Kontraktor disaran kemuka bukti kenaikan harga bahan binaan

The deputy minister for Works and Housing, Ahmad Maslan, has urged contractors claiming a sudden rise in construction material prices to provide evidence and actual cost information to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) so the government can assess the need for a price adjustment (VOP). Maslan pointed out that most construction material prices have increased slightly and remained stable, according to DOSM data dated August 10.

He noted that while some materials, such as recycled aggregate, have seen price increases of up to 19% in certain areas, any claims of higher cost increases must be supported by evidence and accurate information presented by contractors on the ground. If incorrect, the relevant units must respond to DOSM with evidence showing why the statistic is inaccurate and explain what is incorrect.

The ministry is required to use the statistics provided by DOSM; if it states that prices have not risen more than 1%, that is what they will report. If the increase is greater than 1%, how can they justify granting a VOP? Maslan said the government would consider implementing a VOP only if there is strong evidence of a sudden price increase of construction materials affecting project costs.

Until such evidence is presented, he emphasized that any significant price increase across various angles, materials, and sectors must be considered. He called on contractor associations, including the Malaysian Malay Contractors Association, the Malaysian Bumiputra Contractors Association, Class F contractors, and other trade groups, to submit invoices and evidence related to construction material costs to DOSM to illustrate the true situation on the ground.

In April, Malaysian Malay Contractors Association urged the government to urgently implement steps, including reviving the VOP mechanism for construction materials, to help contractors cope with the cost pressures arising from the global energy crisis. The association's president, Rosdi Ab Aziz, was reportedly told that such a mechanism had been implemented during previous crises, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, and proved beneficial for contractors managing cost increases.