Labuan small contractors denied contracts
by Adrian Nandu. Posted on February 23, 2012, Thursday
LABUAN: The government has been urged to look into the award of contracts to the local Class F contractors here so that they will be able to gain the business opportunities from the government.
Local businessman Haji Sony Haroun yesterday said local contractors should be given priority instead of giving the contracts to outsiders.
“Why small and medium contracts for maintenance, including cutting grass here, are awarded to outside contractors and not locals?
“What is our position and where is the opportunity for the ‘small’ contractors here to do contract jobs?” he asked.
Sony claimed that contracts, especially for cutting grass in town, would soon be monopolised by a single company.
Maintenance works at housing areas here have also been monopolised, he said.
According to Sony, contracts for road maintenance were privatised more than ten years ago and they were only awarded to one company.
Small contractors here have no chance at all, he pointed out.
Sony also questioned the rationale of making decision on contract awards in either Peninsular Malaysia or Kota Kinabalu, instead of Labuan.
“Decision on contract award should be made in Labuan as the locals know more about the company or contractor who can get the job done.
“Let the local authority decide who should get the contract award,” he suggested.
Soney also urged the relevant authority to go to the ground to meet the local contractors, especially those with Class F licence holders who are in dire need of government attention.
