9 October, PORT DICKSON – An independent candidate in the Port Dickson by-election has called on the government to review its decision to terminate MMC-Gamuda’s contract to build the underground portion of the Mass Rapid Transit 2 (MRT2) project.
Kan Chee Yuen said the decision does not only affect those at the national level, but also people in Port Dickson as he was told that at least 10 businesses were involved directly in providing parts for the project.
This also involves individuals or engineers who are working at those companies. They are now losing employment and business opportunities, he told a press conference on the issue today.
According to Kan, instead of terminating the contract, he suggested that the government do a cost-rationalisation process to at least reduce the cost.
On Sunday, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said the cabinet had decided to terminate MMC-Gamuda’s contract to build the underground portion of the MRT 2 project, adding that the unfinished work would be re-tendered via an international open tender process.
Lim said the decision was part of a cost-saving exercise as the government would save RMM5.22 billion, or 23 per cent of MRT 2’s construction cost.
However, MMC-Gamuda said about 20,000 personnel from a supply chain of over 600 Malaysian companies would lose their jobs following the termination, including over 3,000 employees of MMC-Gamuda’s joint-venture company, of whom more than 60 per cent are Bumiputeras.
– BERNAMA