How did the Jana Wibawa program start under Muhyiddin?

Question

Accepted Answer

The Jana Wibawa Programme's Genesis and Implementation Under the Muhyiddin Administration

The Jana Wibawa programme was initiated as an economic stimulus measure during the Covid-19 pandemic, specifically designed to support Bumiputera contractors and the broader construction sector. Following an instruction from then-Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in 2020, the Finance Ministry was tasked with developing solutions to aid these businesses. The programme's framework allowed for projects to be awarded through either direct negotiation or a pre-qualified tender process, with the Finance Minister holding the authority to decide which method would be employed for each project.
Proposal and Approval of the Jana Wibawa Programme

The concept for the Jana Wibawa programme was formally proposed to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin by then-Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz on July 23, 2020. This proposal aimed to expedite economic stimulus measures for Bumiputera contractors. Muhyiddin subsequently conveyed his agreement with the programme via a minute on August 3, 2020, instructing for its swift implementation, which was crucial for the programme to proceed.
Role of the Finance Ministry and Prime Minister's Office

The Finance Ministry's role in the Jana Wibawa programme was primarily that of an implementer, responsible for evaluating and screening potential contractor companies to ensure they met the required conditions and regulations. However, all contractor companies ultimately awarded projects under the programme were those proposed by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). This arrangement meant that while the Finance Ministry conducted evaluations, the selection of companies originated from the PMO.
Project Awarding Mechanisms

Under the Jana Wibawa programme, two primary methods were used for awarding government projects: direct negotiation and pre-qualified tenders. Direct negotiation involved awarding a contract to a single company without an open tender process or price competition. The pre-qualified tender method involved inviting a select group of companies, pre-screened for their experience and capabilities, to participate in a tender. The decision on whether to utilize direct negotiation or pre-qualified tenders rested with the Finance Minister, not the Prime Minister.
Specific Contractor Proposals and Project Allocations

On November 13, 2020, Muhyiddin Yassin issued a letter to Tengku Zafrul proposing the appointment of 54 contractors for 54 Jana Wibawa projects through direct negotiation. This letter included a list of proposed projects and their values. Tengku Zafrul stated that he did not know the origin of these company names or how they were selected, as they did not come from him or the Finance Ministry. For instance, KCJ Engineering Sdn Bhd, proposed for a RM100 million project, initially failed the Finance Ministry's evaluation but later passed after the PMO provided additional information, ultimately being awarded the project for RM62 million. Similarly, projects for Sutracom and Nepturis Sdn Bhd, amounting to RM605.2 million and RM141 million respectively, were approved under the programme, with the PMO also involved in suggesting these companies and the awarding methods.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

How did the Jana Wibawa program start under Muhyiddin?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends