KUALA KANGSAR: The Works Ministry has issued a stern warning to contractors, especially those in classes G1 to G4, not to hand over projects they have been awarded to subcontractors, but instead to carry out the work themselves.
Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Azman Ibrahim said it was important for the companies involved to do so in order to bring their skills, capabilities and competitiveness to a higher level.
“I really hope subcontracting can be avoided, and I will ask (Perak Public Works Department director) Zamri Mat Kasim to look into this later. If they are subcontracting, inform me and we will work together with the ministry to pursue the matter.
“This is important because we want to help these G1 to G4 contractors improve their skills so they can upgrade their class and, one day, hopefully compete at the international level,” he said at the G1–G4 contractor draw ceremony for Perak federal roads, which was also attended by Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi yesterday.
Azman said that at the ministry level, the Competitiveness and Globalisation initiative has been implemented, Bernama reported.
“Every year, we bring in contractors who have reached a higher level and encourage them to bid for projects internationally. If contractors cannot improve their skills, how can we elevate their knowledge to a higher level?
“At the ministry level, through the Public Works Department and the Construction Industry Development Board, we are working to strengthen contractors’ capacity-building.
“This is something we need to focus on so that if foreign contractors come to bid for projects, at least we can compete,” he said.
The work draw programme is an important initiative under Budget 2026, aimed at accelerating the implementation of federal road maintenance works through the participation of small bumiputra contractors in the G1 to G4 categories.
A total allocation of RM32.95mil, comprising 89 jobs under the G1 to G4 categories, has been set aside for the maintenance of Perak federal roads.
In a related development, Azman said the government had approved an allocation of nearly RM28mil for the ministry to construct Building Information Modelling (BIM) laboratories nationwide, aimed at, among other things, enhancing the capabilities of local contractors.
“If we succeed in establishing BIM labs nationwide, I believe we will be the first country in the world to make this kind of effort to develop and elevate our contractors to a higher level, including internationally,” he said.
