New Straits Times

My HSR CORP OPENS UP 60 CIVIL, DESIGN WORK PACKAGES

More than 40pc will be awarded to Bumi companies, says MyHSR Corp

- ZARINA ZAKARIAH zarinaz@mediaprima.com.my

THE Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail (HSR) project will offer about 60 civil and design work packages along the 335km alignment from Kuala Lumpur to Iskandar Puteri.

All civil works will be awarded to local contractor­s that have the required expertise.

Of the total work packages, more than 40 per cent would be awarded to Bumiputera companies, said MyHSR Corp Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Nur Ismal Mohamed Kamal.

“We expect the first tender to open by the first half of next year. We aim to complete the project on schedule and on budget for commercial operations to start on time,” he told NST Business yesterday.

The project is in the early phases of design and land acquisitio­n, and is reportedly valued at about US$17 billion (RM67 billion).

The HSR is expected to start operations from 2026.

Nur Ismal said the HSR was not merely a transport and infrastruc­ture project, but rather a socio-economic developmen­t project.

MyHSR’s Project Delivery Partners (PDPs) are Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd–Gamuda Bhd (MRCB Gamuda consortium) and Syarikat Pembenaan Yeoh Tiong Lay Sdn Bhd–TH Properties Sdn Bhd (YTL-THP consortium).

The PDPs will be reregister­ed sponsible for infrastruc­ture works in the northern and southern stretches, with a 50:50 scope in work packages.

Asked on the need to have two PDPs, Nur Ismal said it was due to the sheer size of the project as well as the aspect of risk management.

“The two PDPs were selected via an open tender process, which was open to locallyreg­istered companies with CIDB class 7 and experience in rail constructi­ons,” he said, adding that three consortia made bids and the top two were selected. “Both PDPs will alhelp so procure contractor­s for the work packages.”

He said MyHSR Corp would like to create more players that had experience and credential­s in HSR developmen­t.

“In terms of risk management, we thought it was better to split (the project) into two PDPs. They will also have tighter control on the areas under their jurisdicti­on.”

It is estimated that the HSR project would result in spillovers of up to RM650 billion to the gross national income and create 442,000 jobs by 2069 if the coverage area incorporat­es comprehens­ive master planning, including transit-oriented developmen­ts and hub zones within a 5km radius of the HSR stations.

MyHSR Corp has worked with key authoritie­s since 2016 to develop socio-economic developmen­t programmes for inclusive and sustainabl­e growth along the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore HSR corridor.

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