Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Scomi eyes Penang monorail deal

By Sharen Kaur
sharen@nstp.com.my
Published in NST on November 21, 2012


Scomi Engineering Bhd says it is keen to participate in the RM2 billion Penang monorail project and will bid for the job when the government calls for tenders next year.



"We won the bid before and are keen to tender again. We are very well prepared to execute the project," its group chief operating officer of transport solutions Kanesan Veluppillai told Business Times.

The Penang monorail was proposed under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) and Northern Corridor Economic Region. Tenders were called by the Federal government in November 2007.

In January 2008, government-owned Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd issued a letter of intent for the RM1.6 billion job to a consortium comprising Scomi Engineering, Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd and Penang Port Commission.

Other contenders for the job were Melewar Industrial Group Bhd and its partner Putera Capital Bhd, as well as MMC-Metrail Sdn Bhd.


The government, however, shelved the project during the mid-term review of the 9MP, in favour of people-centred developments.

Penang, with a population of about 1.5 million people and registered private vehicles exceeding two million, requires a new mode of transport due to heavy congestion.

It is understood the government has proposed the Penang monorail project to cabinet for approval. The project is expected to cost over RM2 billion due to changes to the alignment and more stations needed.

Under the initial plan, two lines were proposed - Tanjung Tokong to the Penang International Airport via Scotland Road, Jalan Air Itam and the Penang State Mosque; and Paya Terubong to Weld Quay Terminal, via Jalan Air Itam, Jalan Dato' Keramat, and Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak (Komtar).

On government-owned Kuala Lumpur monorail system, Kanesan clarified that Scomi Engineering is keen to participate in the project as an engineering, procurement and construction contractor, supplying the systems and trains to Prasarana.

"We have not looked at taking it private and to enter the concession business. However, we will continue to play a role as a systems supplier and designer in the transportation business," he said.

Business Times reported yesterday that Scomi Engineering wants to take the KL monorail system private and expand the services to Bandar Sunway, Selangor, in a deal that could be worth over RM3 billion.

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