George Kent-Lion Pacific expects to deliver LRT extension on time (3204)

KUALA LUMPUR: George Kent (M) Bhd
is confident that the George Kent-Lion Pacific Joint Venture (GKLP-JV)
will deliver the system works for the Ampang Line Extension Project on
cost and on time, after receiving the letter of award from Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd on July 31.
The
RM965mil Ampang light rail transit (LRT) contract entails the
engineering, procurement, construction, testing and commissioning of
the signalling system, communication, track work and third rail,
electrification of rail system and other associated works for the
17.7km extension connecting Sri Petaling station to Putra Heights.
George Kent executive director Cheong Thiam Fook,
who is also project director of GKLP-JV, said George Kent would lead
the project team with Tewet Gmbh, which is a highly respected and
internationally-recognised project management consultant with
experience in over 400 similar projects completed worldwide.
“We
strongly refute the baseless allegations that GKLP-JV failed the full
technical and commercial evaluations. There were numerous criteria
considered by consultants, the Ministry of Finance and by Prasarana,”
he said in a statement.
As Prasarana has stated: “The JV is 100%
locally-owned companies and is well supported by reputable local and
international multi-disciplinary technical partners; all with proven
track records in their respective field of systems implementation
expertise.
“Additionally, some of the key sub-systems proposed
also have synergy with Prasarana's current operations, thus and in the
long run, Prasarana will benefit from reduced operating expenditures as
well as cross-competency gains that will increase service efficiencies”.
Cheong
said: “It is based on this overall assessment that GKLP-JV was
selected. There is also absolutely no question that George Kent has a
healthy balance sheet and is in a strong cash position, as our audited
figures would show.”
Cheong was also the general manager of the
turnkey contractor responsible for the construction of the Ampang LRT
line Phase 1 and 2 from 1994 to 1998.
He said George Kent was
suitably positioned to lend its proven engineering experience and
project management skills in completing the works in 44 months.
“We
understand our bid was fully compliant with tender conditions,
including all technical and commercial requirements, including the
seamless integration with the existing lines which fully complies with
Prasarana's bid requirements.
“I believe the combination of the
various strengths of our proposal, such as our full bid compliance, our
meeting of all technical and other requirements won us the contract in
what was a hotly-contested international tender,” he said.
He
added that due to its complexity, the submission ran through a large
number of stages during the bid process, requiring evaluation by many
experts, all of whom had their various imputes evaluated by the tender
committees at the various stages.
Citing George Kent's
diversification into managing construction projects involving complex
mechanical and engineering requirements in Malaysia and overseas from
its beginnings as a manufacturer of engineering components 76 years
ago, Cheong pointed out that the company had successfully delivered
large projects on time and on budget.
An example was the
construction and design of the new RM100mil Kuala Lipis Hospital which
it recently completed on time, on budget and with zero variation orders.
“We,
together with our consortium partners, will soon also complete
construction of the technically complex RM318mil inter-state raw water
transfer project, Semantan intake and pumping station works,” said
Cheong.