MIRI: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan said he would be calling on Petronas soon over purported “unfair treatment” of local contractors.
MRP GRANT: Dr Chan (second left) presents a cheque to councillor Dennis Ngau, the deputy chairman of Sarawak Kayan Association. At right is councillor Koh Ek Chong.
Dr Chan, who is also the Minister of Industrial Development, said he had received complaints that the national oil corporation had been awarding contracts to “outsiders” even though local firms were qualified for those jobs.
Some of these contracts involved supplies and services.
“They (complainants) said to me, what is the point of having beautiful fruits in our own backyard when we can’t enjoy them,” he told a press conference at SUPP Miri office yesterday.
“I want to know how contracts are given out as we are entitled to some rights over what Petronas is doing here. Locals should not be marginalised,” he said.
On fully bumiputera status for Petronas contractors, he said this should not be the case as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s policy was inclusive of both bumiputera and non-bumiputeras.
“If contracts are only to be given to 100 percent Bumiputera companies, then it will not help as there are only a few major contractors. But if smaller ones can combine with non-bumiputeras, they can benefit from major projects too,” he reasoned.
Dr Chan said he hoped that the complaints that he had been receiving were not true but since he had been getting them regularly, he needed to get to the bottom of the matter.
He suggested that Petronas emulate Shell in posting tender projects online instead of relying on the orthodox paper documentation.
Dr Chan said there were many capable local contractors around and they had vast experience in the field, including from dealings with Shell.
Earlier on, Dr Chan presented RM81,000 of Minor Rural Project ( MRP) grants to 14 NGOs.