This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on July 27, 2016.

KUALA LUMPUR: Global engineering firm CH2M Hill (CH2M) has been appointed as the technical advisor for the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) project by MyHSR Corp Sdn Bhd (MyHSR).

The move by MyHSR to award its technical advisory services tender to CH2M follows the July 19 signing of a memorandum of understanding on the HSR project by both the Malaysian and Singaporean governments.

“CH2M, with its sub-consultant PricewaterhouseCoopers, will support MyHSR to develop the project, including working on the planning and design of the Malaysian section of the project, and assisting with the project management aspects of the project,” MyHSR and CH2M said in a joint statement yesterday.

MyHSR chief executive officer Mohd Nur Ismal Mohamed Kamal said: “We have a challenging task ahead and with this appointment, we would be better equipped.”

“We expect CH2M to bring its global expertise and its experience working on high speed rail projects for the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore HSR project,” he added.

CH2M programme director Mark Loader said the firm understands the challenges that lie ahead for the project.

“CH2M is an established member of the Malaysian engineering community, with a continued presence in Kuala Lumpur since the 1960s.

“We understand the challenges associated with delivering this nationally significant programme based on our depth of experience with High Speed 1 and 2 in the UK.

The KL-Singapore HSR is targeted to commence operations by 2026.