Govt guarantees help for Bumiputera contractors

KUALA LUMPUR: The Council of Eminent Persons (CEP) has given the assurance that Bumiputera contractors will continue to be assisted under the new government, said Malaysian Malay Contractors Association President, Datuk Mokhtar Samad.

He was among those summoned by the Council to identify improvements that could be taken to assist the Bumiputera contractors.

“The CEP, chaired by Tun Daim Zainuddin, has guaranteed that the new government will help Bumiputera contractors using better ways than what was done before.

“They will not be left behind, and those with talent and capability will be helped. I am not denying that Bumiputera contractors still need support,” he told reporters after a meeting with the CEP yesterday.

Mokhtar was satisfied with the assurance given by Daim but he declined to reveal further details on the 24-minute meeting, and only said that he was asked on the number of Bumiputera contractors who are still operating.

“I told them that there are currently 40,000 Bumiputera companies registered with the Construction Industry Development Board, and 22,000 of them are G1 (previously known as Class F) contractors,” he said.

Mokhtar said the contractors should be ready and learn new methods to compete fairly.

“There is no issue of Malay contractors being unable to compete and complete their jobs. This is just a perception as the issue (failure to complete jobs) is faced by all contractors regardless of race,” he added. — Bernama