KUALA LUMPUR: MMC-Gamuda Joint Venture was named Contractor of the Year at the Malaysian Construction Industry Excellence Awards (MCIEA) 2008 organised by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) on Tuesday.

Gamuda executive director Ng Kee Leen received the award from Works Minister Datuk Mohamad Zin Mohd for the company's work on the SMART tunnel project.

Three individuals received awards in their respective fields:

> IJM Corporation Bhd chief executive officer and managing director Datuk Krishnan Tan (Pro-minent Player);

> Eversendai Corporation Sdn Bhd group managing director Datuk A.K. Nathan (CEO of the Year); and

 Prof Dr Azlan Adnan of Uni-versiti Teknologi Malaysia (R&D Project of the Year).

Bina Puri Holdings Bhd, represented by group managing director Senator Tan Sri Tee Hock Seng, won the International Achievement Award.

Awards were also given for excellence in safety and health (Bina Goodyear Bhd) and industrial building systems (IBS Iconsis Sdn Bhd).

Awards for best-in-class contractors in the G7-G1 classes were won by Ahmad Zaki Resources Bhd, Gading Kencana Sdn Bhd, Linsun Engineering Sdn Bhd, B-TAR Construction (M) Sdn Bhd, Rohana Nursery and Trading Sdn Bhd, Koperasi Peserta-Peserta Rancan-gan Felcra Gugusan Gual Dalam Bhd and JSN Construction.

Certificates of recognition and special mention awards were given to 26 other companies.