News

Friday September 28, 2012

PM: George Kent is capable

Reports by MAZWIN NIK ANIS, MARTIN CARVALHO, SHAUN HO and RAHIMY RAHIM


CONSTRUCTION firm George Kent Lion Pacific joint venture (GKLP JV) was awarded the Ampang LRT line extension project contract after it passed technical, financial and legal evaluation, the Dewan Rakyat was told.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the company was able to meet the criteria stipulated in the contract and had offered the second lowest price among eight bidders.

Najib, who is also Finance Minister, said the total value of the contract awarded to GKLP JV was RM1.084bil.

“The bidder that offered a price lower than GKLP JV was not considered for the project for not fully meeting contract criteria.

“GKLP JV is a joint venture of local companies that has the financial ability and is listed on Bursa Malaysia.

“Therefore, assumptions that George Kent is inexperienced in the rail sector are inaccurate,” he said in a written reply to Tony Pua (DAP-Petaling Jaya).

The Prime Minister said the joint venture company had expertise in rail sub-system areas, including installation of power conductor rails, communications system and lightning protectors.

He added that sub-system services such as signalling would be managed by Thales, which is a highly credible technical implementation partner.

He said the project would ensure that operational costs were optimised and would also take into consideration vendor development as well as opportunities for local companies to be directly involved.

“There have been allegations and baseless speculation by certain quarters during the evaluation process.

“When the contract was awarded in a transparent and open manner, unsuccessful bidders accepted the decision.

“The international bidders also abided by the decision because the evaluation was comprehensive from the technical and commercial aspects.

“Until today, none of the bidders have voiced their dissatisfaction towards the ministry over the awarding of the tender,” said Najib.

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