The association of Class F bumiputera contractors has expressed its dissatisfaction over the lack of projects for its 24,000 members.

Association president Tukiman Radion claimed that their grievances have fallen on deaf ears, and that numerous letters sent to the prime minister, Finance Ministry, and other ministries to hold discussions on the matter were ignored.

“Class F contractors have had fewer projects throughout Malaysia. Some of the projects do not even reach the contractors because there are concessionaires.

“We have written to the ministry but they do not want to meet us...

“We hope the government will review the matter and provide opportunities to the 24,000 Class F contractors so that we can have some pocket money,” Tukiman told reporters in Kuala Lumpur today.

Tukiman (photo) further revealed that the contractors were faced with a host of other problems, including project distribution using a purportedly non-transparent computerised system.

As such, he urged the government to revert to the previous manual voting system to increase transparency in the way projects are distributed.

“We urge for the voting to be carried out manually, because only in this way it (projects) would reach the Class F contractors… Not through the computerised system.

“The manual system is seen to be more transparent,” he said. 

At the same time, Tukiman also expressed support for the government’s efforts to eradicate involvement of “middle men” when lobbying for projects.

He added, however, that the move should also include stopping the practice of awarding projects to concessionaires instead of to Class F contractors directly.

‘Project value should be raised’ 

In making the call, Tukiman said the government should consider increasing the limit on value of projects awarded to Class F contractors from the current RM200,000 to RM350,000. 

“The cost of living has now increased. Prices of goods have also increased.

"So we urge the government to increase the limit for project value, because there has been no raise in almost 16 years,” he said.