George Kent again defends LRT project role

KUALA LUMPUR: George Kent (Malaysia) Bhd has again defended its ability to handle a nearly RM1 billion job for the Ampang LRT line extension project (Ampang LEP).

George Kent reiterated that it has a good track record managing construction projects involving complex mechanical and engineering requirements in Malaysia and overseas.

Its executive director Dr Cheong Thiam Fook pointed to the construction and design of the new RM100 million Kuala Lipis Hospital and the soon-to-be-completed RM318 million inter-state Semantan raw water transfer project.

Cheong noted that despite some comments questioning the company's financial capability and technical expertise, it would still lead the project management team.

"We are not amused by comments questioning our financial capability and technical expertise," he said in a statement yesterday. "George Kent will lead the project management team and work with local partners with the required expertise and international best-in-class technical partners for the highly technical and specialised work."

The Ampang LEP base contract, worth RM956 million, entails the engineering, procurement, construction, testing and commissioning of the signalling system, communication, track work and third rail, the electrification of the rail system and other associated works for the 17.7km extension connecting the Sri Petaling station to Putra Heights.

The base contract sum, together with the optionals of RM128.62 million, was well within the initial tender price with absolutely no additions, post the close of tender, said Cheong.
George Kent had started preliminary work on the LRT extension project, he added.

This includes negotiations with specialist contractors to take on certain highly technical and specialised work for the line.
George Kent's focus now is to form partnerships with reputable technology partners to ensure smooth and cost-effective construction.

Cheong said such a partnership would ensure a significant technology transfer to local contractors.

"The project management team will have 70 per cent Malaysian participation and George Kent will be leading the project team with Germany-based Tewet Gmbh, a highly respected and internationally recognised project technical consultant with experience in more than 400 similar projects completed around the globe," he added.

Tewet was also the consultant to the Bursa Line in Turkey, which has a scope of work similar to what is required in the Ampang LEP.

By Business Times