MRT Project Progress

Prasarana to handle MRT matters until handover to MRT Co

Written by Tashny Sukumaran  
Tuesday, 23 August 2011 12:18


KUALA LUMPUR: Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd (Prasarana) yesterday announced that it will continue to manage all issues relating to My Rapid Transit (MRT) until the establishment of MRT Co.

Prasarana group managing director Shahril Mokhtar said in a statement yesterday that the government-owned company in charge of developing the nation’s public transport system will work closely with both the government and the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) to ensure that all works related to the Klang Valley MRT project progress in a smooth and timely manner.  

“Works on the MRT project need to continue … it is only rational that we carry on with all works and programmes that were decided before we officially hand it over to the new MRT Co,” he said.

MRT Co is a unit under the Minister of Finance Inc which will directly oversee the MRT project as the project and asset owner — a role currently played by Prasarana — from Sept 1.

“There are plenty of things that are already in the works like procurement and briefings. Today, we had scheduled a briefing with property owners at Jalan Bukit Bintang on the land acquisition issue for the MRT.


Shahril: It is only rational that we carry on with all works and programmes that were decided before we officially hand it over to MRT Co.
“Tomorrow, we have scheduled a pre-tender briefing for all the pre-qualified contractors. All these meetings and all the firmly scheduled events need to continue without disruption,” said Shahril, adding that Prasarana welcomes the government’s decision to establish MRT Co.

He added that MRT Co is now a new partner to work with Prasarana on the MRT, which will be part of the latter’s services and responsibility when it is completed.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced last week the formation of MRT Co to directly oversee the multi-billion ringgit project.

With MRT Co in the picture, the prime minister said, Prasarana would be able to focus on its role to ensure efficient and reliable public transport in the Klang Valley.

MRT Co will have a project management and technical team comprising experts in mass rail transit systems. The team will include experts seconded from Prasarana’s MRT team.

Once completed, the MRT will be handed back to Prasarana, and its subsidiary RapidKL will be the project operator.


This article appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, August 23, 2011.