KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 4 – The value of contracts for Bumiputera companies in the construction of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) will increase through the construction of the dual gauge track from the Port Klang ECRL Station (Jalan Kastam) to Westports and Northport wharves.
According to the Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL), efforts to boost Bumiputera participation in the ECRL project remained a priority, even though this was not stipulated in the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC) agreement which only requires the involvement of local companies.
“Various initiatives have been taken to achieve this objective, the latest being China Communications Construction Company Ltd’s (CCCC) cooperation with state governments on the involvement of Bumiputera contractors (category G1 and G2) in the relevant scope of work,” it said in a statement today.
The company said this in response to comments related to the involvement of Bumiputera contractors in the construction of the ECRL following an article published by a news portal recently.
MRL said that the CCCC is in the process of shortlisting G1 and G2 Bumiputera contractor companies recommended by the state governments, adding that a call for tenders will be made soon.
Meanwhile, it said a total of RM13.64 billion worth of ECRL construction contracts had been awarded to local companies as of Nov 30, 2023, surpassing the target of RM10.8 billion estimated for the implementation of the project from 2017 to 2026.
“The amount comprises ECRL contract works in Kelantan worth RM1.20 billion, Terengganu (RM6.18 billion), Pahang (RM5.62 billion) and Selangor (RM0.64 billion), involving 2,801 local companies.
“From this amount, we would like to clarify that the value of contracts that have been awarded to Bumiputera contractors, consultants and suppliers as of Nov 30, 2023, is at RM2.66 billion or 76.07 per cent of the target of RM3.50 billion,” MRL said.
Of the total, RM1.69 billion worth of contracts comprising 172 contract packages (Kelantan:28, Terengganu:79, Pahang:50, Selangor:15) were awarded to 129 Bumiputera contractor companies for ECRL project works in Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Selangor.
This includes groundworks, bridge works and station construction.
Meanwhile, RM0.28 billion worth of contracts were awarded to Bumiputera consulting companies and RM0.69 billion to Bumiputera supplier companies.
