Uggah presenting a certificate to a course participant.
Sibu is looking at upgrading bumiputra contractors.
The move, according to Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, would improve the contractors’ income and quality of life.
“If there are 194 Class E or D in the Central Zone, it will not be difficult to upgrade the registration to Class C or B in the next two to three years.
“The government wants bumiputra contractors to be successful and we want to increase the number of contractors in higher classes,” he said at the closing of the Competitive Contractor Programme Course (PKBS) in the Central Zone 2024.
He revealed that as of June 20, there were 2,271 Class E and D bumiputra contractors throughout Sarawak registered with the Contractor and Consultant Registration Unit (UPKJ).
Of the number, 599 are from the Central Zone.
Of these, 136, 118, 244 and 101 operate in Sibu, Sarikei, Mukah and Kapit respectively.
However, he stressed that many bumiputra contractors still lacked knowledge, particularly in financial, project and tender management concerning the construction industry.
Uggah, who is also Sarawak’s Second Minister of Finance and New Economy, wants programme participants to gain practical knowledge.
“I hope this programme achieves its purpose, especially in the context of meeting the government’s aim to transform Sarawak into a high-income state by 2030,” he said.
“We want to see bumiputra contractors have the expertise and capacity to implement projects efficiently and effectively.”
A total of 104 Central Zone contractors were selected to attend the 10-day PKBS course that aimed to develop competitive local bumiputra contractors in Sarawak’s construction sector.
