Kuala lumpur: The government has earmarked RM450 million this year to bolster the participation of Bumiputera small contractors in classes G1 to G4 for federal road maintenance projects across the nation. Deputy Works Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan revealed that this allocation will involve 664 contractors from the specified classes, chosen through a balloting procurement method, with a completion target set for October 30.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the initiative aims to prioritize local contractors in the execution of construction and maintenance projects under the Works Ministry (KKR), extending to areas such as Langkawi. This strategy aligns with the National Construction Policy 2030 (NCP 2030), which advocates for an inclusive construction industry ecosystem by emphasizing the involvement of local small-scale contractors.

The Public Works Department (JKR) has launched the Road Maintenance Acceleration Programme, engaging G1 to G4 contractors through a balloting system, to perform maintenance tasks nationwide via concession companies. This move was highlighted by Ahmad Maslan during a session in the Dewan Rakyat, in response to Datuk Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah's inquiry regarding the ministry's policy to guarantee local contractors' participation, especially those from Langkawi, in construction and maintenance projects, and initiatives to empower G1 to G3 contractors.

Ahmad also mentioned that the Works Ministry, in collaboration with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), is persistently implementing various capacity-building and entrepreneurship programs for local contractors. This includes the Accelerator for Construction Entrepreneurs (ACE) programme, which aims at nurturing young Bumiputera contractors in grades G1 to G4, having trained over 300 participants since 2022.