The government must not open simultaneously tenders for all the 880 projects under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) costing RM15 billion to prevent prices of building materials from rising.

Malay Contractors Association of Malaysia president Roslan Awang Chik said today that contractors would be hard hit if the prices of building materials shot up.

According to Bernama , he said the 880 projects should be tendered out gradually to prevent suppliers from raising prices to maximise profits.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday announced the tender for 880 projects which would be implemented soon.

Among the early projects to be implemented are the construction of 450 primary and secondary schools, water supply, integrated transport terminal in Gombak, Selangor, road construction from Padang Besar, Perlis to Bukit Kayu Hitam in Kedah and the construction of a bridge from Semporna to Pulau Bum Bum in Sabah.

Meanwhile, Roslan also asked the government not to open the tenders for the projects at a high price as this would prevent F Class contractors from bidding.

He also said Abdullah's resolve to keep tab on the implementation of the projects would help ensure they are effectively implemented and help contractors obtain projects.

Facing difficulties

Roslan also revealed that 95 percent of contractors in Class A, B, and C were facing difficulties at present due to lack of projects.

"I am advising experienced contractors to continue their trade but new ones should try some other projects to avoid getting into difficulties too," he said.

In a related development, Works Minister S Samy Vellu said today he would personally monitor the implementation of all infrastructure projects under the 9MP to ensure their success.

"I will personally monitor the implementation through the ministry-level Special Committee on Monitoring of 9MP Infrastructure Projects chaired by me," he said.

Samy Vellu, who is on a week-long visit to three European countries, said he had tabled a report on the implementation of projects by the Works Ministry under the 9MP at the Cabinet meeting on July 12.

"The report was to inform the cabinet on the efforts taken by the ministry and the Public Works Department (PWD) to expedite the implementation of the projects with the financial allocation provided by the government," he added.

He said yesterday's announcement by the Prime Minister on the projects to be implemented under the 9MP would see the construction sector undergoing more intensive growth.