Goverment agencies should assist homegrown companies with proven track record and ability, particularly when awarding its contracts and distributing funds to assist these companies, said Halim Mazmin Bhd executive chairman Tan Sri Halim Mohammad.

He urged the government agencies to assist the national flag carriers which are doing  their part in contributing to the growth of the country.

"Homegrown companies  provide training and scholarships to young school leavers but international companies have no such national  interest," he said.

In addition, he said awarding contracts to local homegrown companies  would also help the Government  to reduce the outflow of freight charges.

He said HMB was also in the process of training young school leavers to take up a career in shipping.

"I feel this issue will have  to be addressed sooner rather than later,' he added.

Halim said some government agencies are reluctant to assist the local shipowners by benchmarking them against the international shipping companies which have larger assets.

"In cases like HMB, we some times lose out, being a smaller company," he said.

"We have a proven track record of being able to undertake substantial volume of  cargoes. We have over the last 10 years successfully carried iron ore and coal for foreign utility  companies.

"We see no reason why government agencies should not give preference to local shipping companies."  

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