This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on June 9, 2017 - June 15, 2017

KUALA LUMPUR: Scomi Engineering Bhd said the KL Monorail four-car trains, which was introduced in December 2014, were independently certified before they commenced operations. It said this in response to the move by Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd (RRML) to ground the fleet for safety reasons.

Scomi said the trains underwent rigorous validation process, design reviews and endurance tests either independently or jointly with Prasarana, the engineer under the contract, suppliers and authorities before it was granted a rail worthiness certificate by MMRA Ltd, an international independent checking engineer appointed by Prasarana.

It added that the trains had been solely operated and maintained by RRML after the handover by Scomi Transit Projects Sdn Bhd to Prasarana beginning 2014.

“Scomi became aware of the grounding at the same time as the public through RRML’s media release, whereupon Scomi approached RRML to discuss its concerns and recommended certain enhancements,” it said in a statement yesterday.

It added that due to the contractual dispute between Scomi and Prasarana, Scomi was instructed to vacate the KL Monorail new depot nine months ago, but said it had been lending support to RRML.

Scomi said that based on the full inspection being carried out, it opined that the trains were fit for operation.

“Notwithstanding all the above and the pending resolutions to the dispute, Scomi is committed to delivering the full fleet of four-car trains and have cooperated with Prasarana and the relevant stakeholders for the project’s completion,” it said.