RM450 MLN ALLOCATED TO BOOST BUMIPUTERA SMALL CONTRACTORS' PARTICIPATION 

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 (Bernama) -- The government has allocated RM450 million this year to strengthen the participation of Bumiputera small contractors in classes G1 to G4 in federal road maintenance projects nationwide.

Deputy Works Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan said the allocation involves 664 contractors from classes G1 to G4 selected through a balloting procurement method, with all works expected to be completed by Oct 30.

He said the initiative aims to ensure that local contractors continue to be prioritised in the implementation of construction and maintenance projects under the Works Ministry (KKR), including in Langkawi.

“This policy is also in line with the National Construction Policy 2030 (NCP 2030), which emphasises the development of an inclusive construction industry ecosystem by focusing on the participation of local small-scale contractors.

“The Public Works Department (JKR) has also implemented the Road Maintenance Acceleration Programme by engaging G1 to G4 contractors, allowing them to be appointed through a balloting system to carry out maintenance works nationwide via concession companies,” he said during the question time in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He was responding to a question from Datuk Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah (PN-Langkawi) on the ministry’s policy to ensure the participation of local contractors, particularly those from Langkawi, in construction and maintenance projects as well as efforts to empower G1 to G3 contractors.

Ahmad said the Works Ministry, through the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), continues to implement various capacity-building and entrepreneurship programmes for local contractors, including the Accelerator for Construction Entrepreneurs (ACE) programme, which focuses on developing young Bumiputera contractors in grades G1 to G4 and has trained over 300 participants since 2022.

-- BERNAMA