DRB-HICOM Bhd has confirmed that it is one of the local parties involvedin the double-tracking rail project linking Seremban and Johor Baru.

During a press conference at the launching of DRB-HICOM lorry, bus andmini coach, chairman Tan Sri Saleh Sulong said the company is very muchinvolved in the project, a counter-trade between Malaysia and China toswap palm oil in exchange for double-tracking works to boost palm oilprices.

However, he said, discussions are still preliminary and he does notforesee any problems as the decision has already been made by theGovernment.

"It is difficult to be specific and to give a time frame.

We are still discussing to ascertain how much involvement we are going tohave," he said.

DRB-HICOM had earlier submitted a proposal to the Government, offering itsservices to double track the rail link of the country's southernpeninsular, and received positive response.

Although the main job is offered to China, DRB-HICOM expects to generate arelatively substantial value for its portion of the contract.

24 August 2001Business Times