Malay builders seek research grant

The Malay Contractors Association is seeking a nationwide grant for research to make the industry more competitive.

Its president Senator Datuk Roslan Awang Chik has proposed that each state receives between RM500,000 and RM1 million for administrative purposes.

The administration of the contractors will depend on the income generated from the projects received.

"If a grant is given, it would be used for administrative purposes. This way our focus won't be so much on seeking and waiting for projects, but more on looking for ideas for the betterment of the industry," he said after launching the association's 33rd annual general meeting in Kuala Terengganu yesterday.

Also present was the state's association president and Kuala Nerus Member of Parliament, Datuk Mohd Nasir Ibrahim Fikri.

Roslan said the country needs a new breed of contractors who are knowledgeable in several aspects, including management, administration and building techniques.

This is vital in line with the changes in the industry, such as the emergence of new technologies and higher costs of building materials.

"We need contractors who thirst for knowledge and not sit just around waiting for government contracts," Roslan said.

However, he added, not many contractors want to learn new things from the Internet and seminars and lack of information can lead to emotion-based decisions.

By Business Times (by Sean Augustin)