THE Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce (PCCC) wants the state to provide opportunities to local contractors when it rolls out the major infrastructure projects.
PCCC president Datuk Seri Hong Yeam Wah said local contractors are equally adept in undertaking major projects like their Kuala Lumpur counterparts.
Hong said the state is now in a good position to tap the construction industry with many infrastructure projects being lined up.
Among the projects are the mega reclamation Silicon Island, the proposed light rail transit and three elevated road by-passes, which will link strategic locations.
The project that is currently ongoing is the Air Itam by-pass road which links the most densely populated township with the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway.
There is also another reclamation project mooted for Butterworth in Began Ajam under the Rayston Consortium and the state while Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow is lobbying extensively for an elevated highway around the Sungai Dua area in Prai.
Hong also stressed that contractors must also undertake sustainable development when carrying out their work.
“We must consider how to meet human needs while safeguarding the earth’s resources.
"This is not only a reflection of our responsibility but also a commitment to future generations,” he said after attending the Penang Buildex exhibition 2024 here.
Chow, who had earlier opened the event, said Malaysia’s construction industry is projected to achieve a 5.7% annual growth rate between 2025 and 2028.
“I am confident that Penang is poised to lead the nation once again in surpassing these projected growth expectations,” he said.
He also expressed his gratitude to the PCCC and the Penang Master Builders for making Penang Buildex 2024 a successful annual event.
Penang Master Builders president Datuk Goh Teng Whoo said the occasion marked a significant moment in the construction industry.
“Penang Buildex 2024 is designed to facilitate meaningful interactions and provide a platform for new ideas to flourish,” he said.
“The construction industry is the backbone of our economy. From dreaming up designs to laying the last brick, it is all about building not just structures, but our future."
The industry in Penang caters to over 150 sub sectors such as architects, engineers, designers, planners, builders and contractors, building materials manufacturers and suppliers, and even government agencies and educational institutions.
The spillover is considered multi-fold for Penang and with major infrastructure projects underway, it is an exciting time for the sector, said Goh. – June 19, 2024
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