Let local contractors build Pan Borneo Highway call

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KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Builders Association (SBA) has urged the federal government to provide equal opportunity for local contractors to carry out the RM27 billion Pan Borneo Highway project.

Its president, Cheong Kwee Mins, said priority should be given credible local contractors in Sabah to implement the project.

He stressed that the local contractors must be given a chance to involve in the project, just like the chance given to the contractors in Sarawak.

The new Highway that stretches 1,633km across Sarawak and Sabah (Sabah’s portion being 727km) should benefit the local construction players here, but not others, which would directly contribute to the state’s economy performance, he said in a statement yesterday.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced in his 2015 Budget speech that the project would be awarded to local contractors and to benefit the local economy.

Cheong pointed out that there are so many capable and reliable contractors in Sabah. Therefore, if the federal government is serious in awarding the work packages to the local contractors, they should advertise in the local newspapers and to invite the local contractors for the pre-qualification and selection process.

In fact, many local contractors are not aware of the criteria, standards and procedures for participation in the project.

Cheong further stressed that the pre-qualification and selection process shall be fair and just but not to be based on one’s lobbying power and “who he knows”.

He suggested that local construction industry representatives such as SBA and Sabah Bumiputera Contractor Association be invited to participate in the pre-qualification, selection and contract awarding committee for the project.

In a different note, Cheong urged the government to allocate a minimum 30% shares to the local contractors or consortiums. He also urged those contractors of smaller scale to form a consortium to take part in the project.

Cheong said for a start he would initiate a consortium among SBA and Sabah Bumiputera Contractor Association to play a role in the Pan Borneo Highway project.