MRCB secures LRT rail system contract in Penang worth RM3 billion
PETALING JAYA: Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd (MRCB) has secured a RM3.028 billion contract for the railway system package of the Mutiara Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) project in Penang.
In a filing to Bursa Malaysia, MRCB said that the joint venture with Theta Edge Bhd, known as MRCB-Theta Edge JV, has been appointed as the turnkey contractor for the engineering, procurement, design, construction, testing, commissioning and maintenance of the railway system under the System Turnkey Contract Package (STC).
“The appointment will enable the detailed design of the rail system to proceed in parallel with the ongoing civil construction programme, thus ensuring both components remain aligned to achieve the overall project implementation targets.
“The STC encompasses seven main rail system packages namely electric trains and depot equipment, signalling and train control systems along with automatic platform doors, track works, conductor rails and maintenance vehicles, and power supply and distribution systems.
“It also includes the rail SCADA system and Computerised Maintenance Management System, telecommunications and information technology systems, and the automatic fare collection system,” it said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the tender process for the Civil Main Contract 2 (CMC2) package which includes the extension of the alignment from KOMTAR to Penang Sentral is also proceeding as planned with tender evaluation currently underway.
“MRT Corp targets the contract to be awarded in November 2026. The CMC1 contractor also continues to award various sub-contract packages for station construction and related works following the progress of construction activities throughout the project.
“In addition, bumiputera participation under the CMC1 package now exceeds 20 percent of the total contract value.
“This reflects the project’s ongoing commitment to strengthen bumiputera participation as well as develop the capabilities of the local industry throughout the project implementation,” it said.
To enable construction works to commence in stages, MRT Corp has issued construction reference drawings to the contractor while the detailed design continues to be finalised.
This parallel design-and-build approach allows construction work to proceed without having to wait for the entire design package to be completed.
As a result, construction work has now achieved 45 pile heads and 32 viaduct piers, while construction activities are being carried out in 14 out of the total 19 planned construction sections under the CMC1 package.
The land acquisition process for the project shows good progress through close cooperation between the Federal Government, the Penang State Government and relevant agencies.
To date, 93 percent of the total land area required for the CMC1 package has been made available for construction activities.
Utusan Malaysia