Firm action to be taken against those ‘selling’ contracts

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Awang Tengah (seated centre) and others give the thumbs up to contracts and jobs galore presented at the Contractors Symposium.

LIMBANG: The Sarawak government will act firmly against contractors ‘selling’ their contracts for quick money.

However, it will open the door wide for contractors who perform well to participate in government-funded projects worth billions of ringgit.

Besides that, all contractors who fail to meet their contractual obligations including those ‘selling’ their projects for quick money would be blacklisted, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, who is also Minister of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development, said when officiating at the fifth Contractors Symposium organised by the Ministry of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development (MIED) which was held in Miri on Tuesday.

The deputy chief minister said action would also be taken against those cutting corners and failing to comply with specifications and failing to deliver.

“There are those who are only interested in getting contracts and selling them for 10 or 15 per cent of the contract value and ending up begging for money from those whom they had given control of their own company cheques.

“Contractors should instead roll up their sleeves and face the challenges of learning the trade to move up the value chain, treating contracts secured as their ‘rice bowl’,” he advised.

Awang Tengah, who is also Second Minister of Urban Development and Natural Resources, is the chairman of the State Task Force for rolling out and monitoring the progress of the utilities projects worth over RM5 billion.

The projects include infrastructure for supply of water and electricity to rural areas in the state which were formerly undertaken by the previous federal government but was slashed by the new Pakatan Harapan government after the 14th general election.

“Priority would be given to competent local contractors in the district but the state government would not compromise on delivery performance and specification of the respective projects,” he added.

The symposium was aimed at capacity building of contractors and exposing them to good practices in the industry and sources of finance.

With RM2.3 billion worth of projects for Rural Electrification Scheme in the pipeline, the deputy chief minister has instructed Sarawak Energy Berhad to parcel out components of the project such as internal wiring works to qualified Class F or C contractors.

He pointed out that Bumiputera contractors are now also involved in the construction of Murum and Baleh HEP dams, proving that they have the capability to do big jobs.

Earlier on, Assistant Minister of Entrepreneur and SME Development Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais said there are plenty of jobs in the state constituencies.

“There are projects worth RM10 million to RM15 million in each constituency from the GPS state representative and member of Parliament, ranging from 100 to 150 projects,” he said, but reminded that Bumiputera contractors should not ‘sell’ their contracts.

Also present at the function were Deputy Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly Dato Gerawat Gala; Assistant Minister of Local Government Datu Dr Penguang Manggil; Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin; Assistant Minister of Women, Family and Childhood Development Rosey Yunus, Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau, Lambir assemblyman Ripin Lamat, government departments representatives and community leaders.