KUCHING, Sept 17 — Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof today suggested the Ministry of Finance and the Work Ministry use the prequalified tender procurement method in the selection of contractors for the Pan Borneo Highway (LPB) project.
He said doing so would ensure the reliability of the contractors appointed and would not affect the highway construction process.
“This is because if we do it through an open tender, it will take a long time, especially if there are too many applications. So, I recommend a prequalified tender, meaning the tender will be opened with conditions.
“Contractors who meet the criteria will be identified, and those who qualify will be called to enter the actual tender,” Fadillah said to the press when met at the state-level Cost of Living Carnival at Dewan Hikmah, earlier today.
Fadillah, who is the coordinator for the Pan Borneo Highway project, said he was suggesting to expedite the construction of the highway, which involves a total distance of 1,492 kilometres.
He was responding to the task given to him by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to expedite the construction of the Pan Borneo project.
The Prime Minister, in his speech in conjunction with Malaysia Day 2023 yesterday, vowed to fulfil the promises and agreements made during the formation of Malaysia, including the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and had tasked Fadillah to expedite and resolve issues surrounding the Pan Borneo Highway project.
Anwar said this was to ensure the construction of the highway could be completed earlier than the previously set deadline.
On August 20, the media reported that Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said Phase One of the Sabah LPB Project, which involves 15 work packages, is now at 82 per cent of construction and is scheduled to be fully completed in January 2025.
Phase One of the Sarawak LPB Project involves 11 work packages, almost 98 per cent completed.
— Bernama
