KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 6): Sirim Bhd’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Sirim STS Sdn Bhd (SIRIM STS), has been appointed as coordinator for the development of Malaysia Railways Industrial Standard (MRIS) to advance and promote the competitiveness of the country's rail industry.

In a statement today, SIRIM said the appointment of Sirim STS as the secretariat for the rail industry standards was recently made by Technology Depository Agency Bhd (TDA), an agency under the Minister of Finance (Incorporated).

SIRIM president and group chief executive Datuk Ahmad Sabirin Arshad said SIRIM STS is tasked to develop a series of industry standards on trackwork components, namely concrete sleepers, ballast, rail pads, base plates, clips, fasteners, and welding (alumino and flash-butt).

“The development of these industrial standards is scheduled to be completed by May 31, 2022, and is expected to bring significant benefits to Malaysia’s rail industry,” he said.

Ahmad Sabirin said the development will involve collaboration and participation from industrial partners, China Communication Construction Company (M) Sdn Bhd – George Kent (M) Bhd, which is also the work package contractor, also known as the Industrial Collaboration Progamme (ICP) Provider for the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Putrajaya Line project (Package Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya-SY-204).

In addition, a workshop on MRIS development with the participation of all stakeholders will be organised on Dec 17, 2021 in Shah Alam to kick off the project.