ITU PP-26: Appointment of Malaysian representative as Committee 5 chair reflects international confidence

Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil (fourth, left) delivers his speech at the Ministerial Roundtable of the International Telecommunication Union Plenipotentiary Conference 2026 (ITU PP-26) at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC), November 8, 2026. — Bernama pic

By Malay Mail

First Published: Tuesday, 10 Nov 2026 4:38 PM MYT

DOHA, Nov 10 — Malaysia’s appointment as chair of Committee 5 at the 2026 International Telecommunication Union Plenipotentiary Conference (ITU PP-26) reflects the international community’s confidence in the country’s ability to play a neutral role in balancing the interests of various parties.

Committee 5 chair Eneng Faridah Iskandar said the appointment was not merely a personal recognition but a major achievement for Malaysia, according to a report published by Bernama. 

“I think this is not only an achievement (but) actually an achievement for the country because Malaysia is seen as a neutral country that can accept the views of all parties.

“So, as chair, our task is to balance the interests and wishes of all parties, and we must be fair,” she told Bernama and RTM here today.

Eneng Faridah, who is also Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) Deputy Managing Director (Development), expressed her appreciation to the Malaysian government for having the confidence to nominate her for the role at the conference, which runs from November 9 to 27.

She said the position carried significant responsibility as she would not only represent Malaysia but also have to take into account the interests of all member states involved in the discussions.

Explaining Committee 5’s role, Eneng Faridah said the substantive committee was responsible for examining various policy and legal issues within the ITU framework.

More than 95 proposals covering over 40 resolutions have been submitted for discussion at this year’s conference.

“One of the main challenges is acting as an intermediary between various parties with different interests to reach a common agreement, as the ITU operates on the principle of consensus,” she said.

She said several preliminary meetings had been held ahead of the committee’s sessions, which are scheduled to begin tomorrow, to ensure that negotiations proceed smoothly.

One of the main committees at ITU PP-26, Committee 5, also known as the Policy and Legal Committee, is responsible for discussing proposed international telecommunications policies and regulations, as well as examining resolutions submitted by ITU member states.

Its chair plays a key role in conducting negotiations, balancing interests and bridging differences among member states to reach a consensus, before the committee’s deliberations are submitted to the conference for consideration and decisions.

PP-26, being held in Doha, is the ITU’s highest-level conference, convened every four years to determine the organisation’s direction, policies and strategic plans.

The Malaysian delegation to the conference is led by Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil, with the mission of retaining the country’s seat on the ITU Council for the 2027-2030 term.

The ITU is a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN) responsible for information and communications technology (ICT), including setting global standards, allocating radio-frequency spectrum, coordinating satellites and efforts to bridge the global digital divide.