Firms bidding for govt tenders should remain anonymous, says Anwar

The prime minister says their names should not be revealed during the selection process to ensure that the most qualified company gets the job.

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has proposed that companies bidding for government tenders should remain anonymous during the selection process.

He said blind tenders would ensure that the projects would be awarded to the most qualified firm.

Anwar said he adopted the method when deciding on a tender earlier.

“It was based on their capabilities, track record and financial standing.

“We decided (to award the project) without knowing who it was,” he said at the Real Estate Housing Developers’ Association (Rehda) annual dinner.

Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said keeping the firms bidding for tenders anonymous should be a standard practice.

In November, Anwar said the government‘s procurement process would no longer be conducted without tenders, in a bid to curb corruption and leakages.

He also rued the slow pace at which government agencies processed applications, saying it opened itself to abuse.

Anwar said some people had taken advantage of the sluggish pace to enrich themselves as well as friends and family.

“We have the capacity to move away from this sluggish pace of development aided by an old, tired and extremely corrupt system.”