PETALING JAYA (June 16): Mudajaya Group Bhd has submitted RM8 billion worth of construction tenders this year, of which RM3 billion is related to power plant construction — a field that it believes it specialises in and has fewer competition.

Speaking to reporters after Mudajaya's annual general meeting here today, its group managing director James Wong Tet Foh said most of the projects the group has bid for are in Malaysia.

Apart from power plants, the bids are for packages in major infrastructure projects such as the Sarawak portion of the Pan Borneo Highway, the second line of Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (MRT Line 2), the third phase of light rail transit (LRT3), and the West Coast Expressway (WCE).

"In fact, we were already pre-qualified for LRT3," he said.

Historically, he said Mudajaya had a success rate of 10% to 20% in its submitted tenders. Given some of these major infrastructure projects have packages that are worth billions, Wong said the group is hopeful that it could secure one or two.
 
"But we hope we can secure some of the power plant construction projects that we bid for. We have a good track record, judging by us being able to complete the Tanjung Bin extension on time this year, and the rest previously," he added.

He also said its competitors in the power plant construction field are mostly international players. With fewer companies contending and the complex nature of a power plant's construction, Wong said this could bring better margins compared with other construction projects.

Mudajaya is also bidding for more construction projects related to Petroliam Nasional Bhd's Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (Rapid) complex in Pengerang, Johor, Wong revealed. The group won three packages for the massive development last year.