DON’T WORRY, YOU WILL CONTINUE TO GET CONTRACTS AS LONG AS YOU ARE COMPETITIVE – DAIM TELLS BUMI CONTRACTORS AMID LOCALS’ FEAR OF BEING SIDELINED BY NAJIB’S HUGE CHINA DEALS

Kuala Lumpur,24/05/2018 President of Malay Contractor Association of Malaysia Datuk Mokhtar Samad speaks to media after he met Council of Eminent Persons (CEP) ,May 24,2018. Picture by - Ahmad Zamzahuri

KUALA LUMPUR — The Council of Eminent Persons assured a group representing over 40,000 Malay contractors that they will continue to get opportunities from the new government so long as they are competitive.

After a 20-minute meeting at Ilham Tower today, Malaysian Malay Contractors Association president Datuk Mokhtar Samad said this was the pledge given by the Council’s leader, Tun Daim Zainuddin.

“He (Daim) said racial status doesn’t matter, actually, because the government is always keen to help those who are talented and skilful,” he told reporters at the Ilham Tower lobby earlier.

Mokhtar said he was called to appear before the Council to brief it on the number of Malay contractors currently registered with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), apart from giving recommendations on how to improve the industry.

“I am excited because this meeting with Tun and the rest of the Council members is a rare opportunity. We talked about the improvements that can be done to help Bumiputera contractors.

“I told the Council that right now we have over 40,000 registered companies of Bumiputera status and 22,000 of them are G1 (previously known as Class F) contractors,” he said.

However, Mokhtar said he was reminded by Council members not to disclose other details of their meeting to the members of the media.

“Tun Daim said he will speak to you guys, so let us wait for that,” he quipped.

He also advised Malay contractors not to worry, and to work hard and have faith in the new government.

He told them Daim was familiar with their industry as he has been involved in property development.

“So I would suggest all registered Malay contractors to not be worried. I know we have been dependant on ‘crutches’ but we must be ready to accept new challenges that will be thrown as us by the new government,” he said.

Mokhtar was the first of the seven industry players who are slated to meet with the Council at the Ilham Tower today.

MALAY MAIL