New bill to protect subcontractors and suppliers

KUALA LUMPUR: The government has drafted a construction industry payment and adjudication bill to protect the interests of subcontractors and suppliers in the country, the Dewan Rakyat was told.

Deputy Works Minister Datuk Yong Khoon Seng said the bill was expected to be tabled in Parliament in March next year.

"The ministry is in the midst of finalising the bill which is aimed at protecting the interests of the relevant parties, especially subcontractors and suppliers," he said in reply to William Leong Jee Keen (PKR-Selayang) during question time on Wednesday, Oct 19.

Leong had wanted to know the problems faced by contractors in getting payments from the government or private companies and the efforts undertaken to solve the problems.

Yong said under the bill, the interests of those involved in the construction industry would be protected and any dispute concerning payments would be solved faster through the adjudication process.

Meanwhile, the deputy minister said through the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), the ministry had been made aware of the delayed and non-payment issues faced by subcontractors and suppliers in the construction industry.

He said without any guarantee of payment and justice through the adjudication process, the unpaid subcontractors and suppliers would be left with serious debt and cash flow problems to the extent of causing them to close their businesses. — Bernama