Lack of major projects disappointing, says builders association

PETALING JAYA: The lack of major projects in next year’s budget to spur the recovery of the construction industry is disappointing, says the Master Builders Association of Malaysia (MBAM).

Its secretary-general Datuk Seri Eric Kuan Khian Leng said the association was expecting Budget 2022 to be more uplifting for the ailing construction industry.

“Disappointingly, there are no announcements of new mega infrastructure projects to pump the revival of the Malaysian construction industry.

“MBAM appeals to the government to provide more assistance to revive and sustain the construction sector,” said Kuan in a statement yesterday.

Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz announced that RM3.5bil had been allocated for infrastructure projects, among them the Pan-Borneo Highway and Central Spine Road.

He also said the government would continue to implement small and medium projects worth RM2.9bil that would target Class G1 to G4 contractors.

“This allocation involves maintenance of road projects, overhaul of obsolete infrastructure and equipment of public universities, polytechnics and community colleges as well as other projects involving social amenities in the rural areas,” said Tengku Zafrul.

Kuan noted that small and medium projects targeting Class G1 to G4 contractors were still beneficial to the industry and thanked the government for the allocation.

At the same time, he also said MBAM was supportive of the announcement to upskill local talents through the continuation of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes.

“As the construction industry is still over-dependent on unskilled foreign labour, we really hope this initiative will provide the industry with more local talent to overcome the shortage of foreign workers,” he said.