Contractors should engage in community programs — Rosnah
PAPAR: People can get the best benefits from limited allocation through cooperation and help from each other.
Deputy Works Minister Datuk Rosnah Hj Abdul Rashid Shirlin said this during an Accreditation & Community Services Program and the upgrading of a surau at Kampung Melugus in Papar, yesterday.
The program was organized by Bahagian Pembangunan Kontraktor dan Usahawan (Entrepreneurs and Contractors Development Division) (BPKU) in cooperation with Akademi Binaan Malaysia Cawangan Negeri Sabah (Malaysia Construction Academy Sabah Branch ) (ABM)
“This year, BPKU will carry out a total of four series of development programs. Among them are building renovation courses (828), facility management courses and company management courses.
She also said the program was held to encourage contractors to engage in community programs to produce entrepreneurs who possessed the spirit of cooperation and mutual assistance.
Touching on the National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS), which is an integrated measure of the government in developing policies and initiatives through smart partnerships between ministries and agencies, she said the program was using the strategy to maximize the impact of the program on the local community.
She said the program benefited the people as well as improved their quality of life.
“It involves the participation of various parties; BPKU, ABM, District Office, Papar parliamentary office, committee members of Kampung Melugus and many more. Such program is useful not only to Bumiputera contractors but also to the locals,” she said.
She also said BPKU had provided other initiatives for Bumiputera contractors to keep up with the industry, such as project advance financing in the form of loans known as Skim Kumpulan Wang Amanah Kontraktor (contractor trust fund scheme) (SKWAK).
“The need for revolving capital is an important element besides technical knowledge in completing a construction project.
“Loans are granted to applicants among G1G5 contractors who receive the Jabatan Kerja Raya (Public Works Department) (JKR) supervisory projects.
“With the convenience of the scheme, it is hoped that contractors will be able to carry out more quality work and the completion time can be shortened,” she said.
Rosnah also said the certification issued for the bumiputera status was now simplified and faster.
“The application for the bumiputra status can now be made online which is faster and saves time. In the meantime, BPKU also ensures that efforts to assist and produce bumiputera contractors who are skilled and knowledgeable in the field of construction are continuously carried out and implemented,” she said.
About 100 contractors were involved in the program to upgrade the surau, including painting, renovation and building a storage room.
Head of BPKU Sabah branch Norehan Mohamad Yusof said the program had been carried out since 2015 involving five projects including suraus in Kota Belud, Kampung Gana and Kampung Kelanahan, Papar.
She said the program’s budget was about RM15,000 to RM20,000 and building materials were supplied.
The contractors were trained and exposed to construction works through the program and this year only a surau at Kampung Melugus was selected, she said.
Norehan also said contractors who were picked by BPKU to join the program must be registered with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) and had to get the Contractor Continuous Development (CCD).
She said contractors who entered the program would benefit those who wanted to renew their licences with BPKU, and they would not need to attend courses organized by BPKU.
The renewal must be made once in two years, she added.