The contract for the MRT Mutiara Line in Penang has been officially signed between project developers MRT Corporation and asset owner SRS Consortium, under the supervision of Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
This phase of the project is valued at RM8.31 billion, excluding land acquisition costs, which will be covered by the federal government. Efforts to reduce expenses are ongoing through continuous negotiations.
Minister Loke reiterated the federal government’s commitment to effective cost management, even considering potential land acquisition expenses.
He assured that negotiations with the Penang state government will aim for nominal land charges through a fair and cooperative approach.
“The state government must charge us at a nominal price; they cannot charge us at market rate. Remember, the federal government is paying for this,” Minister Loke stated. “I know the state chief minister is from my party, but I will still negotiate at arm’s length,” he added.
Project Overview
The Mutiara Line project is divided into three tenders:
Tender 1
The first tender involves major construction efforts managed by a consortium comprising Gamuda Bhd, Loh Phoy Yen Holdings Sdn Bhd, and Ideal Property Development Sdn Bhd, in a 60:20:20 joint venture.
Selected by the Penang state government through open bidding in 2015, this consortium will handle the civil construction of 19 stations from Penang South Reclamation Island-A (PSR-A) to Komtar.
This segment spans 29.5 km, with 23.7 km stretching from PSR-A to Komtar in one direction and 28.4 km from PSR-A to Penang Sentral.
Tender 2
The second tender covers the extension from Macallum to Penang Sentral on Seberang Prai, including a 6 km alignment with a 3.2 km sea-crossing bridge.
The Macallum to Penang Sentral section will be 5.78 km long, featuring a 3.06 km marine viaduct and a 0.46 km stretch from Macallum to Komtar.
This tender is set to open in Q3 2025 and has attracted competitive bids from both local and international firms.
Tender 3
The third package, the Systems Turnkey Contract (STC), encompasses the design, procurement, construction, testing, commissioning, and maintenance of the railway systems.
This tender opened on 13 December 2024, with submissions due by 14 April 2025. A second briefing is scheduled for 14 January 2025 in Kuala Lumpur.
MRT Corp has reported strong interest from both local and international companies for this package.
Key Features
Spanning 29.5 kilometres, the Mutiara Line will feature 21 stations, beginning at Penang South Reclamation Island-A (PSR-A) and concluding at Penang Sentral and the Tun Abdul Razak Complex (Komtar). Additionally, a provisional station will be established on PSR-A.
Three interchange stations are planned: Komtar, Macallum (linking Penang Sentral and Komtar), and Penang Sentral, which will provide connections to KTM Komuter, ETS, and possible future metro lines.
The upcoming LRT system will utilize Grade 3 Automation driverless electric trains, each capable of accommodating up to 405 passengers. Initially, trains will operate at four-minute intervals to reduce waiting times.
To enhance commuter convenience, all stations will be equipped with Park N Ride facilities, offering over 1,000 parking bays for cars and motorcycles.
Source: Malaymail 1, Malaymail 2, Caricarz
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