KUALA LUMPUR – Construction players are seeking to collaborate either through consortiums or joint ventures in anticipation of the Klang Valley’s Mass Rapid Transit Line 3 (MRT3), industry insiders told The Vibes.
A source said talk is rife that the government will do a tender call soon, and “some of the largest names in the industry are already looking to partner up”.
The names that have been bandied about include Sunway Construction Group Bhd, IJM Corp Bhd, YTL Corp Bhd and Siemens, as well as MMC Corp Bhd and Gamuda Bhd.
A number of Bumiputera firms are also expected to throw in their bid either by forming consortiums among themselves or teaming up with some of the names above.
In terms of experience, MMC and Gamuda stand out as they were involved in the construction of MRT1, which runs from Sg Buloh to Kajang, and MRT2, stretching from Sg Buloh to Serdang, and on to Putrajaya.
MRT3 will link the MRT1 and MRT2 lines, forming a loop around Kuala Lumpur. It will comprise 30 stations, with 10 being interchange stations with other rail lines. MRT3 will be around 50km, of which 40% is underground.
During a media briefing in April, MRT Corp chief Datuk Mohd Zarif Hashim estimated that the project will be completed within a decade as opposed to the initial plan of seven years.
That month, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong said then prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s cabinet had given the green light to MRT3, with works initially slated to begin in the second half of the year.
However, a tender call has yet to take place.
MRT3 was missing from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s 12th Malaysia Plan speech, but many expect an announcement soon as the government plans to allocate RM400 billion over the next five years to fund infrastructure projects.
MRT3 is expected to cost between RM27 billion and RM32 billion, according to an April 5 CGS-CIMB report. – The Vibes, October 6, 2021
