Local contractors George Kent is 'not competent' enough to handle the multi-million ringgit Ampang LRT project, says PKR.
(FMT) - PKR has revealed more documents pointing towards the George Kent consortium’s alleged inability to handle system works for the Ampang Light Rail Transit (LRT) extension project.
Pointing to various files, PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli said that George Kent was not fit to handle the RM960 million project.
He added that the George Kent-Lion Pacific joint venture got some of the lowest scores for the project.
“George Kent has not only failed financially, but worse, it got one of the lowest [scores] when it came to technical competence,” he told reporters at PKR headquarters.
According to excerpts of a September 2011 technical evaluation report by engineering consultant company Halcrow, Rafizi showed that the George Kent JV (referred to as “Tenderer T3″ in the document) would not be able to “successfully deliver”.
In one excerpt, the report read: “On questioning the tenderer at their presentation, it was apparent that not only was there a lack of understanding or aptitude for the systems integration process, but that their proposed integration consultant neither understood the requirements…nor how to manage them.”
Rafizi also pointed out that Tenderer T3 did not have any previous rail-related experience, and that its largest project to date was worth less than RM40 million.
He also alleged that the company’s specialty was “manufacturing water meters”.
Bearing the documented disclosure, Rafizi is demanding to know why the project was to be handed over to George Kent.
PKR central committee member Wong Chen said the PM also owed an explanation to the seven other companies which had tendered for the project.
“You spend millions to do the tender, and then four to five months [later], it changes.
“We ask the PM to verify if George Kent is going to get it, and then explain to the foreign tenderers why George Kent is going to get it,” he said.
