This article appeared in Business Today on 26 March 2022.

The Ministry of Finance led by Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Aziz held the nation’s first esports tournament using 5G technology in an effort to showcase the digital prowess of the new technology.

In an official statement published on its portal, MOF said a total of 297 participants participated in the MOF 2022 E-Sports Carnival which was held for 2 days from 26 to 27 March 2022 at the Main Hall, Complex in Putrajaya. This will be the first-ever event of any sorts that will be testing the capability of 5G which has been rolled out to a small pocket of population.

Tengku Datuk Zafrul in his address said “currently, 5G networks are available in several areas in Putrajaya, Cyberjaya and Kuala Lumpur and the target 5G penetration rate in the country is expected to reach 80 percent of the country’s populated areas by 2024”. Participants involved in the competition consist mainly of Members of the Welfare and Sports Council within the Ministry and said the aim was also to identify e-sports talent among its members who could have the potential to go mainstream.

Games competed were Player Unknown Battleground Mobile, Mobile Legend, and FIFA 22. The carnival was held with collaboration between MOF with several GLC agencies and private parties including Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB), Ericsson Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Telekom Malaysia Berhad, YTL Corporation Berhad, Xiaomi Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Oppo Electronics and IESPA Sdn. Bhd.