Photo by Zahid Izzani/The Edge

KUALA LUMPUR (April 23): Eight contractors face possible Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) fines for alleged bid rigging in 2019, in respect of two tenders of the Public Works Department (JKR) and one tender of the Department of Drainage and Irrigation.

In a statement on Tuesday, MyCC chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Hishamudin Yunus said the commission on April 16 made a proposed decision against the eight enterprises for infringing Section 4 of the Competition Act 2010.

He said the three tenders were worth about RM473 million in the provision of services for construction works for roads, pavements, bridges and flood mitigation systems.

Mohd Hishamudin said the proposed decision was duly served on all eight enterprises on Monday.

He said six enterprises, namely Dutamesra Bina Sdn Bhd, IDX Multi Resources Sdn Bhd, Mangkubumi Sdn Bhd, Menang Idaman Sdn Bhd, Meranti Budiman Sdn Bhd and Pintas Utama Sdn Bhd, are implicated in all three tenders.

One enterprise, NYL Corporation Sdn Bhd, is implicated in both JKR tenders.

Another enterprise, Kiara Kilat Sdn Bhd, is implicated in one of the two JKR tenders.

Mohd Hishamudin said the investigation provisionally found that these enterprises had colluded in bid rigging through information sharing and coordination in their participation in the tenders.

He said the findings are provisional, and should not be assumed that any enterprise had conclusively infringed the Competition Act 2010 at this stage.

“As required by the Act, the enterprises concerned have also been notified of the proposed penalties.

“These enterprises are accorded the opportunity to submit their respective written representations within 30 days after receiving the proposed decision,” he said.