MIRI: Foreign construction workers appear to have a monopoly of the home renovation industry, including industrial and commercial buildings.
Pointing this out, Works Minister Dato Sri Fadillah Yusof said the home renovation industry was growing very fast and most foreign construction workers were not even registered with Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), and doubted that their quality of work and whether they looked into safety aspects.
“We see a lot of opportunities for locals to be trained in this sector by CIDB, which focuses on safety, giving guarantee to the owners of the homes and following the specifications,” Fadillah said during the handing-over of certificates to participants of Community Service Programme (CSR) Lambir and Construction Personnel Skills Training held at Kampung Keluru Jaya, Lambir here yesterday.
Among others present were Lambir assemblyman Ripin Lamat, Miri Resident Antonio Kahti Galis, as well as community leaders and villagers around Lambir and Bekenu.
According to Fadillah, the home renovation industry is growing fast and generates good income for small construction players and contractors registered with CIDB.
Thus, local contractors must see these opportunities and grab them, he added.
“The renovation sector shows the fastest growth in the country as more old buildings and industrial buildings need to be renovated,” Fadillah disclosed further. On the CSR programme involving the ministry, federal and state governments, he said it aimed to help and give courses to contractors and participants in adapting to changes in the industry.
Pointing out the risk of the renovation industry being taken over by foreigners, he said the ministry through CIDB trained more locals to be proficient in the construction industry including in plumbing and plastering.
Commenting on DAP’s rejection of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem’s motion for more rural development expenditures and budget, Fadillah said it showed that DAP was not sincere in helping the rural people. In fact, he argued, it was one way by the federal and state governments to help the people living in rural areas to uplift their standard of living.
“This will open up more development in rural areas,” he said.At the same occasion, Ripin slammed DAP for their unwillingness to support the budget.