Liew Yit Wey, an academic at Sunway University’s Business School, said this would ensure that viable alternative suppliers are available when the need arises, while transport consultant Wan Agyl Wan Hassan said an over-reliance on only one supplier created a “strategic vulnerability”.
In November, it was reported that Jakarta would return the China-made ART trains after they failed to operate autonomously during trials in Indonesia’s new capital Nusantara, Kalimantan in September and October.
It was reported in August that Malaysia was considering the ART system for the Klang Valley while Johor and Sarawak have already conducted pilot tests on similar systems.
The ART system, described as a cross between a train, a tram and a bus, is produced by state-owned manufacturer China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC).
Incidentally, CRRC also supplied 90% of the 68 Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd passenger trains.
So far so good in Kuching
The Sarawak government has given an assurance that the ART project, under the Kuching Urban Transport System (KUTS) initiative, is unlikely to face the same problem as Nusantara.
Such challenges have been addressed through close collaboration with the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to refine the ART design and technology to meet the state’s requirements, it said.
Sarawak transport minister Lee Kim Shin said the manufacturer of the ART system for the KUTS project “is an expert in the system itself”.
On the other hand, he added, the expertise of the manufacturer for the Nusantara project lies in high-speed trains.
Nonetheless, Liew said, there was no harm in mulling options.
“It’s always advisable to not keep all our eggs in the same basket,” he told FMT.
Wan Agyl said having a diversified supplier base offers two benefits.
“It encourages innovation and shields Malaysia from potential risks such as supply chain disruptions or geopolitical tensions,” the founder of transportation think tank My Mobility Vision said.
He said countries like Germany have demonstrated how fostering competitive procurement can create a more resilient system.
Wan Agyl said steps must be taken to ensure that any adoption of new technology in the transportation sector be backed by thorough trials and independent assessments.
“Otherwise, we will risk operational inefficiencies, and public funds will be wasted,” he told FMT.
He said that while Jakarta, which spent US$13.2 million to procure the three ART units, might not have suffered direct financial losses, it was still an opportunity lost.
“It could have invested in more proven, future-ready solutions,” he said.
“Malaysia must avoid making the same mistake by factoring in both economic and environmental goals,” he added.