Kuala lumpur: Grade G1 to G4 contractors who succeeded in the Federal Roads Maintenance Work Offer Balloting Ceremony for Peninsular Malaysia 2026 (Central/East Zone) have been urged to carry out the awarded works themselves and not 'alibaba' the projects. Works Ministry (KKR) secretary-general Datuk Seri Azman Ibrahim emphasized the importance of self-implementation to enhance the capacity and skills of the respective companies.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Datuk Seri Azman noted that the practice of handing over projects to other parties after securing them through the ballot, known in Malay as Alibaba, would be detrimental to the contractors and undermine the government's goal of strengthening the local construction industry's capabilities. He urged successful contractors to take this opportunity to enhance their capabilities and contribute to moving the industry to a higher level.

The balloting ceremony, held on February 11 and 12, involved the implementation of federal road maintenance works under the Programme to Accelerate Road Maintenance by Leveraging Grade G1 to G4 Contractors for 2026. A total of 385 work packages worth RM157.15 million were involved in the programme, comprising 38 periodic pavement works and 347 periodic non-pavement works across Selangor, Pahang, Terengganu, and Kelantan.

The scope of periodic pavement works includes mill and pave, Cold In-Place Recycling (CIPR), overlays, and reconstruction. Non-pavement works cover repainting of road lines, maintenance and repair of signboards, construction of road kerbs, maintenance and upgrading of drains, as well as related tasks.

The tender invitation process was advertised via social media, and registration was conducted online through the website of road maintenance concessionaire Roadcare (M) Sdn Bhd. A total of 8,726 submissions were shortlisted from contractors who met the stipulated criteria, highlighting the competitive nature of the tendering process.