Singapore Johor causeway — Transport consultant Rosli Khan has questioned the role that Ukas plays in the decision to introduce the ART system in Johor Bahru. (EPA Images pic)

PETALING JAYA:

The role played by Ukas — the public-private partnership unit in the Prime Minister’s Department — in the Johor Bahru rapid transit project has come under scrutiny.

Transport consultant Rosli Khan said that while the unit’s involvement in public-private partnership (PPP) deals is not unusual, it is unclear what Ukas was involved in with the Johor Bahru autonomous rapid transit (ART) project.

“Is it only handling procurement or is it also involved in making the choice of system?” he asked.

Rosli noted that in its own masterplan, Ukas is classified as the central agency under the PM’s Department for planning, evaluating, coordinating and negotiating the implementation of PPP projects.

On the other hand, he pointed out, decisions on transport projects normally involve technical judgement on capacity, operations, maintenance and long-term fit, not just commercial structuring.

Rosli was commenting on a report in the Edge saying that Ukas is expected to issue a letter of intent (LoI) for the Johor Bahru project, which is estimated to cost nearly RM7 billion and is being pursued under a PPP arrangement.

He wondered who in government was providing the technical advice and expertise when it came to the choice of technology, and whether that role was being clearly anchored on the expertise of transport specialists rather than only a PPP unit.

Rosli also asked whether MRT Corp or Prasarana were involved in the planning if the choice of system has changed.

The matter had become more pressing because the project was first described publicly as an elevated ART system, but the proposal now being discussed appeared to point to an automated people mover (APM) system.

Rosli said this also raised a broader question over whether the project was government-led planning or proposal-led planning, and whether there had been a full study of alternatives before one system emerged as the front-runner.

The matter is especially important because the project is still at the LoI stage, with no full concession signed yet. “That means it is still politically and financially fluid,” he said.

At the minimum, Rosli added, Ukas should explain whether it is only managing the PPP and funding structure or is also influencing the final technology choice.

He said Ukas must also disclose the technical studies used to evaluate the proposal before the project proceeds further.

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Questions raised over Ukas’s role in JB transit project

Transport consultant Rosli Khan says the government should explain whether the unit under the PM’s Department is only handling the public-private partnership or is also shaping the choice of transport system.