KUALA LUMPUR – The Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) would like the government to provide more assistance to revive and sustain the construction industry.
In a statement today, its president Oliver H.C. Wee said MBAM was expecting a more uplifting budget for the construction industry.
While the association would like to thank the government for the list of construction projects announced, the “bigger reality” is that they are “insufficient for the industry at large”, he said.
“Some of the projects announced are already progressing while the others are projects to enhance the infrastructure for public use. We observe that these other projects would benefit the G1 to G4 categories of contractors,” Wee said.
This is “alarming” as the 12th Malaysia Plan also does not offer new mega-infrastructure projects despite an allocation of RM400 billion between 2021 and 2025, he said.
“We also observed an increase in the migrant workers levy, which will increase construction costs. Incentives should also be provided to projects that utilise the industrialised building system since the government is promoting the industry’s move into the digital construction era.
“Stimulus package for investors in new private developments should (also) be introduced,” he said. – Bernama, October 8, 2022