KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 — The Malaysian Bumiputera Contractors Association (PKBM) has urged the government to give priority to the direct involvement of Bumiputera and local contractors in the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project’s Section A that runs from Kota Bharu, Kelantan, to Dungun, Terengganu.
President Datuk Azman Yusoff said through previous screenings conducted by ECRL project and asset owner Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL), more than 50 Bumiputera contractors were found to be eligible to take part in the project.
“Based on the ‘carve-out policy’, I am confident the Bumiputera Agenda Steering Unit (TERAJU) and the Prime Minister’s Department want to see Bumiputera contractors are given the opportunity and sufficient room to be involved in this large-scale construction project.
“It is important to provide such opportunity to ensure Bumiputera and local contractors can contribute their services, especially with regard to the scope of infrastructure works that should be within the local contractors’ expertise,” he said in a statement today.
Azman said the association also wanted the appointment of contractors to be made in a transparent and fair manner without disrupting the implementation process of the RM44 billion ECRL project.
Yesterday, MRL, a subsidiary of the Minister of Finance Inc, announced that it had received government approval to start construction works for Section A of the 640 km ECRL project soon.
The approval from the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) via a letter dated May 14 ensures that preparatory works and earthworks for the 210.4 km Kota Bharu-Dungun stretch would take off by mid-2020.
Among others, the APAD green-light includes the final alignment route, locations of passenger/freight stations, and the number of lots to be acquired by the government for the section.
Section A will have six ECRL stations consisting of Kota Baru and Pasir Puteh in Kelantan as well Jerteh, Bandar Permaisuri, Kuala Terengganu, and Dungun in Terengganu
