KAPIT: Three hundred sixty-eight registered Bumiputera contractors from Song, Bukit Mabong, Belaga and Kapit districts recently attended an entrepreneurship symposium (Symposium Usahawan Kontraktor) held at the civic centre here.
The one-day symposium aimed at enhancing their capabilities in handling government projects, especially under the rural transformation programme (RTP).
Bukit Goram assemblyman Jefferson Jamit Unyat, officiated at the symposium on behalf of Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of International Trade and Industry, Industrial Terminal and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan.
Jamit hoped the symposium would further enhance the abilities and capabilities of Bumiputera contractors to deliver quality works on contracts tendered out to them.
“This symposium serves as a good platform for Bumiputera contractors to enhance their understanding on the scopes and specifications of government contract works and thereby improves their knowledge, capability and capacity to deliver quality works,” he said.
The symposium was organised by the Ministry of Industrial Terminal and Entrepreneur Development in collaboration with the State Planning Unit, Implementation Unit, Public Works Department and Kapit Resident Office.
Jamit pointed out that in Sarawak there were 5,900 Bumiputera contractors registered in various field of works such as mechanical, electrical, supply and services while in Kapit Division there were some five hundred registered Bumiputera contractors.
He disclosed that the state government allocated RM648 million a year to implement minor rural projects (MRP) and rural transformation projects (RTP) through the 72 GPS state assemblymen or RM9 million per GPS assemblyman a year to expedite rural infrastructure and amenity development. Implemented since 2015, RTP is the state government’s initiative to expedite the socio-economy of rural folk.
Under the 11th Malaysia Plan, Sarawak had set aside RM2 billion to implement RTPs so that rural people like their counterparts in urban areas are also able to reap the fruits of development.
Jamit said the respective elected representatives would recommend the MRPs and RTPs in their constituencies which would be implemented by government agencies such as the Public Works Department, Drainage and Irrigation Department, Rural Water Supply Department and the local councils.
“In this respect, contractors must adhere strictly to the works specifications because the implementing agency will monitor the work progress closely to ensure it is completed on time while strictly adhering to the scopes and specifications,” said Jamit.
He pointed out that the state government had developed the Bletih Industrial Estate here to further encourage and support entrepreneurs in Kapit to venture into industries. The 22-hectare industrial estate was developed at a cost of RM39.9 million.
