THE Malaysian government company responsible for developing and delivering the Kuala Lumpur - Singapore high-speed line, MyHSR, has reported an “overwhelming response” to a briefing on the Request for Information (RFI) process for the project.

MyHSR says that over 700 representatives from local and international companies, as well as foreign missions, attended the RFI briefing held at the Ministry of Finance in Putrajaya on July 27.

Those in attendance included industry representatives from Britain, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Australia, China, Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand and Singapore, according to MyHSR.

The project delivery organisation says it is “very encouraged by the positive response from industry players.” Due to the high level of demand, it brought forward from August 11 the date when RFI documents were first made available for purchase by potential bidders.

By July 28 over 30 companies had already registered to purchase the RFI documents. They will be made available until November 15, the deadline for submitting concept proposals for the high-speed project that will be undertaken as a public-private partnership (PPP).

The briefing was attended by 700 representatives. Photo Credit: MyHSR Corp

During the briefing, MyHSR provided more details of the project structure based on a design-finance-build-operate-transfer (DFBOT) model.

It says that participating firms and consortia must demonstrate their ability to develop the new high-speed line, having a proven track record as well as the technical expertise, resources and project management capability required to complete this major infrastructure project on budget and to schedule, and to the required quality.

To enable bidders to prepare and deliver a comprehensive concept proposal, the briefing also provided information on submission requirements and evaluation criteria.

Participating firms and consortia should demonstrate their ability to sustainably build the new line and operate high-speed HSR services “with realistic commercial expectations.” This will include the preparation of demand forecasts and other financial projections, as well as providing details of measures to optimise costs and diversify revenue.

MyHSR says that bidders must have the ability to raise the required funding from diverse sources and develop a financially sustainable model. This should minimise reliance on government funding while ensuring successful project implementation and operation.

The MyHSR chairman meets the Italian ambassador to Malaysia, Mr Massimo Rustico.
Photo Credit: MyHSR

“We are truly heartened by the positive response from the industry and look forward to receiving high-quality proposals that align with national and regional development plans,” says MyHSR CEO, Mr Mohd Nur Ismal Bin Mohamed Kamal.

“Participating firms or consortia should include a clear vision and plan that will leverage on rail connectivity to boost economic growth while ensuring that the sustainability and low-carbon aspects of the system are incorporated.”

“We are optimistic that the Kuala Lumpur - Singapore high-speed rail project is more than just a transport solution,” says MyHSR chairman, Mr Haji Fauzi Bin Abdul Rahman.

“Besides stimulating economic recovery following global headwinds and the Covid-19 pandemic, the project will provide a much-needed boost to our construction sector and its supporting ecosystem while creating high-value jobs and generating business opportunities for small to large-scale enterprises.”

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