As bidding continues for the KL-Singapore high-speed rail (HSR) project, South Korea has signalled its intent to be involved in it with the creation of a showroom to highlight its HSR prowess and technology.
The showcase, which is located on the first floor of Nu Sentral, Kuala Lumpur, was put together by state-owned Korea Rail Network Authority (KRNA), which is leading a consortium of 50 public and private firms to bag the project, The Star reports.
Open from 10 am to 10 pm daily, exhibits include highlights of the country’s achievements in rail and civil engineering as well as an overview of HSR projects globally. The showroom also features a 4D theatre housed in the shell of a HSR locomotive. Able to seat six at a go, the theatre will air 20 shows daily, the programme being around five minutes long.
At the unveiling of the 157 sq m showroom last week, KRNA Malaysian regional director Kim Chung Gi said that the KL-Singapore HSR project would likely end up being a three-cornered fight between Korea, the Chinese and the Japanese.
The report adds that South Korea is the fourth nation to have HSR build capability, after Japan, France and China. The country has two HSR lines, the 417.4 km-long Gyeongbu HSR and the 182.3 km-long Honam HSR, with two other HSR projects still under construction.
In October, the country had first stated its interest in the project, and the Korean consortium was amongst the many parties to have paricipated in a Request for Information (RFI) exercise on the KL-Singapore HSR project conducted by the Malaysia Land Public Transport Commission and Singapore’s Land Transport Authority last month.
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Wow, the Kimchis are really aggressive in bagging the HSR deal man! With Japanese, Chinese, French and Korean in the ring, let’s get some pop corn and see who gets the tittle.
However, don’t forget this is Bolehland, our contract is never awarded based in merits, experience or capability, whoever offers our government the biggest songlap will always win!
In this case, I believe the Koreans stood an advantage. Talking about shrewd, and cunning business practice, Koreans are a class of their own. Anyone who had business deal with them knows what I mean.
Kimchi don’t know the Malaysian style. Here, duit rasuah or better known as duit kopi talks. The tender process all drama. Give the big man some money into his foreign account, everything sure settle.
that is how Malaysian Government do business. And its no more 1 or 2 million. Few hundred million minimum. then in the nght, send GRO to his house to service him, sure get the contract.
The Koreans will learn how to get big contract in Malaysia very quickly. The Super Tan Sris will look for Kim Chi to talk terms rather than the Kim Chi look for Super Tan Sris to negotiate.
Japanese its better for the malaysian try their technologies easy to get sparepart.
i’m all for the Japanese train
Sam Loo, if your country ever award the contract to the Koreans, make sure you don’t take a ride in any of these trains ya? Becos the trains have no RV!
Well common sense would dictate the Japanese have the advantage as they seem to be winning all the contracts in Thailand and one would assume that neighbouring countries would opt for the same type of systems to ensure compatibility.
But … this is Malaysia and almost everything is not transparent. However they will use a bit of common sense as Singapore is in the mix.
My money would be on the Japanese to bag this one unless the Chinese ramp up their interest free loans or provide unbeatable sweet deals but they are very close behind. The Koreans and the French are far behind IMO. But then again..this is Malaysia so I might be completely wrong
Should opt for China as they have the largest HSR network in the world with most experience accumulated and can significantly bring down the cost as well.
China will have more than 95% chance of getting it despite the ISMA performing the ‘Silat and break coconut shells Dance’.
China already kau tim. They saved 1MDB by over-paying for their power station assets. A cover -up for the Najis
is it wrong when they see value where your dear leader lackeys dont? Or perhaps its precisely becoz they do, thats why they got nothing better to do than to create a big windbag. They saw that 1MDB is in good shape with valuable assets, that why when it starts to monetise those assets, they will keep getting socks in their mouths. Takde modal lagi.
The Korean don’t even have one single indigenous HSR network, their 2 lines are tendered and won by the French. talk about thick face.
The Chinese have the longest hour of HSR running in record, much longer than the japanese despite coming to the scene in the last 10 years only simply by the sheer size of HSR track network in km.
In terms of accident, The Chinese HSR had one recently, the japanese Shinkansen also had one few years back.
The Korean don’t even have one single indigenous HSR network, their 2 lines are tendered and won by the French. talk about thick face.
The Chinese have the longest hour of indigenous HSR running in record, much longer than the japanese despite coming to the scene only in the last 10 years simply by the sheer size of HSR track network in km.
In terms of accident, The Chinese HSR had one recently, the japanese Shinkansen also had one few years back.
No la Korean, our G will go for the highest bidder so 10% of commission will be bigger. I think the French will get the contract instead.
i think French may win the contract. Malaysia government will put knowledge sharing & to use local expertise as part of the contract. i bet japan can accept the condition as we all know they wont share to others.
Hands down CHINA will win because they can finance the WHOLE PROJECT if they wish..u guys think the other contenders have cash to throw around like the Chinese? No way…
The local reps, especially the manager in the showroom are rude and unprofessional. Embarrassing for KTX to have such low quality staff representing their (advanced) country.