MBAM hopes for better communication with new govt
PETALING JAYA: The Master Builders Association Malaysia ( MBAM) is expecting better two-way communication between construction companies and the new government to resolve issues faced by industry players, especially small-sized contractors.
Its president, Foo Chek Lee, said the association would submit a list of issues, including the levy payment requirements, for the perusal of the government, to help these contractors have better cash flow.
“We will like to propose to the government under the leadership of Tun Mahathir to re-examine the levy payment.
“We hope flexibility can be accorded in the form of six months or half-yearly payment to the contractors as they are presently required to pay up in lump sum,” he told reporters after the MBAM Affiliate Dialogue 2018 here today.
Foo also said there were also issues in terms of legalising foreign workers as the process of obtaining work permits was quite complicated.
“It should be simplified and the processing period should be shortened so that all illegals in this country can be legalised fast.
“This will be good for the government and also for the nation’security ,” he said.
On investments by foreign companies, MBAM was highly supportive of the projects such as the ‘ The One Belt Road’ initiative, but emphasised that the government must ensure that at least 30 per cent of the resources are given to local companies.
“What is said and what is actually happening on the ground is totally the opposite . For example, work that is supposedly to be given to a local company, by a foreign company that has secured a contract in Malaysia, is being chanelled to another company that is locally incorporated by the foreign company.
“In the end,, the entire work is absorbedorbed into the foreign company’sny’s locally incorporated companyany and the local Malaysiansian company get nothing,”ng,” he explained.
Foo also urged that the governmentnment to restrict the importmport of heavy machinerynery as they are availableble locally.
Therere will be an influxx of ( foreign) heavy machines in the country,untry, killing our machinerynery suppliers, he said.
M e a n w h i l ee,, Fo o cong rratulateatulate Tun Dr Mahathirathir on his appointmentntment as the seventhh Prime Ministerer and called for the formatat ionion of a new business friendly ggovernment. “It is hoped that these changes will lead to continuous growth for the construction industry andand the country as a whole,” headded. — Bernama