and more than RM2 billion worth of accumulated earnings value to the vendors participating in the programme. TM continues to allocate specifically distributed (Carve Out) and award contracts to the vendors based on performance and merit,” added Mohamad.

“Beginning 2014, the TM BVDP was further enriched with continuous collaboration and support from MITI with the establishment of a more structured programme with a comprehensive guidelines and special fund allocation from the Government under the 11th Malaysia Plan (RMK-11). A total of RM60 million was allocated for the Vendor Development and Empowerment Programme (PPPV). With our goal to produce Corporate Champions at the national, regional and global level, it is essential for TM as well as other Government Linked Companies (GLC) to forge stronger ties and partnership with the relevant Government agencies for the development of the Bumiputera vendors,” he elaborated.

Overall, the vendors participating in the TM BVDP have achieved the SCORE 3 Stars and above ratings by SME Corporation Malaysia. This indicated that the vendors have successfully enhanced their existing products and processes while some of the vendors were awarded with Export Ready Compliance Certificate by SME Corporation Malaysia (SME Corp. Malaysia) and Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) through Capacity Development Programme. Meanwhile, a total of 14 vendors have adopted the Business Excellent Framework by Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC) as a measurement tool to assess their performance and identify improvement opportunities towards the sustainability of their organisation.

In addition to the National Champions, TM has also produced other successful Bumiputera Strategic Partners such as Kazakon Sdn Bhd in engineering services sector and Swichtec Sdn Bhd in manufacturing sector for products based on ‘power related equipment’. The BVDP was also expanded to increase the capability of the local vendors from Sabah and Sarawak to be at par with those from Peninsular Malaysia. Among the successfully developed vendors are Exact Engineering Sdn Bhd and Cita Information System Sdn Bhd in engineering services sector. With an upgraded capacity, the companies have grown their business and obtained contracts to build the Pan Borneo highway.

For 2018, TM is committed to producing Regional Champions among the BVDP vendors that have successfully expanded their business to the ASEAN market. To accelerate their access to the market and capital in order to grow their business and strengthen their footings in the market, TM encourages the vendors to collaborate with domestic companies as well as international organisations. TM BVDP is also partnering with Government agencies such as MITI and MATRADE to assist the vendors to gain access to regional and global markets. Participation of new vendors from the digital and ICT sectors are expected to spur TM’s achievement of BEA towards producing the National and Regional Champions.

With its unique role of protecting national interest in telecommunications while leading the industry development, TM remains steadfast to support and develop local entrepreneurs, particularly Bumiputera vendors and to produce more Corporate Champions in the future.