Who Get the Benefit ???

Artikel ini disumbangkan oleh rakan seperjuangan. Rakan penulis ini adalah seorang pelajar Master di dalam jurusan Forensic Accounting and Financial Criminology di salah sebuah IPTA tempatan)

When the Ninth Malaysian Plan (9MP) was unveiled, most of the businessmen especially contractors queried whether they can be considered to involve in the mega projects as the main contractor or at least to get some portion of the job. When the announcement was made most of the mega project would go to the Government Linked Companies (GLC) without them even bidding for it [ GLC are defined as companies that have a primary commercial objective and Malaysia Government has direct controlling stake. The controlling stake not only as major shareholder but Government has ability to appoint Board of Directors member, senior management and make major decision.]

For example, Pak Lah has announced that the construction of second Penang Bridge has gone to UEM Group which will partner with Chinese firm.[ UEM Group’s holding company is United Engineers (Malaysia) Berhad, a wholly owned by Khazanah Nasional Berhad – the Malaysia Government’s instrument arm ]. UEM Group has agreed to hold 49% stake in the joint venture with JV Construction of China Harbour Engineering Co. (CHEC) . The Chinese counter part will provide a big portion of the funding (recently RM2.7billion loan agreement has signed).

One mega project at the down south of Malaysia has gone to Malaysian Resources Corp Berhad (MRCB) which estimated at RM1billion cost of construction the Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL). This highway would run through the Iskandar Development Region and end at Johor Bharu. [The major shareholder of MRCB is Employees Provident Fund (EPF) Board]

From the example above, it has become very clear that only GLC will feature in the economic zones that are being mapped out under the 9MP. Why is that the case? What happened to open tenders? Why not consider non-GLC which have proved their worth overseas? Whether any crony company would also get some portion of the job?