MRT Corp denies accusations bumiputera contractors sidelined in MRT project

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 4): Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRT Corp) has denied accusations that it has sidelined members of the Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia (DPMM) in awarding of contracts to bumiputera contractors.

"The role of bumiputera contractors in the delivery of the Sungai Buloh-Kajang (SBK) Line is very important.

"It is absolutely untrue that MRT Corp has sidelined bumiputera contractors as some packages were exclusive to bumiputera companies only and some bumiputera companies also won in the open category.

"Furthermore, all the packages were open for competitive bidding, so the issue of sidelining cannot arise at all," said MRT Corp chief executive officer Datuk Azhar Hamid in a statement on Tuesday.

Over 17 packages worth RM7.6 billion have been awarded to bumiputera companies up to end-July, he said.

He said these includes 10 packages for pre-construction (advance works), three for elevated guideway packages and one elevated station package.

"This totals 47% of the packages awarded so far, which are higher than the 43% target.

"In addition, there will be a further 17 packages that will be allocated to bumiputera companies, valued at RM1.7 billion. This will raise the total value of bumiputera-awarded projects to RM9.3 billion," he said.

MRT Corp will also award more than 200 packages to Class D, E and F contractors between now and the delivery date of the project, targeted for July 2017. — Bernama