PM: Tenders awarded must be based on firm's track record

 

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has stressed that tenders for big projects should be awarded purely based on the capability of companies and their track record.

He said these are the guiding principles for awarding tenders for big projects in the country.

“In a meeting today (yesterday) with the tender committee that decides on major projects, I told them that the names of the companies should not be made known.

“Just company A, B, C. We decided that decisions should be made purely based on the capabilities, track record and financial capabilities,” Anwar said at the Real Estate and Housing Developers Association’s (Rehda) 50th Anniversary Dinner in Kuala Lumpur last night.

Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said if it involves tenders for projects such as Jana Wibawa, then it should be given to bumiputera companies through a selective process and that process must be transparent as well.

He pointed out that transparent tender awarding processes were important to fight corruption in this country which is now labelled as endemic.

“Corruption is endemic, if not systematic, in this country. We need courage and determination to change,” he added.

Anwar also said that the issues plaguing the housing sector could be resolved by accelerating and changing the obsolete processes and by simplifying them.

He said that there was still room for improvement in the country’s regulations as well as the pace of approval needed (by the developers).

“We have talked to all the menteri besar so that municipal councils in the states can facilitate and accelerate the processes,” Anwar said.

Also present at the dinner was the Minister of Local Government Development, Nga Kor Ming.

- Bernama