Prasarana wants to make Malaysia proud in Saudi Arabia

PUTRAJAYA: Prasarana Malaysia Bhd wants to do Malaysia proud in Saudi Arabia after winning the 807mil riyal (RM767mil) contract to run the Arafah-Mina metro rail system during the haj season.  

It will work with other Malaysian rail operators to supply staff to Mecca and ensure that the three-year operation will be a success, said its group managing director Azmi Abdul Aziz (pix). 

“We hope everyone will pray for our success. We mobilised our employees there this month and will seek the help of other rail operators to provide staff. 

“Together we will raise the name of Malaysia and wave the Malaysian flag there,” he said after a meeting with Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at the Prime Minister’s office here on Friday. 

Azmi said that during the meeting, Najib reminded Prasarana that it is acting as “ambassador” for the country and expected the firm to do a good job.  

“The prime minister expressed his pride at seeing a government-linked company expanding its business operations abroad.  

“He wants us to perform well ... so that we and other Malaysian companies will gain the trust of our Saudi Arabia clients,” he said. 

Azmi was appreciative and thankful to Saudi Arabia ruler King Salman, who had presented the instrument of appointment to Prasarana, for his trust in the company. 

Prasarana outbid several other major operators, both international and domestic, to win the contract. 

The job is to operate and maintain the 18km Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddasah - the Makkah metro line which runs from Arafah to Mina and has nine stations, during the haj season.  

The season runs for seven days each year, during which Prasarana expects to handle about 100,000 passengers in total.