The Penang government today produced figures to dispel a claim by the Penang Malay Contractors Association that non-Malays have been awarded the bulk of contracts in the state.

Based on figures from 2008-2010, all 18 projects valued at RM41 million were awarded to bumiputra contractors.

They also won 98 percent of state contracts through the Public Works Department from January 2008 to November 2010, valued at RM20.4 million.

NONE In a statement today, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (centre in ph oto) said this proves that association deputy president Mohamed Fadzill Hassan was wrong in levelling the claim.

“Mohamed Fadzill has challenged me to reveal the value of the tenders because its value may be less that that received by non-bumiputra contractors.

“These figures prove that Umno contractors such as Mohamed Fazill are angry with the Pakatan Rakyat administration because they cannot win contracts like before.

“If Mohamed Fadzill is a pious man, it is better for him to apologise and withdraw his slanderous remarks against the state government.”

Only the ‘weak’ fear open tenders

Lim said the figures also prove that the Competency, Accountability and Transparency (CAT) principles of his administration have shown that Malay contractors are capable of competing in an open tender environment.

“Those who fail to compete are Umno contractors who are lembik (weak), dayus (impotent) and bodoh (stupid), and who are only capable of depending on their Umno political connections to survive,” he said.

Lim justified his scathing remarks about Umno-linked contractors by claiming that many projects undertaken by them in the past had caused problems.

To prevent a recurrence, all government departments have been instructed to stringently monitor the work of Umno-linked contractors.

Lim said it is inappropriate for Mohamed Fadzill to make political statements against the state government and challenged him to resign from the association and become a politician instead.

“If he refuses to resign, he should admit his mistake and apologise to the state government for the baseless slander.

“How can the state government cooperate with such an association led by a Umno crony who is stubborn and slanderous?”