SEBERANG PERAI, Nov 11 — Negotiations with the contractor for the Mutiara LRT line in Penang are in the final stages, with work set to commence early next year, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
He said talks between MRT Corporation Sdn Bhd and SRS Consortium are ongoing as there are several matters to be finalised before the proposal can be submitted for approval by the Finance Ministry.
“It is because the contractor (SRS Consortium) had previously struck a deal with the state government with a different development model (for the project).
“But now the federal government is taking over, there are certain procedures (that need to be followed). It has already been approved by the Cabinet but the details in terms of costs need to be renegotiated with the contractor.”
Loke said this after an event in Bandar Perai here today.
He said his ministry also hopes all necessary processes will be finalised by year-end so work on the Mutiara LRT line can begin early next year.
Without giving a specific start date, the minister said the first phase of the project will begin from the Penang International Airport (PIA) to Komtar, while the second phase will involve a crossing over to Penang Sentral in Seberang Perai.
“Previously, the route was a direct line or vertical alignment from PIA to Komtar, but now it needs to go to Penang Sentral, as directed by the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim). Therefore, the design has to be modified, and there will be changes in terms of costs and scope,” he said.
In March, the federal government officially took over the Mutiara LRT project from the state government following the cabinet’s approval of the development proposal for the project.
The government decided to appoint MRT Corp, with the project to be implemented via open tender.
— Bernama
