BCM Alliance Bhd, a company specialising in medical devices and commercial laundry equipment, lauds the open tender policy advocated by the government as it will provide more opportunities for local businesses.

MD Liaw Chong Lin (picture) said previously, the tenders for the supply of medical devices to government hospitals and healthcare centres were often conducted through closed tenders, which made it difficult for other companies to enter into the government healthcare segment.

“With this (policy), everyone will stand a chance to secure government contracts now,” he told reporters after the company’s AGM in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

He said the company is also in the middle of venturing into supplying medical assistance products for patient care, such as beds, as part of its business expansion.

“We have been appointed to distribute Siemens AG cardiac angiography and fluoroscopy system in February 2018, besides other sterilisation and surgical items.

“Now, we want to widen our business portfolio by including patient care products,” he said.

BCM Alliance is involved in the distribution of equipment specialising in medical devices and healthcare products to private and government hospitals, and also in commercial laundry equipment.

On the impact of the zero-rated Goods and Services Tax (GST) come June 1, Liaw said the company projected better revenue and cashflow for both its laundry and medical supply business as it would no longer claim input tax for GST. “This move will increase the consumer’s purchasing power for now,” he said.

He said once the Sales and Services Tax (SST) is implemented, the situation would likely revert to normal as the difference between the GST and SST is minimal.

Liaw said BCM Alliance, which is now listed on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia, is also aiming to transfer to the Main Market in one to two years’ time.