DCM tells contractors to stand on their own feet, deliver the projects
MIRI: Small contractors in the state have been told not to practise the “Ali Baba” or “Ali Mama” system once they have been awarded government projects.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said stern action would be taken against those who practised this.
“Say no to the “Ali Baba” or “Ali Mama” practice. Deliver the projects awarded with proficiency,” he said at the Contractors Entrepreneurs Symposium Series 5 here yesterday.
Tengah said small contractors must stand on their own feet, delivering projects awarded and not just simply passing them to others to do the jobs for them.
He said the state government had been making an effort to simplify the procurement process in order to ensure that small contractors (in the F and C categories) would not struggle to obtain access to tender opportunities.
Nearly 300 small contractors in this division, including Marudi and Baram, attended the event.
Miri is the fifth location after Kuching, Lawas, Limbang and Bintulu, with Mukah next.
“We want to ensure that every government development projectis is being implemented smoothly, providing capable capacity (of contractors) for the jobs as we have simplified the procurement process,” he said.
Under the Rural Transformation Programme (RTP) and the Minor Rural Project grants this year, small contractors (under Class F and C) have the opportunity to bid for 200 to 300 projects.
“And the state government wants to roll out those projects and our focus are small contractors as we believe that they can deliver the jobs as well as their counterparts (big contractors),” he said.
“It’s not that we are side-lining the big contractors when we said we want to focus on small contractors.
“For big contractors, they have open tenders for major projects, and the fact that the contractors under Class F and C are categorised as small’, we’re worried that they will not be able to compete with the big contractors,” Tengah explained.
Therefore, he said, it was crucial for the government to help build up the small contractors so that they would be competitive.
All contractors would receive equal opportunities, he said.
For Miri division, a total of 518 are contractors registered under the Class F and C categories.
In Sarawak, there are 5,900 registered Bumiputera contractors.
Also present were Entrepreneur and Small, Medium Enterprise Assistant Minister Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais, State Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker Datuk Gerawat Gala, Local Government Assistant Minister Datu Penguang Manggil, Tourism, Arts and Culture Assistant Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin, Bekenu assemblywoman Rosey Yunus, Lambir assemblyman Ripin Lamat and Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau.
