PENAMPANG: Contractors who failed to complete a housing project under the Rumah Mesra Rakyat scheme and failing to comply with the quality and specifications required, would be blacklisted, said Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPNB).
SPNB chairman Datuk Ir Idris Haron in issuing the warning yesterday, urged contractors not to sub-contract the RMR house project awarded to them but to carry out the project through themselves, to ensure compliance and maintenance of the standard set by the government.
“The profit margin for the project is very small and sub-contracting it to a third party meant pushing the quality below the standard in the attempt to make profit.
“The houses are very important to the recipients and we want to make sure they are delivered on time and bear the quality that we have promised. Contractors have given their pledges and they should complete the project as planned,” said Idris during a handing over of letters of intent for the construction of over a hundred RMR houses in Penampang, Tuaran, Papar and Sepanggar.
He said SPNB was taking a firmer approach in dealing with irresponsible contractors following the many complaints received from owners who were disappointed with the quality of their RMR houses.
He also urged contractors to immediately report to SPNB of any officer who offers to close one eye so that they can cut corners and complete the project with cheaper cost in return for “duit kopi” (a bribe).
He hinted there were possiblities that some irresponsible government officers might have taken bribes and allowed certain contractors to skip some of the requirements or procedures in implementing RMR projects resulting in the production of poor quality houses.
“Some contractors were afraid that if they lodged a report, the officer might get back at them by ensuring the contractors would not secure any project in the future.
“But this time, if we get a report, we’ll (check) the facts and figures and if we found an officer to have betrayed his responsibilties, we will award another project to the contractor before the sun rises the next day!” he said.
In order to encourage the contractors to perform better work towards ensuring better quality houses, SPNB has also decided to waive the five percent security deposits from them.
“Contractors perceived that the payment which we hold as security deposit would be released late or may not be returned to them at all. So they try to reduce the cost of the project to make up for the amount, which again affected the quality of the products.
“So, we will no longer hold any payment, which we previously used as a safety mechanism in case a project is faced with problems or have not attained a certain standard. But it doesn’t mean they are off the hook.
“This time around, if they do not perform, they will be blacklisted and will not be allowed to undertake any work in future,” he said, adding that the new rule has been implemented since January this year.