MRT Works MMC-Gamuda says it won’t be contractor for KL Sentral pedestrian tunnel works

by **Cals** Tue 25 Mar 2014, 00:43

MRT Works MMC-Gamuda says it won’t be contractor for KL Sentral pedestrian tunnel works

Business & Markets 2014

Written by theedgemalaysia.com

Monday, 24 March 2014 17:14

KUALA LUMPUR (March 24): MMC-Gamuda Joint Venture (JV) today refuted allegations made by MRT Watch, a non-government organisation.

It also said “MMC-Gamuda will not be the works package contractor for the KL Sentral pedestrian linkway tunnel project,” as it is not a bidder for the works package.

Below is the full statement from the JV:

“MMC-Gamuda Joint Venture, the appointed Project Delivery Partner (PDP) and underground works contractor for the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit Project (Sungai Buloh – Kajang Line) (KVMRT SBK Line), today conclusively confirms that the company is not party to the bidding of the proposed RM340mil KL Sentral pedestrian linkway tunnel.

“The proposed pedestrian linkway is an integral part of the physical integration between KL Sentral MRT Station and other rail stations located at KL Sentral, namely the KL Sentral LRT Station [Light Rail Transit, Kelana Jaya Line], KTM Komuter KL Sentral Station and Express Rail Link KL Sentral Station, as highlighted in the Employer’s Requirement for the KVMRT SBK Line project.

“However, we would like to clarify that although the construction of the pedestrian linkway will be under the purview of the scope of PDP’s contractual obligations [held by MMC Gamuda KVMRT (PDP) Sdn Bhd] for the KVMRT SBK Line, it will not be part of the underground works contractual scope [held by MMC Gamuda KVMRT (T) Sdn Bhd – the underground works contractor] for the project.

“It has come to our attention that a report, published in MRT watchdog blog called “MRT Watch” dated 21 February 2014, entitled “Breaking News! MRT Corp to build costly and high risk linkway tunnel project” which states that “Based on the (MRT Corp) proposal, the linkway tunnel will be built by MRT Corp and its project delivery partner (PDP) for the mass rail transit system, Gamuda Bhd.”

“In the same report, it also stated, “The government, in mid-December last year, has put a hold on the linkway tunnel proposal as it is in the midst of studying the cost, safety and security implications of the project. However, Gamuda, as the PDP of the mass rail transit project has called for a tender in the middle of last year to build the linkway tunnel even though the government has yet to approve the project.”

“The above statement was repeated in a similar report in “MRT Watch” dated 27 February 2014 entitled “Update! RM350 milion MRT linkway tunnel only serve to increase Gamuda’s profit”, stated that “Gamuda being the PDP of the project has called for tender in mid 2013.”

“We hereby would like to clarify that the above statements published in “MRT Watch” are utterly baseless and untrue, on the basis of:

1. Gamuda Berhad is not the PDP for KVMRT SBK Line; however it is one of the two parent companies with a 50% stake in PDP for KVMRT SBK Line ie. MMC Gamuda KVMRT (PDP) Sdn Bhd

2. MMC-Gamuda has not submitted a tender proposal for the construction of the pedestrian linkway project at KL Sentral MRT Station

3. To clarify further, we refer to a news article in The Edge Financial Daily dated 20 March 2014 entitled “MRT Corp: KL Sentral walkway tunnel to cost RM340m”, of which MRT Corp Chief Executive Officer Datuk Wira Azhar Abdul Hamid was quoted as saying that at least five prominent local construction players are bidding for the proposed tunnel project – MMC-Gamuda is not one of the five bidding parties for the project

4. Consequently, MMC-Gamuda will not be the works package contractor for the KL Sentral pedestrian linkway tunnel project

5. Like all the other elevated and systems works packages on the SBK Line, the tender for the pedestrian linkway tunnel project at KL Sentral MRT Station will be called by the project owner, MRT Corp.

“As reported in the above referred news article in The Edge Financial Daily dated 20 March 2014 entitled “MRT Corp: KL Sentral walkway tunnel to cost RM340m”, the KL Sentral pedestrian linkway tunnel project is currently under review by the relevant authorities.”