Indian contractors victimised

20% of all public projects must be awarded directly to Indian contractors, demands MICA

BUTTERWORTH:Ethnic Indian contractors want 20% of public projects to be awarded directly to them at all government levels.

Malaysian Indian Contractors Association (MICA) president S Sukumar said the governments at federal, state and local levels should do away with the age-old policy to only award Indian contractors sub-contracts for projects.

Currently, he said Indian contractors were directly awarded only two to three percent of public projects as main contractors.

He said Indian sub-contractors faced financial hardship as they were frequently short changed by unscrupulous main contractors on payments for jobs one.

Consequently, he said they could not service their loans, carry out proper maintenance for their machines and settle their dues to suppliers.

“The main contractors receive payments directly from the relevant authorities.

“They would then delay the payments or even failed to pay at all to sub-contractors.

“Many Indian contractors are badly affected by this.

” To solve this problem, the government at all levels should set aside 20% of public projects for Indians as main contractors,” Sukumar told FMT after chairing a meeting with Indian contractors here today.

Also present were MICA sec-general K Kanthasamy and Penang coordinator N Awilingam, who organised the meeting.

Road show to recruit members

There are over 20, 000 Indian contractors in the country, with some 500 in Penang.

He said MICA was now on a nationwide mission to submit the request to federal and state governments.

So far MICA had submitted its request to the federal government via Federal Territory Deputy Minister Loga Bala Mohan and to the Selangor state government.

The next stop will be in Penang, Kedah and Negeri Sembilan.

MICA which has some 600 members has now embarked on a nationwide road show to form state branches and recruit more members.

Sukumar said MICA would have a stronger voice and serve the Indian contractors efficiently with more members and branches.

Earlier at the meeting, the MICA leadership heard various grouses faced by Indian contractors.

Sukumar said MICA planned to invite Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to its annual general meeting next May.

MCA plans to highlight problems faced by its members and make recommendations to resolve issues to the PM then.