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April 04, 2006
Contracting Minds
Aaah, yes ... here we go:
Some of the mega infrastructure projects under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) may be broken into smaller contracts to be distributed evenly among small contractors to ensure their survival, Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said Tuesday.... Samy Vellu said the government was unable to break all mega infrastructure projects into smaller contracts as the cost would increase.
"But, in bigger (mega) projects, there are many smaller projects like construction of sewerages, laying of cables, pipes and so on which can be distributed evenly among smaller contractors," he said.
... PWD would be strict in the awarding of contracts and only those with excellent track record would be picked for a particular job.
"We want contractors who can finish the job in time and according to the specifications," he said.
... "We will be hard on the contractors but we will also take into consideration their problems. But, the bottom line is, the work must be completed in time and be of high quality," he said, adding that his ministry would not compromise on this. [Bernama]
First, why is it the Government's business to ensure the survival of contractors who are not fit to do the job?
All that needs to be done is to ensure that all small contractors get a fair shot at the projects, and if their bids are good enough, they get the job.
If the work is "distributed evenly among small contractors", that would mean some contracts will be awarded to those who don't deserve it.
But didn't Samy Vellu say that "PWD would be strict in the awarding of contracts and only those with excellent track record would be picked for a particular job"?
Yes, he did. That's because Samy's mouth is faster, much faster, than his brains.
The most efficient way to ensure that "only those with excellent track records would be picked" is to have competitive bidding.
But you can't have competitive bidding if from the outset, your over-riding concern is for the work to be distributed evenly among small contractors to ensure their survival.
Secondly, if you break up the so-called mega projects, it will increase costs.
So, when Samy said "the Government was unable to break all mega infrastructure projects into smaller contracts as the cost would increase" -- implying that parcelling some projects into smaller peices would not increase overall costs -- he was, as usual, shitting you.
And finally, if you say you're gonna crack the whip with regards to deadlines and quality, you don't then tell the whole world that "we will also take into consideration their problems."
Man.
Posted by aisehman at April 4, 2006 05:47 PM
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Comments
yeah... MOST politicians word.. putar belit, even in one speech others can see the loop holes... sighh
Posted by: smellyroom at April 4, 2006 06:30 PM
memang berbelit-belit la....
Posted by: nor'aini at April 4, 2006 06:42 PM
Sam's like the proverbial clown who slaps himself on the face at the end of each sentence he spoke.
Btw, thanks for the link to DaftOi. He's a real hoot!
Posted by: Anak Merdeka at April 4, 2006 07:24 PM
Well, without all these smaller contractors, who elase can you blame when a flyover cracks?
Posted by: Darren Leong at April 4, 2006 08:55 PM
Supporting contracting works will be distributed fairly to crony firms of politicos but they must endeavour to find credible subcontractors with good track records to sell them the scope of works and who can finish the job on time within the specifications that can withstand the maintenance period so that the final payment can be made and share with all happy parties concerned. Up front payments now are getting smaller due to tight situations and breaking scope of works into smaller parcels means smaller lump sum payment available from the main contractor. It's kind of hard to collect from the smaller subcontractors because they too have their politicos to pray to.
Posted by: thienshingvui at April 4, 2006 09:41 PM
Indeed. Sometimes it's real distressing when it seems what they say looks to be thrown together by a pseudo random software selecting overused words and phrases and then having the words contradict themselves.
Don't they rehearse responses well?
cheers
Posted by: oster at April 4, 2006 10:22 PM
This is another case of "you change your lifestyle while we carry on with our bad old ways" - promote mediocrity and sloth - all for the greater cause of a perverted notion of social re-engineering. When will these ministerial clowns learn that we are already paying the price for their unmitigated tomfoolery?
Posted by: Vaseau at April 4, 2006 10:37 PM
The main reason why open bidding is not practised is the excuse that genuine bumiputra contractors would lose to Ali baba contractors. But this is a also a lie because the public bidding procedure allow the government not to select the lowest price bidder. In other words, the real reason why there is no open bidding is dual: 1) To avoid difficulties of sorting through the bidders and 2) reward the politically-linked.
This is the Malaysian way - avoid the tough job and pakat-pakat.
Posted by: Bigjoe at April 5, 2006 08:13 AM
We have been putting up with this idiot for such a long time, and still the voters of Sg Siput continue to vote for him. All he wants is to ensure that companies who pledge their allegiance to him get the lion's share of the contracts. Time to knock the toupee off his head!
Posted by: Godfather at April 5, 2006 08:33 AM
-Yes, he did. That's because Samy's mouth is faster, much faster, than his brains.-
I AGREE with you on this. His mouth is really faster than his brain! I doubt it if he is still using his old cellphone number after the MRR2 issue where he nonchalantly reveal his phone number to the public for SMS (which he couldnt cope with, eventually).
Wonder why the PM still keeping him in the cabinet?
Posted by: Hilton at April 5, 2006 11:15 AM
I think this Sammy is referring to two different group of people in his speach:-
When he said he has to evenly disribute the smaller contracts to ensure the survival of the "subcontractors", he was referring to all his BN political cronies who are hungry for the 9MP handouts.
When he said the subcontractors must have proven track record and can complete the job in a timely manner, he is telling his political cronies that they must 'sub' the job the to reliable sub-sub-contractors so that there will be no more similar mistakes/incidents like the MRR2.
Meanwhile this Sammy idiot will 'win' the Sg Siput constituency year after year because BN Big brother will ensure his winning by channelling the required 'postal votes' to him whenever he faces a crisis!
Posted by: Opera7 at April 5, 2006 02:41 PM
Maybe we shouldn't be too hard on Semi Value. After all, Nazri is another minister whose mouth is long proven to be much faster than his brain.
Posted by: Godfather at April 5, 2006 02:56 PM