SOME of the differences between PWD and PAM tender documents :

Generally

PWD - used in all government projects. can be modified for use in private
projects. If modified to be used in private projects, then you will be asking
the question that you pose to me in this forum.
PAM - only used in private projects

Performance Bond & Retention Money

[ Bon Perlaksanaan dan Wang Jaminan Perlaksanaan ]
PWD - requires either Performance Bond OR Performance Guarantee Sum
(Retention Money) Clause 13 [ JKR 203A v2007 ]
PAM - requires both Performance Bond [ Clause 37 ] AND Retention Money [
Clause 30.5 ].

Insurance
PAM - got clauses built in giving choices - either Employer or Contractor can
buy the insurance for the works [ Clauses 20A, 20B, 20C ]
PWD - contractor is always the one buying the insurance [ Clauses14,15,16 ]

Consultants
PAM - got clauses to define roles / responsibilities of the consultants [
Articles 3,4,5,6 ]
PWD - only identified as 'S.O.'s Representatives' which have to be separately
appointed with a letter by the S.O. [ Clause 3 ]

Architect / S.O. [ Arkitek / Pegawai Penguasa ]

PAM - the Architect is in charge and this term / designation is to be used in
Specifications, Bill of Quantities and other parts of the document.
PWD - "S.O." is in charge and normally this person is a government Officer
who works in the Employer / Client's office. The Architect would normally be
appointed as one of the S.O.'s Representatives. The architect can also
assume the role of "S.O.", ie the architect is defined as the SO in the
conditions.
Sounds trivial and small matter but if you have a PAM tender document using
words like S.O. in the Preliminaries or Specifications, what you have is
discrepancies because the word S.O. is not defined anywhere. Neither is the
word 'Architect' defined anywhere in the PWD form of contract.

Government / Employer
In PWD contracts, the client is called the Government.
In PAM contracts, the client is called the Employer.
Sounds like simple but if you have a PAM tender document using words like
Government, what you have is discrepancies. The word 'Government' is not
defined and irrelevant in PAM documents in terms of contract administration.

Tendering Procedure [ Tatacara Tender ]

PWD - qualification to tender strictly based on valid PKK AND CIDB
licensing. If tenderer breaks the tendering conditions, his license(s) can be
suspended / blacklisted by the government. This is spelt out in PWD Form
of Tender / Conditions of Tendering and only applies to tendering for
government projects.
PAM - not for government projects - only used in private projects.
qualification to tender can be based on CIDB OR PKK licensing or other
criterias. No standard Form of Tender / conditions of tendering. PAM
tender documents require tenderers to submit Earnest Money when they
submit their Tender. This is described / detailed in the Instructions to the
Tenderers. In government projects, PWD tender documents do not impose
requirement for Earnest Money with their Tender unless modified for use in
Private tenders. When tenderers break tendering conditions in PWD or
government tenders, they suspend or blacklist the PKK registration of the
tenderer - he wont be able to participate in any government tenders for the
suspended period.