Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) awarded 27 contracts for MRT projects worth RM11 million to Bumiputera contractors in a balloting session here today.

These contracts were awarded to Bumiputera contractors from Grades G1 to G4 by various Work Package Contractors handling the construction of the MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line.

In a statement today, Chief Executive Officer Datuk Seri Shahril Mokhtar said 48 per cent of the value of contracts for the MRT projects has been awarded to Bumiputera contractors.

"This is beyond the target of 43 per cent set by the government. The MRT Project's Bumiputera Agenda is being implemented smoothly and besides the large Bumiputera construction companies, the smaller Bumiputera contractors are also beneficiaries of the programme," he said.

Previously, a total of 145 contracts worth RM95 million were awarded to Bumiputera contractors from Grades G1 to G4.

Shahril said the MRT Project's Bumiputera Agenda is also extended to fresh graduates who took part in the MRT Project Young Graduates Entrepreneurship Programme.

"Fourteen new companies have now been formed by the participants of this programme and these companies have been successfully awarded contracts by the Work Package Contractors of the MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line," he added.