Muhammad Hafiz's attempt to register his construction company for government tenders was sabotaged by a fraudulent consultant.
New to the industry, he learned the trade by following his father, a contractor.
"My father told me, if you want to do this seriously, get yourself registered with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB)."
— Muhammad Hafiz Shamsuddin
Muhammad Hafiz had his contractor licence blacklisted for a year after a consultant he hired submitted fraudulent information and documentation. · Image via NSTP
Obtaining the Contractor Registration Certificate (PPK) was straightforward.
But the Government Procurement Work Certificate (SPKK) and Bumiputera Status Certificate (STB) became difficult with the CIDB's then-newly introduced online system, the Construction Industry Management System (CIMS).
After several failed attempts, Muhammad Hafiz started asking around.
"My friends told me they had no idea how to do it either because we were in the middle of CIDB's transition from manual to digital applications. But one friend shared a contact — a consultant who had helped him with his registration."
— Muhammad Hafiz, on finding the consultantMuhammad Hafiz wanted to be registered as a G2 contractor.
The consultant sounded confident.
Contractor registration and most CIDB-related services are handled through the Construction Industry Management System (CIMS). · Image via CIMS website
After about two weeks — and RM1,800 paid — Muhammad Hafiz received a PDF of what appeared to be his licences.
Relieved, he started taking part in government tender exercises.
It wasn't long before he secured one. But not long after completing the project, he received a call from CIDB.
"I was told to come in for an audit. During the process, they said they detected forged documents used in my registration, so my approval was revoked, and I was blacklisted for a year."
— Muhammad Hafiz, recounting the CIDB audit
Muhammad Hafiz has never attended this course, and this certificate was uploaded by the agent without his knowledge. · Image via Muhammad Hafiz (Provided to SAYS)
Confused and alarmed, Muhammad Hafiz tried calling the consultant.
"I only managed to reach him once, which was before I went to CIDB. After that, the number was not reachable again."
— Muhammad HafizHis friend who had used the same consultant also ran into problems, though Muhammad Hafiz did not ask for details.
Throughout the gruelling session, CIDB flagged multiple discrepancies.
"The consultant also submitted false information that was never supported with documents. For example, he claimed my company used AutoCAD and SketchUp, but there were no invoices or receipts to show they were purchased by my company."
— Muhammad Hafiz, on the software claims
Muhammad Hafiz's rating was downgraded from two stars to one star following CIDB's review. · Image via Muhammad Hafiz (Provided to SAYS)
Even more serious were the financial records.
"My balance sheet and income statement were forged. My company was new — I didn't have a balance sheet yet. They also included a random financial statement; I have no idea whose documents they used."
— Muhammad Hafiz, on forged financialsBut the most damning discovery came from the technical qualification attached to his registration.
"The consultant uploaded a forged certificate — a degree in electrical science from a foreign university. It belonged to someone else. I have no technical background at all. My education is in business. At that moment, I was scared and angry. Why would he do this? I asked for help, but he played me."
— Muhammad Hafiz, on the forged degree certificate
Muhammad Hafiz says he never studied at the university and that the consultant uploaded the fake certificate without his knowledge. · Image via Muhammad Hafiz (Provided to SAYS)
Muhammad Hafiz said he never met the consultant in person — all communications were through WhatsApp. There were no invoices, no receipts. Nothing to prove the arrangement ever existed.
"They bleed people dry. If we do the process ourselves, it only costs a few hundred ringgit. But being blacklisted for a year... I couldn't bid for any government work. I felt such a huge loss, especially when I saw my friends securing government jobs while I couldn't."
— Muhammad Hafiz, on the cost of being deceivedAlthough his ordeal happened in 2017, Muhammad Hafiz said the menace persists and hopes the authorities will take firm action against these so-called consultants.
"These consultants need to be closely monitored. We cannot allow them to register businesses and then leave them unchecked. Every registered company should have proper documentation, including registration with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM)."
— Muhammad Hafiz
