By William Isau
SIBU, June 29: The Sarawak government wants to increase the number of Bumiputera contractors who are registered in a higher class.
According to Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, this can increase income and improve the quality of life of contractors and Bumiputra entrepreneurs in Sarawak.
“If there are 194 Class E or D in the Central Zone, it is not impossible in the next two or three years to be able to upgrade the registration to Class C or B,” he said at the closing of the Competitive Contractor Programme Course (PKBS) in the Central Zone 2024 today.
According to him, as of June 20, the number of Bumiputera contractors throughout Sarawak from Class E and D registered with the Contractor and Consultant Registration Unit (UPKJ) was 2,271.
Of the 2,271, he said, 599 are from the Central Zone, consisting of 136 from Sibu, Sarikei (118), Mukah (244), and Kapit (101).
However, he stressed that many Bumiputera contractors still lack knowledge in the construction industry, particularly financial management, project management, and tender management.
Uggah also wants the participants of the programme to gain knowledge and be able to obtain inputs that can benefit them.
“I hope this programme can achieve its purpose, especially in the context of meeting the government’s desire to transform Sarawak into a high-income State by 2030.
“We want to see Bumiputera contractors have the expertise and capacity to implement projects efficiently and effectively,” he added.
A total of 104 contractors from the Central Zone have been selected to attend the PKBS Course from June 20 to 29, which aims to produce and develop authentic and competitive local Bumiputera contractors in the construction sector in Sarawak. — DayakDaily
