- The Edge Weekly has reported that MRCB has emerged as a front-runner for the Serendah-Port Klang railway link. MRCB has submitted a bid together with DMIA Sdn Bhd, amid reports that the federal government is planning to revive the line. While there will likely be competing bids in the coming weeks, the weekly revealed that MRCB could clinch the job next year.
- This Serendah-Port Klang rail link is seen as a solution to ease congestion within the KL Sentral area. We have learnt that the plan has received the backing of key government ministries ' and is due to be submitted to SPAD as early as next month.
- Back in 2008, the federal government had directed Keratapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) to carry out preliminary engineering and route alignment studies for the planned Serendah-Port KlangSeremban route. But there has been little headway since then, prompting some proposals by the private sector to undertake the project instead.
- The link is one of two routes that KTMB is mulling over under its freight relief line plan to divert freight trains to Port Klang away from KL and the Klang branch. The other is a new SubangSg.Buloh link that passes through Subang Aiport before connecting to the main line.
- Interestingly, the local press had reported last November that the federal government had given Subang Skypark the nod to implement a RM1.5bil-link that connects the SAAS Subang Airport to the KTMB station in Subang. The project ' to be implemented under a PrivateFinancing Initiative (PFI) under the government's Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) ' would be further extended to the Sg.Buloh KTMB station and the Sg.Buloh-Kajang MRT system within three years.
- MRCB is no stranger to rail-based projects in Malaysia ' having been the principal driver behind the KL and Penang Sentral projects. MRCB is also currently involved in the construction of both the Ampang and Kelana Jaya LRT extension programme.
- Established in 1996, DMIA is a registered PKK Class A and CIDB G7 contractor. The group has interest in construction, property as well as quarry operations. Some of the key projects that the group has completed included the ELITE highway (Package 1), Inland Revenue Board building and several Indian highways (e.g. Jaipur-Mahua, Rajashtan).
- In terms of rail works, DMIA was involved in the South Port-West Port link (Pulau Indah, Klang) and Ipoh-Rawang double tracking civil works. Importantly, DMIA has worked together with MRCB on the beautification and upgrading of Little India in Jalan Tun Sambathan, besides other development agendas within the Brickfield suburbs.
- Apart from MRCB, we do not discount the possibility of seeing opportunities opening up for other Malaysian contractors with prior railway works expertise. We count Gamuda, IJM and Loh & Loh to be within this select group. While we are doubtful if a concrete solution can be reached in the near term, this project adds to the possibility of renewed order book opportunities for Malaysian contractors (e.g. MRT 2 & 3, Langat 2, Seremban-JB double tracking, Menara Warisan, KLIFD) post the 13th General Election.