Communications giant Telekom Malaysia today said its first half net profit rose 8.3 percent year-on-year to RM557.46 million because of lower taxation charges.

Its tax rate for the first half amounted to 31.0 percent as opposed to 39.0 percent in the same period last year, it said.

Telekom Malaysia said sales came in at RM5.29 million against RM4.78 billion previously, while pretax profit amounted to RM843.60 million, down from RM870.66 million.