KUALA LUMPUR • Local companies have gained access to the international market through the Industrial Collaboration Programme (ICP) for the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) project with works valued at RM88.3 million. 

MRT Corp chief financial officer Shahrul Fadli Omar (picture) said the ICP programme for the MRT project has also provided job opportunities to more than 4,200 individuals and benefitted over 300 local firms to-date.

He said the 49th train set, which is the final electric train set for the Sungai Buloh–Serdang–Putrajaya (SSP) Line also contains local content of 60 per cent compared with the previous train sets including for the Sg Buloh-Kajang (SBK) Line.

“With the delivery of the last train set today from SMH Rail Sdn Bhd’s factory to MRT Serdang Depot, we project that the SSP Line will operate as scheduled in January 2023,” he said after the ceremony to celebrate the ICP Initiative Completion: Electric Train Manufacturing under the MRT Project Putrajaya Line in Putrajaya today.

Shahrul Fadli said there are still several processes that needed to be done including engineering and system testing before the line can operate.

Meanwhile, Technology Depository Agency Bhd chief executive officer Dr Sharoul Jambari said the implementation of ICP under the MRT SSP Line project represents the continuation of a similar initiative during the MRT SBK Line project whereby its implementation has contributed in terms of output to the economy of RM2 billion compared with the amount invested worth RM1.06 billion.

Besides that, the ICP Initiative Cooperation: Transfer of Technology and Expertise for local rail component manufacturing for Cab Mask and Coupler Hatch involving Hyundai Rotem and Nova FRP Sdn Bhd was also signed at the event.

MRT Corp said this cooperation, which is estimated to generate a value impact of RM258 million, will enable local companies to gain skills and capabilities to meet local operations and maintenance in the future as well as participate in the global supply chain. — Bernama