The highly anticipated shortlist of consortiums for the preliminary phase of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) project is expected to be announced by June, according to Adam Mohamed Rahim, an analyst at RHB Investment Bank Bhd.
The announcement rests on governmental endorsement after assessments performed by MyHSR Corporation Sdn Bhd (MyHSR Corp). Earlier this year, seven consortiums, including a total of 31 companies with diverse expertise, submitted their conceptual proposals to MyHSR Corp in response to a Request for Information (RFI) issued in July 2023. The deadline for these submissions was January 15.
The results from the RFI evaluation are currently under review and will soon be presented to the Ministry of Transport and the Cabinet. If the evaluations receive positive feedback, MyHSR Corp plans to move forward by issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to the shortlisted consortiums, inviting them to submit detailed proposals.
The initiation of the RFI highlights the government’s dedication to reinvigorating the KL-Singapore HSR project through innovative financing and implementation models. This effort aims to enhance rail transportation infrastructure and stimulate economic growth across the region.
Among the contenders for the project is a consortium led by Berjaya Rail Sdn Bhd, a 70 percent subsidiary of Berjaya Land Bhd (BLand). This group is collaborating with Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd (MRCB) and Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB).
In related developments, Rahim also shed light on the upcoming Mass Rapid Transit 3 (MRT3) project, which is expected to launch between the fourth quarter of 2024 and the first quarter of 2025. Land acquisitions for this project are scheduled to be completed by the third quarter of 2024, according to the Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp).
Reflecting on the robust activity in the construction sector, Rahim reported that construction projects totaling RM30.8 billion were tendered in the first quarter of the year. Ongoing negotiations for the Penang Mutiara Light Rail Transit (LRT) project, potentially worth over RM10.5 billion, further underscore the sector’s dynamic nature.
Progress is also evident in East Malaysia, where four out of 20 work packages for Phase 1B of the Pan Borneo Sabah Highway, valued at RM15.7 billion, have been awarded as of March 22, indicating positive momentum in the region’s infrastructure development.
As the June deadline approaches, stakeholders in the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore HSR project await further developments with anticipation, recognizing the transformative potential of this cross-border infrastructure initiative.
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