Procurement issues in Malaysia

Purpose This study was undertaken with the aim of surveying the perception of the two main stakeholders in procurement system; the contractors and the procurement officers on issues such as accountability, transparency, corruption, integrity and cronyism pertaining to the public procurement system in Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach Interviews were conducted over a nine‐month period in 2007 to gauge the perception of the procurement officers and contractors on procurement issues in Malaysia. The interview data were then transcribed and grouped according to six main themes; transparency, procurement policies and procedures and its implementation, personnel involved in the procurement system, estimation/budget/pricing, professionalism and ethics and timeliness. Findings One of the common complaints made by the contractors was prevalence of interference from outside parties and cronyism, which affects the awarding of contracts. The procurement officers were blamed for malpractice and non‐compliance to the policies and procedures of the procurement system. Practical implications The paper deals with sensitive issues and takes several months to successfully gather respondents who willing to give feedback on their experience with the procurement system. The data are first hand information and are carefully transcribed and categorized into categories to help better understanding of the issues raised by the respondents. Originality/value The paper deals with sensitive issues and takes several months to successfully gather respondents who willing to give feedback on their experience with the procurement system. The data are first hand information and are carefully transcribed and categorized into categories to help better understanding of the issues raised by the respondents and the private sector.