14 DAY TRIAL // Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, has received a limited edition mobile phone as a token of the 50th anniversary of Malaysia's independence. His wife has been handed the same sign of appreciation in the form of a handset.
There is no official photo of the Merdeka 50 mobile phone, although there are high chances for it to be more of a display of luxury than a technological breakthrough. The device has been offered as a sign of appreciation and has more of a symbolic nature rather than a practical one. It is a statement of the consideration that people have for the evolution that Malaysia has reached over the past period.
The phone has been handed to the Prime Minister at his office, in Putrajaya. UMW group chairman Tan Sri Asmat Kamaludin was the one who handed it to the two officials. The device has the serial number 0001 and is made of 24 carat gold, probably a worthy competitor for the Vertu or Gresso line of phones.
"We felt it was most appropriate to present this pair of phones to the Prime Minister and his wife on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Malaysia's independence", declared UMW executive director Suseela Menon. Moreover, "The pride and prestige associated with this milestone celebration is reflected in the use of 24-carat gold, which makes this phone so striking in design", he further added.
The Malaysian Prime Minister and his wife will be the only ones to receive such devices for free. Moreover, they will have the honor of being the first ones to own one. There will be totally 5,000 such serially numbered mobile phones available for sale.
The most interesting aspect about this launch will be that a certain amount of the revenues cashed in will be donated to charity. Considering the fact that these are 24-carat gold ones, a large sum of money should eventually manage to pile up for donations.