44,580 contractors registered, 90% bumiputeras

(The Edge) – A total of 44,580 contractors are registered with the Contractors Service Centre, out of which 90% or 40,305 are bumiputeras, Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Awang Adek Hussin told the Dewan Rakyat today.

The number of Class A bumiputera contractors rose by 3% while classes B, C, D and E registered an increase of 16%. The classification of the contractors is in accordance with the paid-up capital and also their experience.

Replying to a question by Datuk Bung Moktar Radin (Kinabatangan-BN) on the achievement of bumiputeras in the economy especially the small, medium and Class A contractors, he said the government would continue to ensure its procurement would be made through tenders.

Awang Adek added that the bumiputera contractors had yet to achieve satisfactory levels in company management, project execution, financial strength and had yet to fully utilise technology and human resources.

To a supplementary question by Bung Mokhtar on how the government would ensure that all the contractors would be treated equally as some may not have the experience, Awang Adek said the contractors were promoted from class to class, hence deriving experience.

He said there were a few requirements in tenders such as price and technical ability. “These are taken into account. We can look into this along with Public Works Department (JKR) so that the technical criteria do not prohibit any contractors that have the ability to execute a purchase or projects,” he added.

To another question, Awang Adek said open tenders could overcome wastages.