Prasarana reserves ‘at least’ 30pc of MRT for Bumi contractors
By Boo Su-Lyn, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 23 — Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd will reserve at least 30 per cent of the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (KVMRT) construction packages for Bumiputera contractors.
Abdul Malik Azman, Prasarana’s head of MRT Procurement Management Department, told The Malaysian Insider today that the quota for Bumiputera contractors was part of the government’s “national agenda.”
“We have this Bumiputera agenda approved by the MOF (Finance Ministry).
“At least 30 per cent of packages should be allocated for Bumis. This is the national agenda,” he told The Malaysian Insider after a briefing for pre-qualified contractors at Prasarana’s office here today.
In May, Prasarana had caved in to pressure from Malay rights groups when it revised pre-qualification criteria for several construction packages.
The project owner had said then that contractors who wanted to tender for elevated civil works, stations and depots work construction packages would be allowed to form joint ventures (JV) or consortiums among local companies.
Twenty-eight firms including heavyweights such as Sunway, IJM and MRCB have been shortlisted for the construction of the first phase of the KVMRT project
The works packages were divided into two categories: Open and Bumiputera.
The value for contracts under the Bumiputera category is about RM250 million per package, based on the last briefing to contractors by Prasarana in May.
Abdul Malik said today that there were 18 work packages, comprising eight packages for elevated civil works, eight packages for stations and two packages for depots.
He said six out of the 16 packages for elevated civil works and stations, as well as the Kajang depot work package, were reserved for Bumiputeras.
“A few Bumis here can (also) bid in the Open category. (They can go) fishing in the pond and ocean. They have more chances,” said Abdul Malik.
He pointed out that Trans Resources Corporation Sdn Bhd, Ahmad Zaki Sdn Bhd and MTD Construction Sdn Bhd could bid for all eight elevated civil works packages.
