KUALA LUMPUR: The present government should be supported to enable it to table the 2023 Budget again after winning the 15th General Election (GE) following several initiatives have been allocated to help Bumiputera contractors to be involved among others in building low cost houses that gives less returns due to uncertainties in the price of building materials.
Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said, the Budget also provides several initiatives such as RM500 million to G1until G4 class contractors to implement maintenance works for the federal roads, small bridges, worship houses and damaged infrastructures due to floods.
Ismail said, to support the Bumiputera contractors, the government will provide a short term financial aid to those involved in the electrical and building sectors via the Express Contract Finance Scheme (SPIKE) with RM20 million funds.
“Small projects worth RM50 million will be given to female contractors in G1 until G4 class through the Kontraktornita to support more female Bumiputera contractors to be accessed to the government’s allocation.
“These benefits could only be enjoyed if the 2023 Budget is tabled again and approved after the GE15,” Ismail said in his speech at the Malay Contractors’ Convention 3.0 and the 43rd Annual General Meeting of the Malaysian Malay Contractors Association (PKMM) at World Trade Centre here Tuesday, 18th Oct.2022.
The Prime Minister added, on 7th Oct.2022, the government in tabling Budget 2023 had allocated RM95 billion that involves 7,615 development projects. However some parties in their allegations said that the big DE allocation will only benefit certain parties.
“I will ensure that local contractors that are qualified will be given the best opportunities to be involved in the national development projects,” Ismail said.
Following the economy has entered into the recovery phase, Ismail hopes the PKMM will benefit including from the implementation of new infrastructure projects or continuation works after encountering several challenges in the previous years.
“I believe this allocation does not only become a long term investment to re-enliven the physical development and economy but will also reactivate the implementation projects specifically for the small and medium contractors.
“However I hope all contractors involved in the government projects will give their best performance in the quality, productivity and professionalism and complete the projects on time according to the schedule,” Ismail said. –Malaysia World News
