Tun Razak Exchange infrastructure tender soon

PETALING JAYA: An upcoming tender for infrastructure and roadway works in Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) could see bids from the likes of WCT Bhd, IJM Corp Bhd and Mudajaya Group Bhd, analysts said.

1MDB Real Estate Sdn Bhd (1MDB RE), a unit of state-owned investment fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd, invited contractors yesterday to take part in a pre-qualification exercise for infrastructure and roadway works in the near RM30bil TRX project.

“Contractors are required to submit a duly completed pre-qualification document with comprehensive supporting information.

“All pre-qualification document submissions will be reviewed and scored on the basis of content, completeness and quality. Only shortlisted contractors will be notified to proceed to the subsequent stage of tender,” 1MDB RE said in a newspaper advertisement.

TRX, a 28.3ha mixed-use development in the Imbi area of Kuala Lumpur fronting Jalan Tun Razak, will comprise a new financial and business district with commercial, residential, leisure and cultural components.

Construction of the first phase, which includes a shopping complex and four office towers, five residential towers and two five-star hotels, will commence early next year and is slated for completion by 2017.

The rest of the parcels would be developed in phases over the next 15 years, 1MDB RE had said in June.

An analyst with a local research house told StarBiz that only WCT had expressed interest in bagging more contracts from TRX.

WCT had secured in April last year a RM169.26mil award for earthworks and substructure works at TRX.

1MDB had then said the job was the first in a series of earthworks and civil engineering packages to be awarded.

On the latest pre-qualification exercise, an analyst said that most of the listed contractors might put in bids though not aggressively as their hands were tied by the ongoing MRT works and other large infrastructure projects like the West Coast Expressway.

“The potential value of the TRX jobs is unlikely to be huge. In addition, the smaller, unlisted contractors can take on these contracts,” he pointed out.

1MDB RE said the scope of works for the infrastructure and roadway works could include earthworks, underground road structures, elevated roadway and others.

Individual applicants of the pre-qualification must be locally-owned and incorporated and have a minimum of 10 years experience, with a track record as a main contractor.

Joint ventures with foreign firms are permitted, but the local party must control at least 51% of the consortium and the bulk of the management and staff are Malaysians.