The Malaysian Insight

SUBCONTRACTORS in the Light Rail Transit 3 (LRT3) project who have not been paid should complain to the main contractor, MRCB-George Kent (MRCBGK), said Prasarana Malaysia Bhd chairman Tajuddin Abdul Rahman.

The joint-venture firm, which engaged the subcontractors is responsible for paying them, and not Prasarana, he told a press conference this afternoon following a raid by the anti-graft authorities at its office earlier today.

He also said some of the subcontractors have yet to sign contracts with MRCBGK, even though work has commenced and in some cases been completed.

“I have received a lot of complaints work has been completed but contracts have not been signed. Some of these are Bumiputera contractors. As chairman, I cannot allow this to happen.”

He said he would not heed advice to not interfere in the project as Bumiputera subcontractors were being unfairly treated.

Tajuddin was referring to the need for new contracts between subcontractors and MRCBGK after the joint-venture firm was appointed as the LRT3 project’s main contractor. 

He denied recent reports and letter signed by 17 subcontractors and consulting firms to the Finance and Transport Ministries that Prasarana had been delaying payments of more than RM700 million for work done.

Tajuddin said the government-linked company had paid MRCBGK RM3.47 billion up to October last year.

“We have been paying, it’s not a small amount. Every time they make a claim, we will pay,” he said.

MRCBGK, however, in a statement this evening said the payment Tajuddin referred to was for construction works done ending June 2020, and that the RM700 million owed were for payments from July to October. – January 4, 2021.