Class F bumiputra contractors got 100% of projects: Lim Guan Eng

The Star – Under the state government’s open tender system, Penang Class F bumiputra contractors have secured 100% of the projects carried out by the state Public Works (PWD) and the Drainage and Irrigation (DID) departments.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the statistics provided by both departments showed that the state government did not discriminate based on race or religion but awarded the projects to capable contractors.

“The projects were awarded based on the contractors’ abilities and not any political cable-pulling. A total of 134 contractors in this category were awarded more than RM9mil worth of projects by the DID last year.

“As for the PWD, 149 bumiputra contractors secured projects worth RM8mil,” he told reporters before a closed-door meeting with several members of the Penang Class F bumiputra contractors association at his office in Komtar Friday.

Among those present were association chairman Tahir Jalaluddin Hussain and vice-chairman Zainul Abdul Malik Eusoff, Deputy Chief Minister 1 Mansor Othman and state executive councillor Abdul Malik Abul Kassim.

Tahir said the meeting was strictly based on business and had nothing to do with any political views, adding that he would discuss with Lim the problems faced by their members.