(Parliament, Friday): DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw reiterates that the Government should adopt international criteria for the open tender of the preliminary list of 880 projects under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP).

This should be followed by truly effective monitoring. With the National Implementation Task Force headed by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, we hope that these projects will be value for money; they should be completed at specified time.

Dr Tan pays great attention to the preliminary list of 880 projects announced by the Prime Minister on 18 July, 2006.

From the 880 projects worth RM15 billion, more than 450 primary and secondary schools will be built. Almost half are projects according to the private finance initiative (PFI). In the 1990s, many projects were based on Build-Operate-Transfer(BOT). Now, the Government is introducing Build-Lease-Transfer (BLT) and Build-Own-Operate (BOO). Are they effective?

Abdullah says:"All ministries and agencies, as well as the Public Works Department, have been directed to take action immediately so the projects can be implemented as soon as possible." We expect all concerned will heed the Prime Minister, making a success of every project. Fair, effective and timely implementation of these projects will help to turn around the sluggish economy.

During the debate of the 9MP in Parliament in May and June this year, the Prime Minister was very serious on it. He mentioned transparency, open and fair tender as well as better monitoring. Now is the time to show that all projects including those for Bumiputera are genuinely subjected to open tender, following international standard.

As we do not want to see cronyism, wastage, corruption and endless delays in these projects, we look forward to the credible methods of management. Abdullah refers to a project and planning management methodology, to be used by the Implementation Co-ordination Unit and the National Implementation Directorate.

Only those contractors who are able to complete the projects, as specified, should be selected. We don't want failures.