HSR's planning, designing and procurement phase expected to start early 2017

By Sharen Kaur

Published in NST on April 18, 2016

PUTRAJAYA: The proposed high-speed rail (HSR) project to link Malaysia and Singapore has passed the critical point, with an agreement expected to be sealed soon.

   

  A memorandum of understanding (MoU), as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, will be signed by the middle of the year before a firm bilateral agreement is inked by year-end.

   

  According to government sources, the signing of the bilateral agreement would mark the start of the planning, design and procurement phase for the HSR, which is expected to begin early next year.

   

  "The HSR is going to enter a very exciting phase after the MoU. A lot of heavy lifting and ironing out of details were done in the last three years after the Leaders' Retreat between Najib and his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong in January 2013."

   

  Last week, MyHSR Corp Sdn Bhd called for request for proposal (RFP) for technical advisory services for the HSR project.

   

  MyHSR is a wholly-owned special-purpose vehicle under the Finance Ministry set up to ensure the successful delivery of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore HSR network.

   

  It is looking for companies for help out in, among others, the planning, design and project management for both system and civil scopes of the work.

   

  "MyHSR is targeting firms with technical engineering expertise and long track work in high-speed rail development. The RFP is expected to attract a lot of engineering firms from Europe, China, Japan, South Korea and the United States.

   

  "The firm is looking for global expertise to ensure that the planning and designing of the HSR is the best in the world," the source said.

   

  The RFP will be issued today and the closing date is May 6.

   

  It is understood that MyHSR will appoint the technical advisory firm by June, prior to the signing of the MoU.

   

  "The advisory firm will start work immediately and assist MyHSR to get the MoU and the bilateral agreement going. It will also help in the planning, design and project management," said the source.