SENATE A total of 140 contracts, valued at RM38 billion, were awarded to contractors from China between 2010 and October, 2016, the Dewan Negara was told today.

Deputy Works Minister Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin said out of the total, only three involved government contracts worth RM885 million, while the remainder were private projects.

“The government will ensure the implementation of the projects will also benefit local contractors and small and medium entrepreneurs.

“The Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department and the International Trade and Industry Ministry are drawing up a mechanism whereby foreign contractors, including those from China, must utilise local raw materials like steel,” Rosnah said when replying to Senator Kadzim M Yahya on the number and value of contracts awarded to contractors from China.

However, she said it was not mandatory for all projects undertaken in the country to only use local raw materials as, in some cases, certain raw materials had to be imported.

- Bernama