PETALING JAYA: Ancom Nylex Bhd
’s 42.2%-owned subsidiary, Nylex (M) Bhd, has received a letter of intent (LOI) from the government for a proposed public- private partnership rail project in Iskandar Malaysia.
In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, Ancom Nylex said the government has granted approval in principle to a consortium comprising DOM Industries (M) Sdn Bhd, MMC Engineering Sdn Bhd, BTS Group Holdings Pcl, and Nylex to undertake the proposed Pembangunan Awam Darat Di Wilayah Iskandar Malaysia (Iskandar Malaysia Public Land Transport Development Project), which will be based on a medium-capacity rail system under a public- private partnership model. Ancom Nylex said the LOI was issued by the Public-Private Partnership Unit (Ukas) under the Prime Minister’s Department on May 5.
The request for proposal for the project was issued by Ukas on March 12 last year.
The estimated development cost of the Johor Baru rapid transit project – widely believed to involve an elevated autonomous rapid transit (e-ART) system – is close to RM7bil, although it remains uncertain whether land acquisition expenses are included in the estimate.
Previous reports indicated that the e-ART network would feature 32 stations across three key corridors: Skudai, Tebrau, and Iskandar Puteri, with Bukit Chagar serving as the main interchange hub.
Designed as an unmanned bus rapid transit network operating on elevated tracks, the e-ART system has the capacity to transport between 5,000 and 12,000 passengers per hour depending on configuration.
The project is expected to complement the Johor Baru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link by improving connectivity and passenger flow within Johor Baru.
The RTS Link is slated to commence operations by the end of 2026.
Thailand-listed BTS Group Holdings, the developer and operator of Bangkok’s mass transit network, will contribute technical expertise to the project, while Nylex will serve as the project promoter.
DOM Industries, which is also involved in the Kuching Urban Transportation System project, is owned by Adil Sayeed Ghulam Mohammed with a 51% stake and Noorfazliyani Mustafa Kamal (49%).
MMC Engineering contributes rail infrastructure expertise through its participation in the MRT Kajang Line project.
Its parent company, MMC Corp Bhd, is controlled by tycoon Syed Mokhtar Albukhary via Seaport Terminal (Johore) Sdn Bhd.
