PUTRAJAYA: Bumiputra companies will get a chance to take part in the development of major projects through the implementation of a “carve out and compete” policy.

Under this initiative, a certain portion of the country’s iconic projects will be awarded to bumiputra companies, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

These companies will, however, have to compete among themselves to ensure that only credible and capable firms are given the trust to handle the work, he said.

“We did a trial of this policy for the MRT project and will extend it to the construction of the Sarawak-portion of the Pan Borneo Expressway,” he said after chairing the bumiputra economic council meeting.

“Contract packages valued at least RM5bil will be awarded to bumiputra companies in the state so that they can participate in this important project.”

The “carve out and compete” policy will also be carried out for the development of Bukit Bintang City Centre at the site of the old Pudu Prison, where 50% of the project’s contracts valued at RM1.6bil will be given to bumiputra companies.

On the “Superb” or bumiputra entrepreneur kickoff scheme, launched in 2014, Najib said the programme had created 90 new entrepreneurs in various fields.

The scheme is also meant to get major companies to mentor new entrepreneurs. Celcom Axiata Berhad and Touch & Go Sdn Bhd are among the big firms that have been involved so far.

Air Asia Berhad has also agreed to work with a budding entrepreneur Muhamad Shahril Shahbudin, whose company Aiis Solutions Sdn Bhd has come up with a new technology which uses dry ice to clean aircraft engines.