Menteri besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said the same companies had frequently won projects offered by GLCs for “too long”.

“Big-time towkays control these cartels. They are taking nine out of 10 projects. This is not just happening in Kedah but also in Kuala Lumpur.

“I want to go to war with all these cartels,” he told the state assembly.

Sanusi said that for starters, he would order all state GLCs to stop giving projects through direct negotiations to companies run by these “cartels”.

He said GLCs should “draw lots” or offer tenders for projects.

He was responding to Hanif Ghazali (PAS-Tanjung Dawai) and Johari Abdul (PH-Gurun), who questioned the qualification of GLC bosses and the projects awarded.

Sanusi said GLCs had been helping small-time contractors since the time Anwar Ibrahim had been deputy prime minister.

He said GLCs appeared to have lost track of their original intention to help “small-timers”.

He said the GLCs must follow open tender and request for proposal (RFP) guidelines set by the federal treasury.

There should also be better efforts by the GLCs to put up advertisements for project tenders to ensure a more equitable playing field for all.

The state assembly later approved the state’s 2022 budget of RM730 million.

It also gave the nod for a bill allowing 18-year-olds to be candidates for state election.

Both bills were passed with a unanimous voice vote.

The assembly then adjourned sine die.