KKR Wants G1-G4 Contractors Implement Own Projects, Be More Competitive

KUALA KANGSAR, Feb 1 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Works (KKR) has issued a stern warning to contractors, especially those in classes G1 to G4, not to hand over any projects they have been awarded, but instead to carry out the work themselves.

KKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Azman Ibrahim said it was important for the companies involved to implement this to improve their skills, capabilities and competitiveness to a higher level, including internationally.

"I really hope (subcontractors are avoided) and I will ask Zamri Mat Kasim (Perak Public Works director) to look into it later, if they are subs, tell me later, we will work together with the ministry to pursue them.

"(This matter is important) because we want to help these G1-G4 class contractors so that they can further improve their skills so that they can improve their class and one day hopefully they can go to the international level," he said.

He said this when speaking at the G1-G4 Contractor Draw Ceremony for the Perak State Federal Road which was also attended by Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi at a hotel here today.

Azman said that at the ministry level, an initiative known as Competitiveness and Globalisation has been implemented.

"Every year, we will bring in class contractors who have reached the (high) level, we want to go bid for projects at the international level. If contractors cannot improve their skills, how can we take their knowledge to a higher level?

“At the KKR level through the Public Works Department and CIDB (Construction Industry Development Board), we are trying to improve our contractors’ capacity building. This is something we need to look at so that if external contractors come to bid for projects, at least we can compete,” he said.

The work draw programme is an important initiative under Budget 2026, which aims to accelerate the implementation of federal road maintenance works through the involvement and participation of small Bumiputera contractors in the G1 to G4 categories.

A total of RM32.95 million, consisting of 89 jobs under the G1 to G4 categories, has been allocated for the maintenance of Perak State Federal Roads.

In a related development, Azman said the government had approved an allocation of almost RM28 million to KKR for the construction of BIM Labs or Building Information Modelling Laboratories nationwide, which, among other things, aims to improve the capabilities of local contractors.

"If we succeed in creating a BIM Lab nationwide, I think we will be the first country in the world to make this kind of effort to develop and bring our contractors to a higher level, even internationally," he said.

Meanwhile, KKR in a statement announced that for 2026, the ministry has allocated RM300 million under the G1 to G4 Contractor Registration Programme by increasing their involvement in periodic and non-periodic road maintenance works for federal roads of Peninsular Malaysia.

“The programme that was approved on Jan 21, 2026 involves 758 contracts, namely 81 periodic pavement works and 677 periodic non-pavement works, an increase of 112 jobs compared to 2025, thus expanding the opportunities for small contractors, especially class G1 and G2, in national development projects.

“The scope of work involves pavement maintenance such as mill & pave, Cold In-Place Recycling (CIPR), overlay and road reconstruction, while non-pavement works include improving the safety and aesthetics of roads including road lines, signs, road kerbs and drainage systems,” according to the statement.

KKR also informed that the contractor performance assessment will be the basis for future job opportunities, in line with KKR’s assertion that there is no compromise on quality, cost, completion period and safety that meets the aspirations of the MYJalan Programme.

In addition, a total of 1,731 qualified contractors who meet the criteria including being registered with CIDB, ​​possessing a Bumiputera Status Certificate (STB) and having a good track record are participating today's balloting process, conducted by the Drawing Committee (JCU), was conducted transparently and broadcast live online, witnessed by all contractors.

-- BERNAMA